Efficient Fabrication of Micro/Nanostructured Polyethylene/Carbon Nanotubes Foam with Robust Superhydrophobicity, Excellent Photothermality, and Sufficient Adaptability for All-Weather Freshwater Harvesting.

The integration of fog collection and solar-driven evaporation has great significance in addressing the challenge of the global freshwater crisis. Herein, a micro/nanostructured polyethylene/carbon nanotubes foam with interconnected open-cell structure (MN-PCG) is fabricated using an industrialized micro extrusion compression molding technology. The 3D surface micro/nanostructure provides sufficient nucleation points for tiny water droplets to harvest moisture from humid air and a fog harvesting efficiency of 1451 mg cm-2 h-1 is achieved at night. The homogeneously dispersed carbon nanotubes and the graphite oxide@carbon nanotubes coating endow the MN-PCG foam with excellent photothermal properties. Benefitting from the excellent photothermal property and sufficient steam escape channels, the MN-PCG foam attains a superior evaporation rate of 2.42 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 Sun illumination. Consequently, a daily yield of ≈35 kg m-2 is realized by the integration of fog collection and solar-driven evaporation. Moreover, the robust superhydrophobicity, acid/alkali tolerance, thermal resistance, and passive/active de-icing properties provide a guarantee for the long-term work of the MN-PCG foam during practical outdoor applications. The large-scale fabrication method for an all-weather freshwater harvester offers an excellent solution to address the global water scarcity.

High-efficiency static speckle-suppression method based on a combination of beam splitting cavity and liquid-core fiber.

Current static speckle suppression methods have an extremely large system size and unsatisfactory performance. This study proposes a device called beam-splitting cavity (BSC) and establishes a model of speckle suppression based on the combination of BSC and a liquid-core fiber. Subsequently, a passive static speckle suppression system is constructed and the key factors affecting the speckle contrast are studied. Consequently, the speckle contrast was reduced from 30.2% to 3.1%, which is below the human-eye speckle-discrimination limit (<4%). The scheme consists entirely of passive optical elements, which are more applicable to projectors than the traditional static and dynamic speckle-suppression methods.

Design of the quadrangular prism beam splitting receiving system in the MEMS-based scanning LIDAR.

The detector bandwidth and photosensitive surface aperture are the key parameters in the high-precision and high-definition scanning 3D imaging LIDAR system, which usually require a high detector bandwidth and large photosensitive surface aperture. In order to solve the problem of a high bandwidth and small photosensitive surface of existing InGaAs detectors, this paper proposes a beam splitting method using a pair of quadrangular prisms to realize beam splitting the reception of return laser beams, which increases both the receiving field of view (FOV) and the effective photosensitive surface of the detector. The principle and structure of the prism beam splitter are discussed; a beam splitting receiving optical system with a pair of quadrangular prisms is presented, and the beam splitting effect verified by its simulation experiment is analyzed. With this novel, to the best of our knowledge, light splitting receiving method, the receiving FOV can be effectively increased to ±5∘, and the effective photosensitive surface aperture of the detector can be increased from 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

Revealing working mechanisms of PFN as a cathode interlayer in conventional and inverted polymer solar cells.

Energy level alignments at the PC71BM/PFN/Ag interface in conventional polymer solar cells (c-PSCs) and the ITO/PFN/PC71BM interface in inverted polymer solar cells (i-PSCs) are systematically investigated via ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and by using the integer charge transfer (ICT) model. The findings demonstrate that PFN as a cathode interlayer is able to effectively reduce the electron extraction barriers from 0.72 eV to 0.38 eV for the c-PSCs and from 0.58 eV to 0.36 eV for the i-PSCs, respectively. In the c-PSCs, the final modified electron extraction barrier matches the predicted value (∼0.4 eV) using the ICT model. In the i-PSCs, there exists an intermixing layer of PFN and the active layer above PFN because some PFN is dissolved by the organic solvent in the active layer solution, resulting in a special energy level alignment at the PFN/PC71BM interface. ITO/PFN (2 nm)/PC71BM (20 nm) in the i-PSCs actually forms such an interface as ITO/PFN/PFN:PC71BM with an energy level alignment like Al/LiF/PC71BM/PFN (0.65 nm), which rationalizes a higher short circuit and fill factor in the i-PSCs than c-PSCs. Finally, a general model to simulate the intermixing layer between the organic cathode interlayer and the active layer has been proposed to describe the energy level alignment of the complicated interfaces in the i-PSCs.

Physicochemical stability and antibacterial mechanism of theabrownins prepared from tea polyphenols catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase.

