School-Based Team Sports as Catalysts for Holistic Student Wellness: A Narrative Review.

The narrative review examines how school-based team sports catalyze holistic student wellness, leveraging their inherent nature and addressing barriers to inclusivity. Utilizing the holistic wellness framework-which encompasses physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and occupational dimensions-the review evaluates the multifaceted effects of these sports on student well-being. Supported by wellness models like Dr. Bill Hettler's Six Dimensions of Wellness and various research studies, the framework highlights the interconnectedness of these areas in achieving overall well-being. School-based team sports promote discipline, teamwork, physical fitness, and social interaction while fostering skill development, ethical behavior, and emotional resilience. These elements, collectively, may support the holistic development of students, enhancing their overall health and success. The methodological approach of this review involves a synthesis of empirical research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses from the past two decades (2004-2024), sourced from databases such as PubMed, EBSCO (EDS), and Google Scholar. Key findings include enhanced cardiovascular fitness, emotional resilience, cognitive performance, social skills, spiritual fulfillment, and career readiness awareness. The review highlights the necessity of integrating team sports into educational curricula to promote well-rounded student development and proposes strategies to overcome socioeconomic, cultural, and structural barriers to participation. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to examine the long-term effects of team sports and explore the potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing these benefits.

The Impact of Physical Exercise on Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress: Balancing the Benefits and Risks.

This review comprehensively evaluates the effects of physical exercise on oxidative and nitrosative stress, mainly focusing on the role of antioxidants. Using a narrative synthesis approach, data from empirical studies, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2004 and 2024 were collated from databases like PubMed, EBSCO (EDS), and Google Scholar, culminating in the inclusion of 41 studies. The quality of these studies was rigorously assessed to ensure the clarity of objectives, coherence in arguments, comprehensive literature coverage, and depth of critical analysis. Findings revealed that moderate exercise enhances antioxidant defenses through hormesis, while excessive exercise may exacerbate oxidative stress. The review also highlights that while natural dietary antioxidants are beneficial, high-dose supplements could impede the positive adaptations to exercise. In conclusion, the review calls for more focused research on tailored exercise and nutrition plans to further understand these complex interactions and optimize the health outcomes for athletes and the general population.

Association between dietary antioxidant and fatty acids and low muscle mass in obese and non-obese community-dwelling older adults: An NHANES analysis.

Sarcopenia increases disability, hospital stays, readmissions, and mortality in older adults. Antioxidative nutrients and fatty acids consumption may help maintain muscle mass by reducing oxidative stress. This study aims to assess the association between antioxidant and fatty acid intake and low muscle mass in community-dwelling older people. This retrospective analysis used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004. Participants ≥ 60 years with information on muscle mass measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were included. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was assessed. Associations between antioxidants and fatty acids intake, and low muscle mass were evaluated using logistic regressions. 3648 (1748 men and 1900 women) were included. The prevalence of low muscle mass was 41% and 26% among men and women ≥ 75 years, and 45.2% and 28.4% among obese men and women. In obese males, a natural-log-unit increase of vitamin A (aOR = 0.806, 95% CI: 0.652-0.996), vitamin C (aOR = 0.878, 95% CI: 0.779-0.990), selenium intake (aOR = 0.716, 95% CI: 0.517-0.993), and higher saturated fatty acids (aOR = 0.956, 95% CI: 0.915-0.998) and monounsaturated fatty acids (aOR = 0.959, 95% CI: 0.925-0.994) intake were associated with decreased odds for low muscle mass. Among obese females, a natural-log-unit increase of vitamin E (P = .036), vitamin B12 (P = .014), total folate (P = .015), zinc (P = .005), and selenium intake (P = .018) were associated with increased odds of low muscle mass, whereas higher saturated fatty acids (P < .001), monounsaturated fatty acids (P = .001), and polyunsaturated fatty acids intake (P = .006) were associated with decreased odds for low muscle mass. Antioxidants (vitamin A, C, E, B6, B12, total folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium) intake does not consistently relate to low muscle mass across age and sex. Higher intake of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are independently associated with reduced likelihood of low muscle mass in both obese older men and women.

