Negative mixing enthalpy solid solutions deliver high strength and ductility.

Body-centred cubic refractory multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs), with several refractory metal elements as constituents and featuring a yield strength greater than one gigapascal, are promising materials to meet the demands of aggressive structural applications1-6. Their low-to-no tensile ductility at room temperature, however, limits their processability and scaled-up application7-10. Here we present a HfNbTiVAl10 alloy that shows remarkable tensile ductility (roughly 20%) and ultrahigh yield strength (roughly 1,390 megapascals). Notably, these are among the best synergies compared with other related alloys. Such superb synergies derive from the addition of aluminium to the HfNbTiV alloy, resulting in a negative mixing enthalpy solid solution, which promotes strength and favours the formation of hierarchical chemical fluctuations (HCFs). The HCFs span many length scales, ranging from submicrometre to atomic scale, and create a high density of diffusive boundaries that act as effective barriers for dislocation motion. Consequently, versatile dislocation configurations are sequentially stimulated, enabling the alloy to accommodate plastic deformation while fostering substantial interactions that give rise to two unusual strain-hardening rate upturns. Thus, plastic instability is significantly delayed, which expands the plastic regime as ultralarge tensile ductility. This study provides valuable insights into achieving a synergistic combination of ultrahigh strength and large tensile ductility in MPEAs.

Quantum-metric-induced nonlinear transport in a topological antiferromagnet.

The Berry curvature and quantum metric are the imaginary part and real part, respectively, of the quantum geometric tensor, which characterizes the topology of quantum states1. The Berry curvature is known to generate a number of important transport phenomena, such as the quantum Hall effect and the anomalous Hall effect2,3; however, the consequences of the quantum metric have rarely been probed by transport measurements. Here we report the observation of quantum-metric-induced nonlinear transport, including both a nonlinear anomalous Hall effect and a diode-like non-reciprocal longitudinal response, in thin films of a topological antiferromagnet, MnBi2Te4. Our observations reveal that the transverse and longitudinal nonlinear conductivities reverse signs when reversing the antiferromagnetic order, diminish above the Néel temperature and are insensitive to disorder scattering, thus verifying their origin in the band-structure topology. They also flip signs between electron- and hole-doped regions, in agreement with theoretical calculations. Our work provides a means to probe the quantum metric through nonlinear transport and to design magnetic nonlinear devices.

Design of Antiferromagnetic Second-Order Band Topology with Rotation Topological Invariants in Two Dimensions.

The existence of fractionally quantized topological corner charge serves as a key indicator for two-dimensional (2D) second-order topological insulators (SOTIs), yet it has not been experimentally observed in realistic materials. Here, based on effective model analysis and symmetry arguments, we propose a strategy for achieving SOTI phases with in-gap corner states in 2D systems with antiferromagnetic (AFM) order. We discover that the band topology originates from the interplay between intrinsic spin-orbital coupling and interlayer AFM exchange interactions. Using first-principles calculations, we show that the 2D AFM SOTI phase can be realized in (MnBi2Te4)(Bi2Te3)m films. Moreover, we demonstrate that the SOTI states are linked to rotation topological invariants under 3-fold rotation symmetry C3, resulting in fractionally quantized corner charge, i.e., n3|e| (mod e). Due to the great achievements in (MnBi2Te4)(Bi2Te3)m systems, our results providing reliable material candidates for experimentally accessible AFM SOTIs should draw intense attention.

High Thermoelectric Performance in Rhombohedral GeSe-LiBiTe2.

