Burden of non-communicable diseases attributable to high temperature in a changing climate from 1990 to 2019: a global analysis.

BACKGROUND: With global climate change, the health threats of ambient high temperature have received widespread attention. However, latest spatio-temporal patterns of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden attributable to high temperature have not been systematically reported. We aimed to analyze vulnerable areas and populations based on a detailed profile for the NCDs burden attributable to high temperature globally. METHODS: We obtained data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Study (2019) to describe the temporal and spatial patterns of NCDs burden attributable to high temperature globally from 1990-2019. Then we analyzed the differences by region, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Finally, the age­period­cohort (APC) model was utilized to explore the age, period, and cohort effects of NCDs mortality caused by high temperature. RESULTS: In 2019, the number of deaths and Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from high-temperature-related NCDs was about 150,000 and 3.4 million globally, of which about 70% were in South Asia and North Africa and Middle East, and the burden was higher in men. Among 204 countries and territories, the highest age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) were observed in Oman and United Arab Emirates, respectively. The global burden showed an upward trend from 1990 to 2019, with an EAPC of 3.66 (95%CI: 3.14-4.18) for ASMR and 3.68 (95%CI: 3.16-4.21) for ASDR. Cardiovascular diseases were the main contributors to the global burden of high-temperature-related NCDs in 2019. The age and period effect in APC model showed an increasing trend globally. There was a significant negative correlation between SDI and both ASMR (r = -0.17) and ASDR (r = -0.20) from 1990 to 2019. CONCLUSION: There was an increasing trend of the global burden of high-temperature-related NCDs. The burden was likely to be higher in males and the elderly, as well as in countries and regions with less economically and socially developed and in tropical climates. Surveillance and prevention measures should be implemented with a focus on these vulnerable areas and susceptible populations.

Integrating Polyoxometalates and Silver Clusters into Atomically Precise Molecular Heterojunction.

The Ag cluster-POM assemblies have been shown to possess interesting and potentially useful properties. However, there is no precedent example of atomically precise Ag cluster-POM assemblies showing heterojunction effects in photocatalysis. Herein, the synthesis and total structure determination of the periodically distributed molecular heterojunction [Ag12(SCy)6(CH3CN)12(PW12O40)]n (Ag12-PW12) are reported. The assembly of Ag/W clusters into 3D network can endow the resulting binary structure with an aesthetic topology and unique physicochemical properties. More remarkably, the incorporation of Ag12 cluster with PW12 can efficiently facilitate the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus significantly promoting the catalytic efficiency in selective oxidation of sulfides. The Ag12-PW12 heterojunction can be recovered and reused five times with no drastic change in the catalytic performance. This research is expected to assist in the rational design of cluster-based heterojunction catalysts. The increase of catalytic activity of the Ag12-PW12 assembly in comparison with the unassembled Ag12 and PW12 clusters is attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag12 and PW12 clusters, offering the splendid opportunity for deciphering structure-reactivity relationship of heterostructure-coupled photosystem.

Pristine MOF Materials for Separator Application in Lithium-Sulfur Battery.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted significant attention in the realm of electronic energy storage and conversion owing to their remarkable theoretical energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, Li-S batteries continue to face significant challenges, primarily the severe polysulfides shuttle effect and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, which are inherent obstacles to their practical application. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), known for their porous structure, high adsorption capacity, structural flexibility, and easy synthesis, have emerged as ideal materials for separator modification. Efficient polysulfides interception/conversion ability and rapid lithium-ion conduction enabled by MOFs modified layers are demonstrated in Li-S batteries. In this perspective, the objective is to present an overview of recent advancements in utilizing pristine MOF materials as modification layers for separators in Li-S batteries. The mechanisms behind the enhanced electrochemical performance resulting from each design strategy are explained. The viewpoints and crucial challenges requiring resolution are also concluded for pristine MOFs separator in Li-S batteries. Moreover, some promising materials and concepts based on MOFs are proposed to enhance electrochemical performance and investigate polysulfides adsorption/conversion mechanisms. These efforts are expected to contribute to the future advancement of MOFs in advanced Li-S batteries.

Factors associated with under-five mortality in Rwanda: An analysis of the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2020.

