Hydrophobic Surface Array Structure Based on Laser-Induced Graphene for Deicing and Anti-Icing Applications.

The exceptional performance of graphene has driven the advancement of its preparation techniques and applications. Laser-induced graphene (LIG), as a novel graphene preparation technique, has been applied in various fields. Graphene periodic structures created by the LIG technique exhibit superhydrophobic characteristics and can be used for deicing and anti-icing applications, which are significantly influenced by the laser parameters. The laser surface treatment process was simulated by a finite element software analysis (COMSOL Multiphysics) to optimize the scanning parameter range, and the linear array surface structure was subsequently fabricated by the LIG technique. The generation of graphene was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The periodic linear array structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser imaging (CLSM). In addition, CLSM testings, contact angle measurements, and delayed icing experiments were systematically performed to investigate the effect of scanning speed on surface hydrophobicity. The results show that high-quality and uniform graphene can be achieved using the laser scanning speed of 125 mm/s. The periodic linear array structures can obviously increase the contact angle and suppress delayed icing. Furthermore, these structures have the enhanced ability of the electric heating deicing, which can reach 100 °C and 240 °C within 15 s and within 60 s under the DC voltage power supply ranging from 3 to 7 V, respectively. These results indicate that the LIG technique can be developed to provide an efficient, economical, and convenient approach for preparing graphene and that the hydrophobic surface array structure based on LIG has considerable potential for deicing and anti-icing applications.

A Flexible Wearable Sensor Based on Laser-Induced Graphene for High-Precision Fine Motion Capture for Pilots.

There has been a significant shift in research focus in recent years toward laser-induced graphene (LIG), which is a high-performance material with immense potential for use in energy storage, ultrahydrophobic water applications, and electronic devices. In particular, LIG has demonstrated considerable potential in the field of high-precision human motion posture capture using flexible sensing materials. In this study, we investigated the surface morphology evolution and performance of LIG formed by varying the laser energy accumulation times. Further, to capture human motion posture, we evaluated the performance of highly accurate flexible wearable sensors based on LIG. The experimental results showed that the sensors prepared using LIG exhibited exceptional flexibility and mechanical performance when the laser energy accumulation was optimized three times. They exhibited remarkable attributes, such as high sensitivity (~41.4), a low detection limit (0.05%), a rapid time response (response time of ~150 ms; relaxation time of ~100 ms), and excellent response stability even after 2000 s at a strain of 1.0% or 8.0%. These findings unequivocally show that flexible wearable sensors based on LIG have significant potential for capturing human motion posture, wrist pulse rates, and eye blinking patterns. Moreover, the sensors can capture various physiological signals for pilots to provide real-time capturing.

Risk factors of enteral feeding intolerance in severe acute pancreatitis patients: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) have gastrointestinal dysfunction, and enteral nutrition intolerance is easy to occur during the implementation of enteral nutrition, which leads to the suspension or termination of enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition cannot tolerate the influence of many factors. At present, there is a lack of analysis on the influencing factors of enteral nutrition intolerance in patients with SAP. Therefore, this study analyzed the factors of enteral nutrition intolerance in patients with SAP by meta-analysis, to provide a basis for the protection of enteral nutrition in patients with SAP. METHODS: Databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang) were searched using index words to find relevant studies published before March 2021. Meta-analyses of relative risk were performed for the identification of risk factors. RESULTS: We will disseminate the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis via publications in peer-reviewed journals. CONCLUSION: This study systematically reviewed the existing evidence and determined the incidence and predictors of enteral nutrition intolerance in patients with SAP.

Relationship between Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Peripheral Blood ET, TLR2 and TLR4 in Ulcerative Colitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and Endotoxin (ET) concentration in peripheral blood, and levels of toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and TLR4 expression on surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with ulcerative colitis. STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from July 2018 to October 2019. METHODOLOGY: The 130 patients with ulcerative colitis were included in case group. Another 72 healthy cases were selected as control group. SIBO, ET, TLR2, and TLR4, were determined, and compared. RESULTS: Positive rate of SIBO in case group was higher than that in control group (p <0.001). Lactulose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) intestine set value, peripheral blood ET concentration, and TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels on surface of PBMCs in case group were higher than those in control group (all p <0.001); the above indexes in SIBO-positive patients in case group were higher than those in SIBO-negative patients in case group (all p <0.001). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that LHBT intestine set value of SIBO-positive patients in case group was positively correlated with ET concentration, and TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels on surface of PBMCs (r= 0.910, p <0.001; r = 0.970, p <0.001; and r = 0.965, p <0.001 respectively). ET concentration of SIBO-positive patients in case group was positively correlated with expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4 on surface of PBMCs (r=0.962, p <0.001; and r = 0.829 p <0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with ulcerative colitis are easy to occur SIBO, and SIBO increases blood endotoxin, TLR2 and TLR4 levels. Synergistic effects of endotoxin and endotoxin receptors TLR2 and TLR4 overexpression mediate body inflammation and may be involved in progression of ulcerative colitis. Patients with ulcerative colitis with excessive growth of small intestinal bacteria are more likely to have hypertoxemia.

Increasing gastric juice pH level prior to anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy may be beneficial to the healing of duodenal ulcers.

The aim of this study was to observe the efficacy of clarithromycin-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-infected duodenal ulcer when combined with different pH levels of gastric juices. A total of 160 patients with Hp-infected duodenal ulcers were randomly allocated into two groups. Patients in the treatment group (n=80) were administered a 20-mg dose of omeprazole twice daily for 1 week and then the treatment and control groups (n=80) received therapy for Hp infection and duodenal ulcers. We observed the ulcer healing stage, the content of anti-Hp IgA in gastric juice and the Hp eradication rate before and after proton pump inhibitor therapy in the two groups. Results revealed that the Hp eradication rate in the treatment group was 93% compared with 81% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The ulcer healing rate in the treatment group was 93%, compared with 70% in the control group (P<0.05). A positive linear correlation was observed between gastric pH and the content of anti-Hp IgA in gastric juice (P<0.05). Increasing gastric pH prior to anti-Hp therapy may be beneficial to the eradication of Hp and for promoting the healing of duodenal ulcers.