GeSe, an analogue of SnSe, shows promise in exhibiting exceptional thermoelectric performance in the Pnma phase. The constraints on its dopability, however, pose challenges in attaining optimal carrier concentrations and improving ZT values. This study demonstrates a crystal structure evolution strategy for achieving highly doped samples and promising ZTs in GeSe via LiBiTe2 alloying. A rhombohedral phase (R3m) can be stabilized in the GeSe-LiBiTe2 system, further evolving into a cubic (Fm3̅m) phase with a rising temperature. The band structures of GeSe-LiBiTe2 in the rhombohedral and cubic phases feature a similar multiple-valley energy-converged valence band of L and Σ bands. The observed high carrier concentration (∼1020 cm-3) reflects the effective convergence of these bands, enabling a high density-of-states effective mass and an enhanced power factor. Moreover, a very low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.6-0.5 W m-1 K-1 from 300 to 723 K is achieved in 0.9GeSe-0.1LiBiTe2, approaching the amorphous limit value. This remarkably low lattice thermal conductivity is related to phonon scattering from point defects, planar vacancies, and ferroelectric instability-induced low-energy Einstein oscillators. Finally, a maximum ZT value of 1.1 to 1.3 at 723 K is obtained, with a high average ZT value of over 0.8 (400-723 K) in 0.9GeSe-0.1LiBiTe2 samples. This study establishes a viable route for tailoring crystal structures to significantly improve the performance of GeSe-related compounds.

Structure Low Dimensionality and Lone-Pair Stereochemical Activity: the Key to Low Thermal Conductivity in the Pb-Sn-S System.

Recently, metal sulfides have begun to receive attention as potential cost-effective materials for thermoelectric applications beyond optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices. Herein, based on a comparative analysis of the structural and transport properties of 2D PbSnS2 and 1D PbSnS3, we demonstrate that the intrinsic effects that govern the low lattice thermal conductivity (κL) of these sulfides originate from the combination of the low dimensionality of their crystal structures with the stereochemical activity of the lone-pair electrons of cations. The presence of weak bonds in these materials, responsible for phonon scattering, results in inherently low κL of 1.0 W/m K in 1D PbSnS3 and 0.6 W/m K in 2D PbSnS2 at room temperature. However, the nature of the thermal transport is quite distinct. 1D PbSnS3 exhibits a higher thermal conductivity with a crystalline-like peak at low temperatures, while 2D PbSnS2 demonstrates glassy thermal conductivity in the entire temperature range investigated. First-principles density functional theory calculations reveal that the presence of antibonding states below the Fermi level, especially in PbSnS2, contributes to the very low κL. In addition, the calculated phonon dispersions exhibit very soft acoustic phonon branches that give rise to soft lattices and very low speeds of sounds.

Three-Fold Coordination of Copper in Sulfides: A Blockade for Hole Carrier Delocalization but a Driving Force for Ultralow Thermal Conductivity.

Copper-rich sulfides are very promising for energy conversion applications due to their environmental compatibility, cost effectiveness, and earth abundance. Based on a comparative analysis of the structural and transport properties of Cu3BiS3 with those of tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) and other Cu-rich sulfides, we highlight the role of the cationic coordination types and networks on the electrical and thermal properties. By precession-assisted 3D electron diffraction analysis, we find very high anisotropic thermal vibration of copper attributed to its 3-fold coordination, with an anisotropic atomic displacement parameter up to 0.09 Å2. Density functional theory calculations reveal that these Cu atoms are weakly bonded and give rise to low-energy Einstein-like vibrational modes that strongly scatter heat-carrying acoustic phonons, leading to ultralow thermal conductivity. Importantly, we demonstrate that the 3-fold coordination of copper in Cu3BiS3 and in other copper-rich sulfides constituted of interconnected CuS3 networks causes a hole blockade. This phenomenon hinders the possibility of optimizing the carrier concentration and electronic properties through mixed valency Cu+/Cu2+, differently from tetrahedrite and most other copper-rich chalcogenides, where the main interconnected Cu-S network is built of CuS4 tetrahedra. The comparison with various copper-rich sulfides demonstrates that seeking for frameworks characterized by the coexistence of tetrahedral and 3-fold coordinated copper is very attractive for the discovery of efficient thermoelectric copper-rich sulfides. Considering that lattice vibrations and carrier concentration are key factors for engineering transport phenomena (electronic, phonon, ionic, etc.) in copper-rich chalcogenides for various types of applications, our findings improve the guidelines for the design of materials enabling sustainable energy solutions with wide-ranging applications.

Organic Molecular Intercalation Enabled Anionic Redox Chemistry with Fast Kinetics for High Performance Magnesium Storage.

Rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries possess desirable characteristics in large-scale energy storage applications. However, severe polarization, sluggish kinetics and structural instability caused by high charge density Mg2+ hinder the development of high-performance cathode materials. Herein, the anionic redox chemistry in VS4 is successfully activated by inducing cations reduction and introducing anionic vacancies via polyacrylonitrile (PAN) intercalation. Increased interlayer spacing and structural vacancies can promote the electrolyte ions migration and accelerate the reaction kinetics. Thanks to this "three birds with one stone" strategy, PAN intercalated VS4 exhibits an outstanding electrochemical performance: high discharge specific capacity of 187.2 mAh g-1 at 200 mA g-1 after stabilization and a long lifespan of 5000 cycles at 2 A g-1 are achieved, outperforming other reported VS4-based materials to date for magnesium storage under the APC electrolyte. Theoretical calculations confirm that the intercalated PAN can indeed induce cations reduction and generate anionic vacancies by promoting electron transfer, which can accelerate the electrochemical reaction kinetics and activate the anionic redox chemistry, thus improving the magnesium storage performance. This approach of organic molecular intercalation represents a promising guideline for electrode material design on the development of advanced multivalent-ion batteries.

Catalyzing Desolvation at Cathode-Electrolyte Interface Enabling High-Performance Magnesium-Ion Batteries.

Magnesium ion batteries (MIBs) are expected to be the promising candidates in the post-lithium-ion era with high safety, low cost and almost dendrite-free nature. However, the sluggish diffusion kinetics and strong solvation capability of the strongly polarized Mg2+ are seriously limiting the specific capacity and lifespan of MIBs. In this work, catalytic desolvation is introduced into MIBs for the first time by modifying vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) with molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MQDs), and it is demonstrated via density function theory (DFT) calculations that MQDs can effectively lower the desolvation energy barrier of Mg2+, and therefore catalyze the dissociation of Mg2+-1,2-Dimethoxyethane (Mg2+-DME) bonds and release free electrolyte cations, finally contributing to a fast diffusion kinetics within the cathode. Meanwhile, the local interlayer expansion can also increase the layer spacing of V2O5 and speed up the magnesiation/demagnesiation kinetics. Benefiting from the structural configuration, MIBs exhibit superb reversible capacity (≈300 mAh g-1 at 50 mA g-1) and unparalleled cycling stability (15 000 cycles at 2 A g-1 with a capacity of ≈70 mAh g-1). This approach based on catalytic reactions to regulate the desolvation behavior of the whole interface provides a new idea and reference for the development of high-performance MIBs.

The scalable precision medicine open knowledge engine (SPOKE): a massive knowledge graph of biomedical information.

MOTIVATION: Knowledge graphs (KGs) are being adopted in industry, commerce and academia. Biomedical KG presents a challenge due to the complexity, size and heterogeneity of the underlying information. RESULTS: In this work, we present the Scalable Precision Medicine Open Knowledge Engine (SPOKE), a biomedical KG connecting millions of concepts via semantically meaningful relationships. SPOKE contains 27 million nodes of 21 different types and 53 million edges of 55 types downloaded from 41 databases. The graph is built on the framework of 11 ontologies that maintain its structure, enable mappings and facilitate navigation. SPOKE is built weekly by python scripts which download each resource, check for integrity and completeness, and then create a 'parent table' of nodes and edges. Graph queries are translated by a REST API and users can submit searches directly via an API or a graphical user interface. Conclusions/Significance: SPOKE enables the integration of seemingly disparate information to support precision medicine efforts. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The SPOKE neighborhood explorer is available at https://spoke.rbvi.ucsf.edu. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Annealing-Tunable Charge Density Wave in the Magnetic Kagome Material FeGe.