Despite global and Rwandan progress in reducing under-five mortality, the risk of children dying before their fifth birthday persists, necessitating intensified research on determinants. Thus, this study analyzed the birth history data to shed light on the underlying causes of under-five mortality in Rwanda. The study is a secondary analysis of data sourced from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) cross-sectional design. Using SPSS, the data was cleaned, recoded, and weighted, with descriptive and inferential statistics applied. The dependent variable was the child's living status, while independent variables included socio-demographic, media exposure status of mothers, child, and environmental factors. A total of 10267 under-five children of all interviewed mothers were included in the final analysis, of which 12.3% (1260) died. Maternal age (25-34 years: AOR = 1.514, 95% CI = 1.130-2.029, p = 0.005; 45+: AOR = 13.226, 95% CI = 9.253-18.905, p<0.001), occupational status (agricultural workers and other services), and three or more births within five years (AOR = 1.895, 95% CI = 1.433-2.508, p<0.001) significantly increase the risk of under-five mortality. Conversely, maternal education (primary: AOR = 0.821, p = 0.023; secondary: AOR = 0.533, p<0.001; higher: AOR = 0.365, p = 0.010) and higher wealth indexes (middle: AOR = 0.743, p = 0.001; rich: AOR = 0.612, p<0.001), as well as current breastfeeding (AOR = 0.524, 95% CI = 0.455-0.603, p-value <0.001), are associated with lower under-five mortality. Child sex significantly impacts under-five mortality (AOR = 0.873, 95% CI = 0.770-0.991, p = 0.035), favoring females over males. Conversely, multiple birth type children face higher under-five mortality (AOR = 3.541, 95% CI = 2.727-4.599, p<0.001) compared to singletons. Children in the northern (AOR = 1.478, 95% CI = 1.086-2.011, p = 0.013) and eastern (AOR = 1.470, 95% CI = 1.097-1.971, p = 0.010) regions are more susceptible to mortality compared to those in the central (Kigali) region. Additionally, under-five mortality is higher when using water from tanks and other sources (AOR = 2.240, 95% CI = 1.471-3.411, p<0.001) than piped water. This study identifies crucial factors linked to under-five mortality, underscoring the importance of prioritizing them in interventions to enhance Rwandan under-five survival rates.

Disease burden of COPD attributable to PM2.5 in China, Japan and South Korea from 1990 to 2019: a comparative study based on Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

OBJECTIVE: We hope to reveal the changing trends of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) burden attributable to particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) and its age, period and cohort effects in China, Japan and Korea. DESIGN: We analysed the trend of COPD disease burden attributable to PM2.5 from 1990 to 2019 based on the latest Global Burden of Disease Database (GBD 2019) using JoinPoint model and analysed the effect of age, period and cohort on COPD burden attributable to PM2.5 in China, Japan and Korea from 1990 to 2019 using age-period-cohort model (model). SETTING: GBD data from 1990 to 2019. PARTICIPANTS: Data were publicly available and individuals were not involved. MAIN OUTCOMES: Outcomes included the age standardised mortality rate (ASMR), the age-standardised disability-adjusted life year (DALY), average annual per cent change (AAPC), net drift, local drift, longitudinal age curves, period (cohort) rate ratios, age (period, cohort) bias coefficient. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2019, the ASMR of COPD attributable to PM2.5 in China (AAPC=-5.862), Japan (AAPC=-1.715) and Korea (AAPC=-1.831) showed a downward trend. The age-standardised DALY of COPD attributable to PM2.5 in China (AAPC=-5.821), Japan (AAPC=-1.39) and Korea (AAPC=-1.239) showed a downward trend. Mortality of COPD attributable to PM2.5 increased slowly with age in Korea and Japan. Mortality of COPD attributable to PM2.5 in China decreased after rising (95% CI: 404.66 to 466.01). Mortality of COPD attributable to PM2.5 decreased over time in China and Korea, while it increased in Japan from 2015 to 2019. In China and Japan, mortality of COPD attributable to PM2.5 was approximately lower the later the birth, while in Korea it decreased after an increase (95% CI: 2.13 to 2.40) in the 1900-1910. CONCLUSIONS: Most COPD burden attributable to PM2.5 is on the decline; COPD mortality attributable to PM2.5 both increased with age and decreased with time and cohort. Countries with high burden should develop targeted measures to control PM2.5.