Benzodiazepine Use and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly Population: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

The prevalence of dementia among the elderly is high, and it is the leading cause of death globally. However, the relationship between benzodiazepine use and dementia risk has produced inconsistent results, necessitating an updated review of the evidence. To address this, we conducted an umbrella review of meta-analyses to summarize the available evidence on the association between benzodiazepine use and dementia risk and evaluate its credibility. We systematically evaluated the meta-analyses of observational studies that examined the connection between benzodiazepine use and dementia risk. For each meta-analysis, we collected the overall effect size, heterogeneity, risk of bias, and year of the most recent article and graded the evidence based on pre-specified criteria. We also used AMSTAR, a measurement tool to evaluate systematic reviews, to assess the methodological quality of each study. Our review included five meta-analyses encompassing 30 studies, and the effect size of the association between benzodiazepine use and dementia risk ranged from 1.38 to 1.78. Nonetheless, the evidence supporting this relationship was weak, and the methodological quality of the studies included was low. In conclusion, our findings revealed limited evidence of a link between benzodiazepine use and dementia risk, and more research is required to determine a causal connection. Physicians should only prescribe benzodiazepine for appropriate indications.

Examining Physical Wellness as the Fundamental Element for Achieving Holistic Well-Being in Older Persons: Review of Literature and Practical Application in Daily Life.

This review examines the impact of physical activity, nutrition, and sleep evaluations on the physical wellness (PW) and overall well-being of older individuals. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO Information Services. The search spanned from January 2000 to December 2022, resulting in 19,400 articles, out of which 98 review articles met the inclusion criteria. Through the analysis of these articles, key characteristics of the literature were summarized, and opportunities to enhance the practical application of physical activity (PA), nutrition, and sleep evaluations in the daily lives of older persons were identified. Regular physical activity is crucial for older persons to maintain their physical, mental, and emotional well-being and prevent age-related health issues. Older persons have specific nutritional needs, including increased protein, vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin B12 intake. Poor sleep quality in older persons is associated with negative health outcomes such as cognitive decline, physical disability, and mortality. This review emphasizes the significance of considering physical wellness as a fundamental element for achieving holistic well-being in older persons and highlights the importance of physical activity, nutrition, and sleep evaluations in improving their overall health and well-being. By understanding and implementing these findings, we can enhance the quality of life and promote healthy aging in older persons.

Artificial Intelligence in Dementia: A Bibliometric Study.

The applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in dementia research have garnered significant attention, prompting the planning of various research endeavors in current and future studies. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape regarding AI and dementia within scholarly publications and to suggest further studies for this emerging research field. A search was conducted in the Web of Science database to collect all relevant and highly cited articles on AI-related dementia research published in English until 16 May 2023. Utilizing bibliometric indicators, a search strategy was developed to assess the eligibility of titles, utilizing abstracts and full texts as necessary. The Bibliometrix tool, a statistical package in R, was used to produce and visualize networks depicting the co-occurrence of authors, research institutions, countries, citations, and keywords. We obtained a total of 1094 relevant articles published between 1997 and 2023. The number of annual publications demonstrated an increasing trend over the past 27 years. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (39/1094, 3.56%), Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (38/1094, 3.47%), and Scientific Reports (26/1094, 2.37%) were the most common journals for this domain. The United States (283/1094, 25.86%), China (222/1094, 20.29%), India (150/1094, 13.71%), and England (96/1094, 8.77%) were the most productive countries of origin. In terms of institutions, Boston University, Columbia University, and the University of Granada demonstrated the highest productivity. As for author contributions, Gorriz JM, Ramirez J, and Salas-Gonzalez D were the most active researchers. While the initial period saw a relatively low number of articles focusing on AI applications for dementia, there has been a noticeable upsurge in research within this domain in recent years (2018-2023). The present analysis sheds light on the key contributors in terms of researchers, institutions, countries, and trending topics that have propelled the advancement of AI in dementia research. These findings collectively underscore that the integration of AI with conventional treatment approaches enhances the effectiveness of dementia diagnosis, prediction, classification, and monitoring of treatment progress.