The unprecedented phenomenon that a charge density wave (CDW) emerges inside the antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase indicates an unusual CDW mechanism associated with magnetism in FeGe. Here, we demonstrate that both the CDW and magnetism of FeGe can be effectively tuned through postgrowth annealing treatments. Instead of the short-range CDW reported earlier, a long-range CDW order is realized below 110 K in single crystals annealed at 320 °C for over 48 h. The CDW and AFM transition temperatures appear to be inversely correlated with each other. The onset of the CDW phase significantly reduces the critical field of the spin-flop transition, whereas the CDW transition remains stable against minor variations in magnetic orders such as annealing-induced magnetic clusters and spin-canting transitions. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction measurements reveal substantial disorder on the Ge1 site, which is characterized by displacement of the Ge1 atom from the Fe_{3}Ge layer along the c axis and can be reversibly modified by the annealing process. The observed annealing-tunable CDW and magnetic orders can be well understood in terms of disorder on the Ge1 site. Our study provides a vital starting point for the exploration of the unconventional CDW mechanism in FeGe and of kagome materials in general.

A Scaled Proteomic Discovery Study for Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Markers Using ProteographTM and Trapped Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

There is a significant unmet need for clinical reflex tests that increase the specificity of prostate-specific antigen blood testing, the longstanding but imperfect tool for prostate cancer diagnosis. Towards this endpoint, we present the results from a discovery study that identifies new prostate-specific antigen reflex markers in a large-scale patient serum cohort using differentiating technologies for deep proteomic interrogation. We detect known prostate cancer blood markers as well as novel candidates. Through bioinformatic pathway enrichment and network analysis, we reveal associations of differentially abundant proteins with cytoskeletal, metabolic, and ribosomal activities, all of which have been previously associated with prostate cancer progression. Additionally, optimized machine learning classifier analysis reveals proteomic signatures capable of detecting the disease prior to biopsy, performing on par with an accepted clinical risk calculator benchmark.

Soft Phonon Mode Triggering Fast Ag Diffusion in Superionic Argyrodite Ag8 GeSe6.

The structural coexistence of dual rigid and mobile sublattices in superionic Argyrodites yields ultralow lattice thermal conductivity along with decent electrical and ionic conductivities and therefore attracts intense interest for batteries, fuel cells, and thermoelectric applications. However, a comprehensive understanding of their underlying lattice and diffusive dynamics in terms of the interplay between phonons and mobile ions is missing. Herein, inelastic neutron scattering is employed to unravel that phonon softening on heating to Tc ≈ 350 K triggers fast Ag diffusion in the canonical superionic Argyrodite Ag8 GeSe6 . Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reproduce the experimental neutron scattering signals and identify the partially ultrafast Ag diffusion with a large diffusion coefficient of 10-4 cm-2 s-1 . The study illustrates the microscopic interconnection between soft phonons and mobile ions and provides a paradigm for an intertwined interaction of the lattice and diffusive dynamics in superionic materials.

An Aryl-ether-linked Covalent Organic Framework Modified with Thioamide Groups for Selective Extraction of Palladium from Strong Acid Solutions.

Efficient adsorption of palladium ions from acid nuclear waste solution is crucial for ensuring the safety of vitrification process for radioactive waste. However, the limited stability and selectivity of most current adsorbents hinder their practical applications under strong acid and intense radiation conditions. Herein, to address these limitations, we designed and synthesized an aryl-ether-linked covalent organic framework (COF-316-DM) grafted dimethylthiocarbamoyl groups on the pore walls. This unique structure endows COF-316-DM with high stability and exceptional palladium capture capacity. The robust polyarylether linkage enables COF-316-DM to withstand irradiation doses of 200 or 400 kGy of ß/γ ray. Furthermore, COF-316-DM demonstrates fast adsorption kinetics, high adsorption capacity (147 mg g-1 ), and excellent reusability in 4 M nitric acid. Moreover, COF-316-DM exhibits remarkable selectivity for palladium ions in the presence of 17 interference ions, simulating high level liquid waste scenario. The superior adsorption performance can be attributed to the strong binding affinity between the thioamide groups and Pd2+ ions, as confirmed by the comprehensive analysis of FT-IR and XPS spectra. Our findings highlight the potential of COFs with robust linkers and tailored functional groups for efficient and selective capture of metal ions, even in harsh environmental conditions.

Structure of a eukaryotic cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel.

Cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels are essential for vision and olfaction. They belong to the voltage-gated ion channel superfamily but their activities are controlled by intracellular cyclic nucleotides instead of transmembrane voltage. Here we report a 3.5-Å-resolution single-particle electron cryo-microscopy structure of a cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel from Caenorhabditis elegans in the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-bound open state. The channel has an unusual voltage-sensor-like domain, accounting for its deficient voltage dependence. A carboxy-terminal linker connecting S6 and the cyclic-nucleotide-binding domain interacts directly with both the voltage-sensor-like domain and the pore domain, forming a gating ring that couples conformational changes triggered by cyclic nucleotide binding to the gate. The selectivity filter is lined by the carboxylate side chains of a functionally important glutamate and three rings of backbone carbonyls. This structure provides a new framework for understanding mechanisms of ion permeation, gating and channelopathy of cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels and cyclic nucleotide modulation of related channels.

A Tunable Structural Family with Ultralow Thermal Conductivity: Copper-Deficient Cu1-x□xPb1-xBi1+xS3.

Understanding the mechanism that connects heat transport with crystal structures and order/disorder phenomena is crucial to develop materials with ultralow thermal conductivity (κ), for thermoelectric and thermal barrier applications, and requires the study of highly pure materials. We synthesized the n-type sulfide CuPbBi5S9 with an ultralow κ value of 0.6-0.4 W m-1 K-1 in the temperature range 300-700 K. In contrast to prior studies, we show that this synthetic sulfide does not exhibit the ordered gladite mineral structure but instead forms a copper-deficient disordered aikinite structure with partial Pb replacement by Bi, according to the chemical formula Cu1/3□2/3Pb1/3Bi5/3S3. By combining experiments and lattice dynamics calculations, we elucidated that the ultralow κ value of this compound is due to very low energy optical modes associated with Pb and Bi ions and, to a smaller extent, Cu. This vibrational complexity at low energy hints at substantial anharmonic effects that contribute to enhance phonon scattering. Importantly, we show that this aikinite-type sulfide, despite being a poor semiconductor, is a potential matrix for designing novel, efficient n-type thermoelectric compounds with ultralow κ values. A drastic improvement in the carrier concentration and thermoelectric figure of merit have been obtained upon Cl for S and Bi for Pb substitution. The Cu1-x□xPb1-xBi1+xS3 series provides a new, interesting structural prototype for engineering n-type thermoelectric sulfides by controlling disorder and optimizing doping.

Realizing Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance and Hardness in Icosahedral Cu5 FeS4-x Sex with High-Density Twin Boundaries.

Bornite (Cu5 FeS4 ) is an Earth-abundant, nontoxic thermoelectric material. Herein, twin engineering and Se alloying are combined in order to further improve its thermoelectric performance. Cu5 FeS4-x Sex (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) icosahedral nanoparticles, containing high-density twin boundaries, have been synthesized by a colloidal method. Spark plasma sintering retains twin boundaries in the pellets sintered from Cu5 FeS4-x Sex colloidal powders. Thermoelectric property measurement demonstrates that alloying Se increases the carrier concentration, leading to much-improved power factor in Se-substituted Cu5 FeS4 , for example, 0.84 mW m-1 K-2 at 726 K for Cu5 FeS3.6 Se0.4 ; low lattice thermal conductivity is also achieved, due to intrinsic structural complexity, distorted crystal structure, and existing twin boundaries and point defects. As a result, a maximum zT of 0.75 is attained for Cu5 FeS3.6 Se0.4 at 726 K, which is about 23% higher than that of Cu5 FeS4 and compares favorably to that of reported Cu5 FeS4 -based materials. In addition, the Cu5 FeS4-x Sex samples containing twin boundaries also obtain improved hardness compared to the ones fabricated by melting-annealing or ball milling. This work demonstrates an effective twin engineering-composition tuning strategy toward enhanced thermoelectric and mechanical properties of Cu5 FeS4 -based materials.