Effects of traditional Chinese exercises in fibromyalgia syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy and safety of five traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Cochrane, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to TCEs published from inception until February 2023. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to determine the combined effects of the intervention, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool and Review 5.2 software were used to assess methodological quality. The data were extracted and analyzed by the Stata15.0 random effects model. RESULTS: Nineteen RCTs including 1315 participants were included in the analysis. The studies were found to be heterogeneous (I2 =86.2, P = 0.000), and thus a random effects model was used to combine the data. The results showed that traditional Chinese exercises had potentially beneficial effects on reducing pain (SMD =-0.66,95% CI [-1.08, -0.25], P = 0.002), improving sleep (SMD = -0.35,95% CI [-0.68,0. 01], P = 0.041) and relieving depression (SMD= -0.24,95% CI [-0.47, -0.02], P = 0.034) in FMS patients. However, no significant effects were found on improved quality of life (SMD =-0.20,95% CI [-0.48,0.09], P = 0.176). CONCLUSIONS: TCEs can improve pain, sleep quality and depression in patients with FMS and are safe. However, they do not improve the quality of life significantly. Further large-scale, high-quality, and multi-center RCTs are required to verify the efficacy of TCEs.

The relationship between loneliness and problematic social media usage in Chinese university students: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of cross-sectional studies have explored the correlation between loneliness and problematic social media use. However, the causal relationship between these two key variables remains controversial, and the developmental relationship over time is unclear. METHODS: We conducted a one-year longitudinal study with 538 Chinese college students using questionnaires and employing cross-lagged and latent growth models to investigate the causal relationship and developmental dynamics between loneliness and problematic social media use. RESULTS: The results indicate that (a) loneliness and problematic social media use mutually and positively influence each other, establishing a bidirectional causal relationship; (b) Chinese college students experience a gradual increase in levels of loneliness and problematic social media use during their time in college; and (c) the intercept and slope of loneliness significantly and positively affect the intercept and slope of problematic social media use, and conversely, the intercept and slope of problematic social media use significantly and positively influence the intercept and slope of loneliness. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and problematic social media use among Chinese college students and offer insights for researchers and educators to intervene in college students' loneliness and problematic social media use from a developmental perspective.

Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework to Upgrade Cycling Stability and Rate Capability of Li-CO2 Batteries.

Elaborately designed multifunctional electrocatalysts capable of promoting Li+ and CO2 transport are essential for upgrading the cycling stability and rate capability of Li-CO2 batteries. Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) with open channels and easily functionalized surfaces hold great potential for applications in efficient cathodes of Li-CO2 batteries. Herein, a robust HOFS (HOF-FJU-1) is introduced for the first time as a co-catalyst in the cathode material of Li-CO2 batteries. HOF-FJU-1 with cyano groups located periodically in the pore can induce homogeneous deposition of discharge products and accommodate volumetric expansion of discharge products during cycling. Besides, HOF-FJU-1 enables effective interaction between Ru0 nanoparticles and cyano groups, thus forming efficient and uniform catalytic sites for CRR/CER. Moreover, HOF-FJU-1 with regularly arranged open channels are beneficial for CO2 and Li+ transport, enabling rapid redox kinetic conversion of CO2 . Therefore, the HOF-based Li-CO2 batteries are capable of stable operation at 400 mA g-1 for 1800 h and maintain a low overpotential of 1.96 V even at high current densities up to 5 A g-1 . This work provides valuable guidance for developing multifunctional HOF-based catalysts to upgrade the longevity and rate capability of Li-CO2 batteries.

Combining intralesional steroid injection with oral steroids in patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a chronic inflammatory breast disease. Currently, there is no international standard for steroid use in IGM, particularly for intralesional steroid injections. This study aimed to determine whether patients with IGM who received oral steroids could benefit from intralesional steroid injection. We analyzed 62 patients with IGM whose main clinical presentation was mastitis masses and who received preoperative steroid therapy. Group A (n = 34) received combined steroid treatment: oral steroids (starting dose, 0.25 mg/kg/d; tapered off) and intralesional steroid injection (20 mg per session). Group B (n = 28) received oral steroids only (starting dose, 0.5 mg/kg/d; tapered off). Both groups underwent lumpectomy at the end of steroid treatment. We analyzed the preoperative treatment time, preoperative mass maximum diameter reduction rate, side effects, postoperative satisfaction, and rate of IGM recurrence. The mean age of the 62 participants was 33.6 ± 2.3 (range, 26-46) years, and all had unilateral disease. We found that oral steroids combined with intralesional steroid injection yielded better therapeutic effects than did oral steroids alone. The median maximum diameter reduction of the breast mass was 52.06% in group A and 30.00% in group B (P = .002). Moreover, the use of intralesional steroids reduced the duration of oral steroid use; the median durations of preoperative steroid therapy were 4 and 7 weeks in groups A and B, respectively (P < .001). Group A patients were more satisfied (P = .035) with the postoperative results, including postoperative appearance and function. No statistically significant between-group differences were noted regarding side effects and recurrence rates. Preoperative administration of oral steroids combined with intralesional steroid injection yielded better therapeutic effects than did oral steroids alone and may be an effective future treatment for IGM.

