Microelectronic printed chitosan/chondroitin sulfate/ZnO flexible and environmentally friendly triboelectric nanogenerator.

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) of natural biomaterials is a new type of energy harvesting device and can be used as a self-powered sensor, which has received extensive research and attention. In this paper, based on the biocompatibility of chitosan and chondroitin sulfate, ZnO-modified chitosan/chondroitin sulfate/ZnO TENG was prepared for research on wearable devices and sustainable power supply devices. This study employs molecular dynamics to compute the interaction energy between chitosan and ZnO molecules. Theoretical calculations have unequivocally substantiated the occurrence of a binding interaction between these two molecular entities. The effect of ZnO on chitosan/chondroitin sulfate morphology was investigated by atomic force microscopy. The chitosan/chondroitin sulfate/ZnO TENG has high flexibility and electrical output performance. It can reach 105 V and 3.3 µA of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. Chitosan/chondroitin Sulfate/ZnO TENG successfully converts the mechanical energy of human motion into electrical energy. Strong electrical signals are exhibited when making fists and waving fingers and wrists. The TENG is a self-powered source and lights up 70 blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The chitosan/chondroitin sulfate/ZnO TENG has demonstrated its capabilities in energy harvesting and wearable self-powered sensors.

Nanoscale heterogeneity of arsenic and selenium species in coal fly ash particles: analysis using enhanced spectroscopic imaging and speciation techniques.

Coal combustion byproducts are known to be enriched in arsenic (As) and selenium (Se). This enrichment is a concern during the handling, disposal, and reuse of the ash as both elements can be harmful to wildlife and humans if mobilized into water and soils. The leaching potential and bioaccessibility of As and Se in coal fly ash depends on the chemical forms of these elements and their association with the large variety of particles that comprise coal fly ash. The overall goal of this research was to determine nanoscale and microscale solid phase mineral associations and oxidation states of As and Se in fly ash. We utilized nanoscale 2D imaging (30-50 nm spot size) with the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe (HXN) in combination with microprobe X-ray capabilities (∼5 µm resolution) to determine the As and Se elemental associations. Speciation of As and Se was also measured at the nano- to microscale with X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The enhanced resolution of HXN showed As and Se as either diffusely located around or comingled with Ca- and Fe-rich particles. The results also showed nanoparticles of Se attached to the surface of fly ash grains. Overall, a comparison of As and Se species across scales highlights the heterogeneity and complexity of chemical associations for these trace elements of concern in coal fly ash.

IoT terminal security assessment system based on improved assessment method.

The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is widely used and has been improved in research. However, due to the extensiveness of IoT technology, the heterogeneity and diversity of the device structure, the number of attacks against IoT has increased dramatically, so we need a method that can effectively and actively determine safety. Considering the diversity of the terminal structure of IoT, a security method for the IoT terminal based on structural balance, method objectivity, and reliability is currently a challenging task. This paper introduces the idea of rate of change in mathematics into trust analysis, and forms three attribute sets based on trust interval and rate of change: discrete interval, change range, and change frequency. By calculating the above attributes of the entity's trust value, the entity's trust situation is obtained, and an overall assessment of the terminal entity's trust situation is made from the three levels of completeness, accuracy and objectivity. Under the premise of reducing encryption and other means, the above method can evaluate the trust state of the IoT terminal from the perspective of the data, and this evaluation method can provide a basis for the judgment of the IoT terminal more objectively and accurately.

Cleavage of cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein H aggravates myocardial hypoxia reperfusion injury in a hepatocyte-myocardial cell co-culture system.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether proinflammatory cytokines have an effect on myocardial cells (MCs) and hepatocytes during myocardial ischemia to induce cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein H (CREBH) cleavage, activate the acute phase response in the liver, and cause a superimposed injury in MCs. METHODS: In this study, a hepatocyte-MC transwell co-culture system was used to investigate the relationship between myocardial hypoxia/reperfusion injury and CREBH cleavage. MCs and hepatocytes of neonatal rats were obtained from the ventricles and livers of Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. MCs were inoculated into the lower chamber of transwell chambers for 12 hours under hypoxia. Levels of the endoplasmic reticulum stress protein glucose-regulated protein 78 in MCs, CREBH in hepatocytes, inflammatory factor (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) levels, and cell viability were evaluated. The effect of CREBH knockdown was also studied using a CREBH-specific short hairpin RNA (Ad-CREBHi). RESULTS: We found that proinflammatory cytokines affect MCs and hepatocytes during myocardial ischemia to induce CREBH cleavage, activate the acute phase response in the liver, and cause superimposed injury in MCs. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of CREBH aggravates myocardial injury during myocardial ischemia.

Relationship between plasma cancer antigen (CA)-125 level and one-year recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that plasma cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) is closely related to heart failure and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), but no study reported the relationship between CA-125 concentrations and advanced recurrence of AF ablation. This research is the first to describe CA-125 as a biomarker for the recurrence of AF after ablation. METHODS: A total of 422 AF patients undergoing catheter ablation were included in this study. RESULTS: During the 1-y follow-up, 326 patients (77.25%) maintained a sinus rhythm, whereas 83 patients (20.44%) presented AF recurrence. The patients with AF recurrence showed higher CA-125 concentrations at baseline than those with maintained sinus rhythm (P = 0.0001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses revealed that persistent AF (HR 2.212; 95% CI: 1.396-3.504, P = 0.001) and CA-125 concentration (HR, 1.003; 95% (CI): 1.000-1.005, P = 0.019) were independent predictors of AF recurrence. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, CA-125 yielded an optimal cut-off value of 11.05 U/ml, and its sensitivity and specificity reached 65.6% and 85.0%, respectively. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) value spanned 80.3% (95% CI: 0.750-0.857, P < 0.0001). Moreover, the results of the subgroup analysis indicated that patients with persistent atrial fibrillation have higher concentrations of CA-125 and have an increased risk of the recurrence of AF. CONCLUSIONS: High CA-125 concentration is an independent predictor of AF recurrence after 1 y of AF ablation, especially in patients with persistent AF.