First Report of Trichoderma parareesei Causing Seedling Blight on Eggplant in China.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an economically important vegetable crop in subtropics and tropics. In March 2021, a serious disease on eggplant seedlings about 20 days after transplanting was found in Rong'an County (25°28' N; 109°53' E), Guangxi, China, with an incidence of diseased plants of 35%. The initial symptom was water-soaked spots on the leaves, followed by irregular black-brown spots that gradually expanded outward, causing leaf necrosis and defoliation. Even parts of eggplant seedlings died after lesions extended to the stem and the surface of the diseased tissues was covered with white to blue mold. Four diseased eggplants were randomly collected from different fields. Small pieces of the symptomatic tissues were surface sterilized and incubated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 28°C for 4 days. A total of 12 strains with similar morphological characteristics were isolated, and four representative strains (FW-01 to FW-04) were characterized. The colony was initially white, changing to yellow-green after 7 days. Phialides were lageniform or ampulliform, 2.9 to 9.75 µm × 1.36 to 4.3 µm (n=50). Conidia were green, ellipsoidal to oblong, smooth, 2.1 to 3.3 µm × 1.6 to 2.33 µm (n=50). Chlamydospores were not observed on PDA. These morphological characteristics are consistent with the description of the genus Trichoderma (Samuels et al. 2012). To confirm the identification, from mycelia of the four isolates and DNA was extracted using the Fungal Genomic DNA Extraction Kit (Bioer Technology [Hangzhou] Co., Ltd.). Three gene regions (ITS, tef1 and rpb2) were amplified (Sadfi-Zouaoui et al. 2009; Atanasova et al. 2010) and sequenced (GenBank Accessions: OL677389 to OL677392 for ITS, OL743178 to OL743181 for tef1 and OL743182 to OL743185 for rpb2). ITS sequences shared 100% identity with sequences of T. reesei (MW514156) and T. parareesei (HM466668), and tef1 and rpb2 sequences showed more than 99% similarity with sequences of T. parareesei (KM263190 and HM182962). The phylogenetic tree of the concatenated sequences showed that four isolates were clustered with T. parareesei. Therefore, the isolates were identified as T. parareesei. To satisfy Koch's postulates, the pathogenicity of four strains was tested on healthy eggplant seedlings planted in a sterile potting mix. Eggplants at four leaves stage were inoculated using conidial suspensions (with a concentration of 1 × 106 conidia/ml), with two leaves of each eggplant inoculated with each isolate and the test repeated three times. The control eggplants leaves were inoculated with sterile water. All plants were placed in a greenhouse at 22 ± 3°C and 85% relative humidity, with a photoperiod of 12 h. The water-soaked spots appeared 48 h after inoculation. All inoculated leaves showed symptoms 3 days post-inoculation. The diseased leaves became brittle and abcissed, while the control leaves remained symptomless. Only T. parareesei was successfully re-isolated from the lesions. Atanasova et al. (2010) found that T. parareesei inhibited the growth of Lepidium sativum seedlings under in vitro conditions (Atanasova et al. 2010). To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. parareesei causing eggplant seedling blight in China. The pathogen can cause substantial economic losses in eggplant production. Therefore, the identification of the pathogen is of great significance for the diagnosis and control of the disease. The results of this study deepen the understanding of the pathogenicity of Trichoderma.

[5-Year Readmission Status and Risk Factors for Senile Dementia Patients: A Study Based on Chengdu Municipal Medical Insurance Database].