The impact of humor therapy on people suffering from depression or anxiety: An integrative literature review.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and synthesize existing research on the effectiveness and feasibility of multiform humor therapy on people suffering from depression or anxiety, with the hope of benefiting future research. METHODS: An integrative literature review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed studies was performed. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched up to March 2022. Two independent reviewers conducted each stage of the review process, by assessing eligibility using preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and data extraction. RESULTS: In this integrative review, 29 papers were included, containing 2964 participants across a diverse range of studies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The articles were from the United States, Australia, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, Iran, Israel, China, and Germany. The findings indicated that most of the subjects thought humor therapy was effective in improving depression and anxiety while a few participants considered the effect insignificant. However, more high-quality studies will be needed to confirm these conclusions. DISCUSSION: This review collated and summarized findings from studies examining the impact of humor therapy (medical clowns, laughter therapy/yoga) on people with depression or anxiety, including children undergoing surgery or anesthesia, older people in nursing homes, patients with Parkinson's disease, cancer, mental illness, and undergoing dialysis, retired women, and college students. The results from this review may help inform future research, policy, and practice in humor therapy to improve people's symptoms of depression and anxiety. IMPACT: This systematic review objectively evaluated the effect of humor therapy on depression and anxiety. As a simple and feasible complementary alternative therapy, humor therapy may provide a favorable alternative for clinicians, nurses, and patients in the future.

Improved cloud storage auditing scheme with deduplication.

Cloud storage has become a crucial service for many users who deal with big data. The auditing scheme for cloud storage is a mechanism that checks the integrity of outsourced data. Cloud storage deduplication is a technique that helps cloud service providers save on storage costs by storing only one copy of a file when multiple users outsource the same file to cloud servers. However, combining storage auditing and deduplication techniques can be challenging. To address this challenge, in 2019 Hou et al. proposed a cloud storage auditing scheme with deduplication that supports different security levels of data popularity. This proposal is interesting and has practical applications. However, in this paper, we show that their proposal has a flaw: the cloud or other adversaries can easily forge the data block's authenticators, which means the cloud can delete all the outsourced encrypted data blocks but still provide correct storage proof for the third-party auditor. Based on Hou et al.'s scheme, we propose an improved cloud storage auditing scheme with deduplication and analyze its security. The results show that the proposed scheme is more secure.

Mo2 N-ZrO2 Heterostructure Engineering in Freestanding Carbon Nanofibers for Upgrading Cycling Stability and Energy Efficiency of Li-CO2 Batteries.

Li-CO2 batteries have attracted considerable attention for their advantages of CO2 fixation and high energy density. However, the sluggish dynamics of CO2 reduction/evolution reactions restrict the practical application of Li-CO2 batteries. Herein, a dual-functional Mo2 N-ZrO2 heterostructure engineering in conductive freestanding carbon nanofibers (Mo2 N-ZrO2 @NCNF) is reported. The integration of Mo2 N-ZrO2 heterostructure in porous carbons provides the opportunity to simultaneously accelerate electron transport, boost CO2 conversion, and stabilize intermediate discharge product Li2 C2 O4 . Benefiting from the synchronous advantages, the Mo2 N-ZrO2 @NCNF catalyst endows the Li-CO2 batteries with excellent cycle stability, good rate capability, and high energy efficiency even under high current densities. The designed cathodes exhibit an ultrahigh energy efficiency of 89.8% and a low charging voltage below 3.3 V with a potential gap of 0.32 V. Remarkably, stable operation over 400 cycles can be achieved even at high current densities of 50 µA cm-2 . This work provides valuable guidance for developing multifunctional heterostructured catalysts to upgrade longevity and energy efficiency of Li-CO2 batteries.

Enhanced hydrogen evolution activity of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals achieved by dimensionality change.

Dimensionality plays a vital role at the nanoscale in tuning the electronical and photophysical properties and surface features of perovskite nanocrystals. Here, 3D and 1D all-inorganic CsPbBr3 nanocrystals were chosen as model materials to systemically reveal the dimensionality-dependent effect in photocatalytic H2 evolution. In terms of facilitating photoinduced electron-hole pair separation and charge transfer, as well as inducing proton reduction potential with the presence of fewer Br vacancies, 1D CsPbBr3 nanorods gave about a 5-fold improvement for solar H2 evolution.