Statins and the Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Previous epidemiological studies have reported that the use of statins is associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, although the beneficial effects of statins on the reduction of gastric cancer remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between the use of statins and the risk of gastric cancer. Electronic databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2022. Two authors used predefined selection criteria to independently screen all titles, abstracts, and potential full texts. Observational studies (cohort and case-control) or randomized control trials that assessed the association between statins and gastric cancer were included in the primary and secondary analyses. The pooled effect sizes were calculated using the random-effects model. The Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) reporting guidelines were followed to conduct this study. The total sample size across the 20 included studies was 11,870,553. The use of statins was associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer (RRadjusted: 0.72; 95%CI: 0.64−0.81, p < 0.001). However, the effect size of statin use on the risk of gastric cancer was lower in Asian studies compared to Western studies (RRAsian: 0.62; 95%CI: 0.53−0.73 vs. RRwestern: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.79−0.99). These findings suggest that the use of statins is associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer. This reverse association was even stronger among Asian people than Western individuals.

mHealth Research for Weight Loss, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior: Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Research into mobile health (mHealth) technologies on weight loss, physical activity, and sedentary behavior has increased substantially over the last decade; however, no research has been published showing the research trend in this field. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide a dynamic and longitudinal bibliometric analysis of recent trends of mHealth research for weight loss, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted through Web of Science to retrieve all existing relevant documents published in English between January 1, 2010, and November 1, 2021. We developed appropriate research questions; based on the proven bibliometric approaches, a search strategy was formulated to screen the title for eligibility. Finally, we conducted bibliometric analyses to explore the growth rate of publications; publication patterns; and the most productive authors, institutions, and countries, and visualized the trends in the field using a keyword co-occurrence network. RESULTS: The initial search identified 8739 articles, of which 1035 were included in the analyses. Our findings show an exponential growth trend in the number of annual publications of mHealth technology research in these fields. JMIR mHealth and uHealth (n=214, 20.67%), Journal of Medical Internet Research (n=71, 6.86%), and BMC Public Health (n=36, 3.47%) were the top 3 journals, publishing higher numbers of articles. The United States remained the leading contributor in these areas (n=405, 39.13%), followed by Australia (n=154, 14.87%) and England (n=125, 12.07%). Among the universities, the University of Sydney (n=36, 3.47%) contributed the most mHealth technology research in these areas; however, Deakin University (n=25, 2.41%) and the National University of Singapore (n=23, 2.22%) were in the second and third positions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of papers published on mobile technologies for weight loss, physical activity, and sedentary behavior was initially low, there has been an overall increase in these areas in recent years. The findings of the study indicate that mobile apps and technologies have substantial potential to reduce weight, increase physical activity, and change sedentary behavior. Indeed, this study provides a useful overview of the publication trends and valuable guidance on future research directions and perspectives in this rapidly developing field.

Dietary inflammatory index and metabolic syndrome in US children and adolescents: evidence from NHANES 2001-2018.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of children and adolescents are affected by metabolic syndrome (MetS). Dietary inflammatory index (DII) was associated with MetS in adult population. This study aimed to determine the associations between DII scores, MetS, and MetS components among children and adolescents. METHODS: Data of children and adolescents in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database 2001-2008 were obtained. DII was calculated for each participant based on the 24-h dietary recall interview. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to determine the associations between DII, the other study variables and abnormal MetS components. RESULTS: A total of 5,656 US children and adolescents (mean age = 15.49) in the 2001-2018 NHANES database were included. After adjusting for all confounders in the multivariate analysis, the top DII quartile was significantly and independently associated with increased odds of high blood pressure (BP) (aOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.02-5.07) as compared with the lowest DII quartile. DII in quartile 2, 3 or 4 were not significantly associated with increased odds of MetS, high waist circumference (WC), low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), triglyceride (TG) or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as compared with the lowest quartile. In stratified analysis by recommended physical activity level for children and adolescents, no significant association was observed between higher DII and MetS. CONCLUSIONS: Among US children and adolescents, high DII is associated with prevalent high BP but not MetS. The finding may contribute to future policymaking in promoting children's health.