Objective: To study the status quo of the readmission of senile dementia patients in Chengdu, and to analyze the primary diagnosis, the economic burden and the influencing factors of readmission. Methods: Dementia inpatients aged 60 and above in Chengdu were the subjects of this study. The subjects were diagnosed with dementia between 2013 and 2017. Their heath insurance coverage was either the basic medical insurance for urban employees in Chengdu or the basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents of Chengdu. The rank sum test and the chi-square test were conducted to analyze the differences in readmission rate and the economic burden of hospitalization among subjects with different characteristics. Logistic regression was done to analyze the factors affecting readmission. Results: The total number of dementia inpatients over the 5-year period was 27881 patients (78820 admissions). The 30-day readmission rate was 25.14% (7011/27881) and the 5-year readmission rate was 45.79% (12767/27881). The primary diagnoses of 12767 readmitted patients mainly included dementia (28.57%), circulatory system diseases (24.26%), and respiratory system diseases (23.71%). The economic burden of hospitalization was higher for readmitted patients than that of patients who were not readmitted ( Z=33.777, P<0.001). The occurrence of readmission was correlated to the following factors, advanced age (compared to that of the 60-65 yr. group, the 70-75 yr. group: odds ratio [ OR]=1.123, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.019-1.237, and the 75-80 yr. group: OR=1.123, 95% CI: 1.108-1.218), participation in the basic medical insurance for urban employees ( OR=1.674, 95% CI: 1.578-1.775), types of dementia (compared to unspecified dementia, Alzheimer's dementia group: OR=1.256, 95% CI: 1.163-1.357, Parkinson's disease dementia group: OR=1.774, 95% CI: 1.658-1.898, and mixed-type dementia group: OR=1.750, 95% CI: 1.457-2.103), disease condition (compared with patients with only dementia, those who have other diseases: OR=0.536，95% CI ：0.493-0.583), length of hospital stay ( OR=1.593, 95% CI: 1.552-1.635), and staying at a lower level hospital (compared to that of tertiary hospitals, secondary hospitals: OR=1.319, 95% CI: 1.248-1.395, primary hospitals: OR=1.744, 95% CI: 1.608-1.891, and other hospitals: OR=1.465, 95% CI: 1.311-1.537). Conclusion: Senile dementia patients have a high 30-day readmission rate, and the readmission entails heavy economic burdens on the patients. For the populations covered by medical insurance, the following features are correlated to the occurrence of readmission: advanced age, coverage by the basic medical insurance for urban employees, Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, mixed-type dementia, dementia patients without other comorbidities, extended length of stay, and hospitalization at a lower level hospital. However, further research is needed for better understanding of the specific mechanisms so that readmission of senile dementia patients can be reduced and the economic burden of the disease can be minimized.

Lattice Thermal Transport in the Homogeneous Cage-Like Compounds Cu3 VSe4 and Cu3 NbSe4 : Interplay between Phonon-Phase Space, Anharmonicity, and Atomic Mass.

Understanding the correlation between crystal structure and thermal conductivity in semiconductors is very important for designing heat-transport-related devices, such as high-performance thermoelectric materials and heat dissipation in micro-nano-scale devices. In this work, the lattice thermal conductivity ( κ L ) of the cage-like compounds Cu3 VSe4 and Cu3 NbSe4 was investigated by experimental measurements and first-principles calculations. The experimental κ L of Cu3 NbSe4 is approximately 25 % lower than that of Cu3 VSe4 at 300 K. The relevant important physical parameters, including the sound velocity, heat capacity, weighted phonon phase space (W), and third-order force constants along with atomic mass were theoretically analyzed. It is found that W is the dominant parameter in determining the κ L , and the other factors only play a minor role. The physical origin is the relatively "soft" lattice of Cu3 NbSe4 with heavier atomic mass. This research provides deep insight into the correlation between the thermal conductivity and crystal structure and paves the way for discovering high-performance thermal management device and thermoelectric materials with intrinsically low κ L .

Thermoelectric CoGeTe with an Orthorhombic Crystal Symmetry and Balance of the Electrical and Thermal Properties.

Applying crystal symmetry to discover and optimize the performance of thermoelectric (TE) materials has attracted much attention. Here, we report CoGeTe with a middle-class crystalline system as a novel n-type TE material. Density functional theory indicates that orthorhombic CoGeTe shows multiband dispersion near the bottom of the conduction band, which is mainly occupied by the Co 3d states. Through Ni doping, these multiple bands can be activated, leading to a maximum power factor of 1.14 mW/m K2@786 K for Co0.95Ni0.05GeTe. In addition, phonon-dispersion calculations reveal that CoGeTe possesses relatively strong harmonic properties, including sound velocity and Debye temperature. Furthermore, the local distorted CoGe3Te3 octahedron in the matrix is beneficial for anharmonic phonon scattering. In particular, the Grüneisen parameter of Te in the crystal structure is clearly larger than those of Co and Ge. The observed thermal conductivity of Co0.95Ni0.05GeTe is between 6.50 and 5.38 W/m K in the temperature range 300-860 K. Owing to the combination of the enhanced power factor and reduced thermal conductivity, the maximum zT value reaches 0.18 at 860 K. This study suggests that TE materials with orthorhombic structures provide an ideal platform to balance the power factor and thermal conductivity in search of high-performance thermoelectrics.