Privacy protection framework for face recognition in edge-based Internet of Things.

Edge computing (EC) gets the Internet of Things (IoT)-based face recognition systems out of trouble caused by limited storage and computing resources of local or mobile terminals. However, data privacy leak remains a concerning problem. Previous studies only focused on some stages of face data processing, while this study focuses on the privacy protection of face data throughout its entire life cycle. Therefore, we propose a general privacy protection framework for edge-based face recognition (EFR) systems. To protect the privacy of face images and training models transmitted between edges and the remote cloud, we design a local differential privacy (LDP) algorithm based on the proportion difference of feature information. In addition, we also introduced identity authentication and hash technology to ensure the legitimacy of the terminal device and the integrity of the face image in the data acquisition phase. Theoretical analysis proves the rationality and feasibility of the scheme. Compared with the non-privacy protection situation and the equal privacy budget allocation method, our method achieves the best balance between availability and privacy protection in the numerical experiment.

Efficacy of digital breast tomosynthesis combined with magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer in China rank 120th and 163rd, worldwide, respectively. The incidence of breast cancer is on the rise; the risk increases with age but is slightly reduced after menopause. Early screening, diagnosis, and timely determination of the best treatment plan can ensure clinical efficacy and prognosis. AIM: To evaluate the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in diagnosing early breast cancer and the effect of breast-conserving surgery by arc incision. METHODS: This study was divided into two parts. Firstly, 110 patients with early breast cancer confirmed by pathological examination and 110 with benign breast diseases diagnosed simultaneously in Changzhi People's Hospital of Shanxi Province and Shanxi Dayi Hospital from May 2019 to September 2020 were included in the breast cancer group and the benign group, respectively. Both groups underwent DBT and MRI examination, and the pathological results were used as the gold standard to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined application of DBT and MRI in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. Secondly, according to the operation method, 110 patients with breast cancer were divided into either a breast-conserving group (69 patients) or a modified radical mastectomy group (41 patients). The surgical effect, cosmetic effect, and quality of life of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Among the 110 cases of breast cancer, 66 were of invasive ductal carcinoma (60.00%), and 22 were of ductal carcinoma in situ (20.00%). Among the 110 cases of benign breast tumors, 55 were of breast fibromas (50.00%), and 27 were of breast adenosis (24.55%). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of DBT in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors were 73.64%, 84.55%, and 0.791, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of MRI in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors were 84.55%, 85.45%, and 0.850, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of DBT combined with MRI in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors were 97.27%, 93.64%, and 0.955, respectively. The blood loss, operation time and hospitalization time of the breast-conserving group were significantly lower than those of the modified radical treatment group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After 3 mo of observation, the breast cosmetic effect of the breast-conserving group was better than that of the modified radical group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Before surgery, the quality-of-life scores of the breast-conserving and modified radical mastectomy groups did not differ (P > 0.05). Three months after surgery, the quality-of-life scores in both groups were higher than those before surgery (P < 0.05), and the quality-of-life score of the breast-conserving group was higher than that of the modified radical group (P < 0.05). In the observation of tumor recurrence rate two years after the operation, four patients in the breast-conserving group and one in the modified radical treatment group had a postoperative recurrence. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups (χ 2 = 0.668, P = 0.414 > 0.05). CONCLUSION: MRI combined with DBT in diagnosing early breast cancer can significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy compared with the two alone. Breast-conserving surgery leads to better cosmetic breast effects and reduces the impact of surgery on postoperative quality of life.

Cationic metal-organic framework derived ruthenium-copper nano-alloys in porous carbon to catalytically boost the cycle life of Li-CO2 batteries.

Rechargeable Li-CO2 batteries are an innovative energy storage technology with broad application prospects owing to their superb energy density and ability to capture the greenhouse gas CO2. However, they are still suffering from severe challenges in the formation and decomposition of electrochemically sluggish Li2CO3 discharge products, resulting in poor battery performance. Development of an efficient cathodic electrocatalyst has the potential to address these issues by catalytically boosting the conversion of Li2CO3. Herein, we have designed a Ru-Cu nanoalloy decorated porous carbon (Ru-Cu@NPC) material derived from an anion-exchanged cationic MOF, and it can serve as an efficient cathode electrocatalyst for Li-CO2 batteries. Benefitting from the uniform distribution of ultrafine Ru-Cu nanoalloys with high catalytic performance, Ru-Cu@NPC displays excellent CO2 reduction and evolution activities. Impressively, the Li-CO2 battery with the Ru-Cu@NPC catalyst exhibits a remarkably low potential gap of 0.93 V at 100 mA g-1 and a stable discharge/charge cycling performance of more than 400 cycles at a high current density of 400 mA g-1 within a limiting capacity of 1000 mA h g-1. The study provides an opportunity for the research of cationic MOF derived bimetallic catalysts in the Li-CO2 battery field.