Association between Statin Use and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: Evidence from 18 Observational Studies Comprising 3.7 Million Individuals.

The potential impact of statins on the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) is still controversial; therefore, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of observational studies to examine the effect of statin use on the risk of PD. We searched electronic databases, such as PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science, for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 15 March 2022. Cohort studies which examined the association between statins and PD risk in the general population were also included. Two authors assessed the data and extracted all potential information for analysis. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to measure the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Eighteen cohort studies including 3.7 million individuals with 31,153 PD participants were identified. In statin users, compared with non-users, the RR for PD was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.68-0.91). In a subgroup analysis of PD, this association was observed with medium and high quality, and the studies were adjusted for age, gender, and smoking status. When the data were stratified according to the duration of exposure, long-duration statin use was associated with a decreased risk of PD (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26-0.92). There was no significant decrease in the risk of PD in short-term statin users (RR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.67-1.31). Moreover, no significant difference in the reduction in the risk of PD was observed between men (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.75-0.86) and women (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.75-0.86). Although our findings confirm a reduction in the PD risk associated with statin treatment and suggest that statins play a clinically favorable role, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Future randomized control trials with an ad hoc design are needed to confirm the potential utility of statins in reducing the risk of PD.

Exercise Dosage in Reducing the Risk of Dementia Development: Mode, Duration, and Intensity-A Narrative Review.

Senile dementia, also known as dementia, is the mental deterioration which is associated with aging. It is characterized by a decrease in cognitive abilities, inability to concentrate, and especially the loss of higher cerebral cortex function, including memory, judgment, abstract thinking, and other loss of personality, even behavior changes. As a matter of fact, dementia is the deterioration of mental and intellectual functions caused by brain diseases in adults when they are mature, which affects the comprehensive performance of life and work ability. Most dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple infarct dementia (vascular dementia, multi-infarct dementia). Alzheimer's disease is characterized by atrophy, shedding, and degenerative alterations in brain cells, and its occurrence is linked to age. The fraction of the population with dementia is smaller before the age of 65, and it increases after the age of 65. Since women live longer than men, the proportion of women with Alzheimer's disease is higher. Multiple infarct dementia is caused by a cerebral infarction, which disrupts blood supply in multiple locations and impairs cerebral cortex function. Researchers worldwide are investigating ways to prevent Alzheimer's disease; however, currently, there are no definitive answers for Alzheimer's prevention. Even so, research has shown that we can take steps to reduce the risk of developing it. Prospective studies have found that even light to moderate physical activity can lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Exercise has been proposed as a potential lifestyle intervention to help reduce the occurrence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Various workout modes will be introduced based on various physical conditions. In general, frequent exercise for 6-8 weeks lessens the risk of dementia development.

Statin Use Is Associated with a Decreased Risk of Mortality among Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiological studies remain controversial regarding the association between statin use and reducing the risk of mortality among individuals with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to clarify the association between statin use and the risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a systematic articles search of online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science) between 1 February 2020 and 20 February 2021, with no restriction on language. The following search terms were used: "Statins" and "COVID-19 mortality or COVID19 mortality or SARS-CoV-2 related mortality". Two authors individually examined all articles and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for study inclusion and exclusion. The overall risk ratio (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to show the strength of the association and the heterogeneity among the studies was presented Q and I2 statistic. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were assessed for eligibility and 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Statin use was associated with a significantly decreased risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19 (RR adjusted = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.57-0.72, p < 0.001). Moreover, statin use both before and after the admission was associated with lowering the risk of mortality among the COVID-19 patients (RR adjusted;before = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.56-0.84, p < 0.001 and RR adjusted;after = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.54-0.60, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This comprehensive study showed that statin use is associated with a decreased risk of mortality among individuals with COVID-19. A randomized control trial is needed to confirm and refute the association between them.

Erratum: Cheng, Y.-C., et al. Evidence Supports PA Prescription for Parkinson's Disease: Motor Symptoms and Non-Motor Features: A Scoping Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2894.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to their paper published in IJERPH [1]: authors' affiliation [...].

Evidence Supports PA Prescription for Parkinson's Disease: Motor Symptoms and Non-Motor Features: A Scoping Review.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, which relates to not only motor symptoms, but also cognitive, autonomic, and mood impairments. The literature suggests that pharmacological or surgical treatment has a limited effect on providing relief of the symptoms and also restricting its progression. Recently, research on non-pharmacological interventions for people living with PD (pwPD) that alleviate their motor and non-motor features has shown a new aspect in treating this complex disease. Numerous studies are supporting exercise intervention as being effective in both motor and non-motor facets of PD, such as physical functioning, strength, balance, gait speed, and cognitive impairment. Via the lens of the physical profession, this paper strives to provide another perspective for PD treatment by presenting exercise modes categorized by motor and non-motor PD symptoms, along with its effects and mechanisms. Acknowledging that there is no "one size fits all" exercise prescription for such a variable and progressive disease, this review is to outline tailored physical activities as a credible approach in treating pwPD, conceivably enhancing overall physical capacity, ameliorating the symptoms, reducing the risk of falls and injuries, and, eventually, elevating the quality of life. It also provides references and practical prescription applications for the clinician.

Interventional Effects of Weight-Loss Policy in a Healthy City among Participants with Metabolic Syndrome.

This study aimed to establish a friendly environment of active living and healthy eating for citizens while promoting and increasing knowledge of healthy exercise. Acquisition of physical activity skills and citizens' lifestyle changes result in reduction in rates of obesity and deaths related to underlying metabolism syndrome. This study used a non-experimental cross-sectional design to survey residents living in Taiwan's rural Miaoli County. The inclusion criterion was positive screening for metabolic syndrome. In total, 2068 participants were recruited, and 1886 questionnaires (91.2%) were completed. An organization-spreading strategy and home convenient Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability tactic were applied to the assessment, promotion, evaluation, and planning of the project via an obesity-causing environmental scan, oriental synergy aerobics, acupuncture points massage, guide books, broadcasting, town-based "shape-it-station", and a vending cart created to facilitate the acquisition of healthy foods. After the intervention, results revealed that health condition, regular exercise habits, diet behavior, metabolic syndrome cognition, and body weight became better than before. Appropriate promotion of healthy cities through public health measures may effectively reduce the threat of death due to metabolic syndrome, which in turn reduces overall, and represents successful control of a typical non-communicable disease.

Incidence and Comorbidity of Dementia with Lewy Bodies: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the third most common form of dementia. Epidemiological studies of DLB in Taiwan are scarce. In this study, we estimated the incidence of DLB and comorbidity in the population of Taiwan. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). DLB patients between 2000 and 2013 were enrolled in assessments of incidence and comorbidity. RESULTS: The incidence of DLB was shown to be 7.10 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI = 6.63-7.59), which increased with age. The average age at diagnosis was 76.3, and this was higher for males than for females. The comorbidity rates of hypertension and hyperlipidemia in DLB patients were higher in females than in males. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiologic data from large-scale retrospective studies is crucial to the prevention of DLB.

Effect of Tai Chi Synergy T1 Exercise on Autonomic Function, Metabolism, and Physical Fitness of Healthy Individuals.