ZIF-8@MXene-reinforced flame-retardant and highly conductive polymer composite electrolyte for dendrite-free lithium metal batteries.

Though polymer electrolytes have been regarded as promising separators for solid-state lithium metal batteries, their low ionic conductivity, poor thermostability and inflammability limit their practical applications. Herein, a polymer composite electrolyte consisting of metal-organic frameworks modified Ti3C2-MXene nanosheets (ZIF-8@MXene) and polymer mixture (PE-ZIF-8@MXene) was fabricated. The fabricated nonflammable ZIF-8@MXene nanosheets have abundant functional groups and Lewis acid sites as well as high specific surface area. In the composite electrolyte, ZIF-8@MXene nanosheets increased the dissociation of lithium salts and provided channels for transporting ions, accelerating the Li ion transportation. They also enhanced the tensile strength, thermostability and flame resistance of PE-ZIF-8@MXene. Consequently, the fabricated flame-retardant PE-ZIF-8@MXene presented high ionic conductivity (4.4 mS cm-1), impressive Li+ transference number (0.76) and enhanced tensile strength (3.77 MPa). In addition, the assembled Li|PE-ZIF-8@MXene|Li had a long cycle life of 2000 h, and Li|PE-ZIF-8@MXene|LiFePO4 batteries displayed a capacity retention of 89.6% after 500 cycles.

Highly Conductive and Thermostable Grafted Polyrotaxane/Ceramic Hybrid Polymer Electrolyte for Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Although polymer electrolytes have been regarded as potential separator materials for high energy density solid-state lithium-based batteries, their applications were significantly restricted by the low ionic conductivity, poor mechanical strength, and thermostability. Herein, a highly conductive and thermostable hybrid polymer electrolyte was developed by combining poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)-grafted polyrotaxane and nano-Al2O3 particles. In this unique hybrid, not only the Lewis acid-type Al2O3 and the fluorine groups of polyrotaxane branches exhibited strong integration with ionic species to accelerate the dissociation of lithium salt, improving the Li ionic conductivity, but also the abundant hydroxy functional groups on the surface of Al2O3 hydrogen-bonded with fluorine-containing branches, enhancing the mechanical strength. More importantly, the hybrid electrolyte exhibited superior thermal stability due to the heat resistance of the ceramic filler and the unique bead string structure of polyrotaxane. Consequently, a polymer electrolyte with a comprehensively improved performance was obtained, including high ionic conductivity and Li+ transfer number and superior tensile strength and thermostability. The hybrid electrolyte provided a dendrite-free lithium anode with a long life up to 1800 h and stable solid-state lithium-metal batteries at a high temperature of 80 °C.

Sequential occurrence of different subtypes of nonpuerperal mastitis in contralateral breasts: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Nonpuerperal mastitis (NPM) is a nonspecific chronic inflammation in the breast. The two most common pathologic subtypes are idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) and plasma cell mastitis (PCM). The cause of NPM is unknown, and the recurrence rate is high; however, the sequential development of two different pathologic subtypes of NPM in contralateral breasts of the same patient is rare. CASE SUMMARY: Two women who were in their 30 s and with a history of childbearing had an inflammatory mass in one breast, which was identified as PCM by core needle biopsy. However, 1 year after treatment, IGM occurred in the contralateral breast. Histopathologic results after the surgery confirmed both diagnoses. New-onset PCM in both patients was successfully treated with local extended surgical resection and antibiotics combined with incision and drainage. The IGM that developed in the contralateral breast after 1 year was treated with local extended surgical resection and oral steroids. No signs of NPM recurrence were observed in either breast after a follow-up period of more than 1 year. CONCLUSION: Because recurrence after NPM treatment often occurs in the affected breast, the contralateral breast, which does not often exhibit morbidity factors, is often ignored during treatment follow-up. However, our cases suggest that patients with the occurrence of NPM in one breast should undergo long-term follow-up of the contralateral breast by close monitoring. NPM recurrence should also be considered when there is pain, redness, and swelling in the contralateral breast.