OBJECTIVES: Tai Chi synergy T1 exercise is an aerobic exercise derived mainly from Tai Chi exercise. It is also derived from the Eight Trigrams Palms, form and will boxing, mantis boxing, Qigong, and Yoga, with a total of 16 sessions in 63 minutes. In this study, we investigated its effects on autonomic modulation, metabolism, immunity, and physical function in healthy practitioners. METHOD: We recruited a total of 26 volunteers and 23 control participants. Heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded before and after practicing Tai Chi synergy T1 exercise and regular walking for 10 weeks, respectively. Serum glucose, cholesterol, and peripheral blood including B and T cell counts were also measured. They underwent one-minute bent-knee sit-ups, sit and reach test, and three-minute gradual step test. RESULTS: Tai Chi synergy T1 exercise enhanced parasympathetic modulation and attenuated sympathetic nerve control with increased very low frequency (VLF) and high frequency (HF) but decreased low frequency (LF) compared to the control group. Metabolic profiles including serum glucose, cholesterol, and BMI significantly improved after exercise. The exercise enhanced innate and adaptive immunity by increasing the counts of CD3+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, and CD16+CD56+ NK cells but decreasing the CD3+ cytotoxic T cell count. All monitored parameters including physical fitness and physical strength improved after the exercise. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi synergy T1 exercise improves autonomic modulation, body metabolism, physical fitness, and physical strength after 10 weeks of practice.

Shaping the Light: The Key Factors Affecting the Photophysical Properties of Fluorescent Polymer Nanostructures.

To manipulate the functions of nanomaterials more precisely for diverse applications, the controllability and critical influencing factors of their properties must be thoroughly investigated. In this work, the macroscopic and microscopic effects are studied on the photophysical properties of various pyrene-ended poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) nanostructures. Fluorescent polymer nanospheres, nanorods, and nanotubes are prepared by different template-based methods using anodic aluminum oxide membranes. Chain arrangements and conformations are determined as the key factors affecting the photophysical properties of the fluorescent polymer nanostructures. This work not only gives a deeper understanding of the effects on the photophysical properties of polymer nanomaterials influenced by morphologies, chain arrangements, and chain conformations, but also provides a reference for designing proper fluorescent nanostructures for specific applications.

Fabrication of multicomponent polymer nanostructures containing PMMA shells and encapsulated PS nanospheres in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide templates.

Multi-component polymer nanomaterials have attracted great attention because of their applications in areas such as biomedicine, tissue engineering, and organic solar cells. The precise control over the morphologies of multi-component polymer nanomaterials, however, is still a great challenge. In this work, the fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)/poly-styrene (PS) nanostructures that contain PMMA shells and encapsulated PS nanospheres is studied. The nanostructures are prepared using a triple solution wetting method with anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The nanopores of the templates are wetted sequentially by PS solutions in dimethylformamide (DMF), PMMA solutions in acetic acid, and water. The compositions and morphologies of the nanostructures are controlled by the interactions between the polymers, solvents, and AAO walls. This work not only presents a feasible method to prepare multi-component polymer nanomaterials, but also leads to a better understanding of polymer-solvent interactions in confined geometries.

Hybrid Titania Photoanodes with a Nanostructured Multi-Layer Configuration for Highly Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

To construct a hybrid titania photoanode containing nanoparticles and nanorods of varied size in a multilayer (ML) configuration for dye-sensitized solar cells, the essence of our ML design is a bilayer system with additional layers of nanorods of well-controlled size inserted between the transparent and the scattering layers to enhance the light-harvesting capability for photosensitizers with small absorptivity, such as Z907. We measured charge-extraction and intensity-modulated photoelectric spectra to show the advantages of one-dimensional nanorods with an improved electron-transport property and an upward shift of the potential band edge; a favorable ML configuration was constructed to have a cascade potential feature for feasible electron transport from long nanorods, to normal nanorods, to small nanoparticles. On the basis of the ML system reported herein, we demonstrate how the performance of a Z907 device is improved to attain η ∼10%, which is a milestone for its future commercialization.