Tea polyphenols were used as substrates and oxidized successively by polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase to prepare theabrownins (TBs-dE). The conversion rate of catechins to TBs-dE was 90.91%. The ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopic properties and zeta potential of TBs-dE were characterized. TBs-dE is more stable at pH 5.0-7.0, about 25 °C or in dark environment. Ultraviolet light and sunlight can deepen its color due to the further oxidative polymerization. Mg2+, Cu2+, and Al3+ had a significant effect on the stability of TBs-dE. The inhibitory rates of TBs-dE (1 mg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli DH5α were 51.45% and 45.05%, respectively. After TBs-dE treatment, the cell morphology of both bacteria changed, some cell walls were blurred, and the cytoplasmic content leaked. The research results can provide theoretical support for the industrialization of theabrownins.

Identifying a competency improvement strategy for infection prevention and control professionals: A rapid systematic review and cluster analysis.

Remarkable progress has been made in infection prevention and control (IPC) in many countries, but some gaps emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Core capabilities such as standard clinical precautions and tracing the source of infection were the focus of IPC in medical institutions during the pandemic. Therefore, the core competences of IPC professionals during the pandemic, and how these contributed to successful prevention and control of the epidemic, should be studied. To investigate, using a systematic review and cluster analysis, fundamental improvements in the competences of infection control and prevention professionals that may be emphasized in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and CBM databases for original articles exploring core competencies of IPC professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 1, 2020 to February 7, 2023). Weiciyun software was used for data extraction and the Donohue formula was followed to distinguish high-frequency technical terms. Cluster analysis was performed using the within-group linkage method and squared Euclidean distance as the metric to determine the priority competencies for development. We identified 46 studies with 29 high-frequency technical terms. The most common term was "infection prevention and control training" (184 times, 17.3%), followed by "hand hygiene" (172 times, 16.2%). "Infection prevention and control in clinical practice" was the most-reported core competency (367 times, 34.5%), followed by "microbiology and surveillance" (292 times, 27.5%). Cluster analysis showed two key areas of competence: Category 1 (program management and leadership, patient safety and occupational health, education and microbiology and surveillance) and Category 2 (IPC in clinical practice). During the COVID-19 pandemic, IPC program management and leadership, microbiology and surveillance, education, patient safety, and occupational health were the most important focus of development and should be given due consideration by IPC professionals.

Superhydrophobic Magnetic-Driven Reactor for Microliter Droplet Reaction Interface Visualization.

The development of an efficient, convenient, and cost-effective droplet-driven reactor to observe the reaction microphenomenon is crucial for investigating the chemical reaction and synthesis mechanisms. Herein, an efficient and economical strategy by combining micro-extrusion compression molding (µ-ECM) and surface modification was proposed to fabricate a superhydrophobic magnetic-driven reactor (SMDR) for microliter droplet reaction interface visualization. The wall-like array microstructures with favorable geometric uniformity and the nano-SiO2 coating with uniform dispersion endow the SMDR with robust superhydrophobicity, featuring a contact angle of 159.5 ± 1.0° and a rolling angle of 5.1 ± 0.5°. Due to the uniform dispersion of Fe3O4 in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), the SMDR possesses sensitive magnetic responsiveness, which can drive droplets to move rapidly, continuously, and losslessly on horizontal and inclined planes, even on a plane with an inclination angle of up to 15°. Interestingly, the SMDR was successfully used to visualize the interface formation and evolution of three simple mixing/reaction processes, which provides a convenient, efficient, and low-cost method for the study of the droplet mixing reaction process and interface visualization.

Landsat-based spatiotemporal estimation of subtropical forest aboveground carbon storage using machine learning algorithms with hyperparameter tuning.

Introduction: The aboveground carbon storage (AGC) in forests serves as a crucial metric for evaluating both the composition of the forest ecosystem and the quality of the forest. It also plays a significant role in assessing the quality of regional ecosystems. However, current technical limitations introduce a degree of uncertainty in estimating forest AGC at a regional scale. Despite these challenges, remote sensing technology provides an accurate means of monitoring forest AGC. Furthermore, the implementation of machine learning algorithms can enhance the precision of AGC estimates. Lishui City, with its rich forest resources and an approximate forest coverage rate of 80%, serves as a representative example of the typical subtropical forest distribution in Zhejiang Province. Methods: Therefore, this study uses Landsat remote sensing images, employing backpropagation neural network (BPNN), random forest (RF), and categorical boosting (CatBoost) to model the forest AGC of Lishui City, selecting the best model to estimate and analyze its forest AGC spatiotemporal dynamics over the past 30 years (1989-2019). Results: The study shows that: (1) The texture information calculated based on 9×9 and 11×11 windows is an important variable in constructing the remote sensing estimation model of the forest AGC in Lishui City; (2) All three machine learning techniques are capable of estimating forest AGC in Lishui City with high precision. Notably, the CatBoost algorithm outperforms the others in terms of accuracy, achieving a model training accuracy and testing accuracy R2 of 0.95 and 0.83, and RMSE of 2.98 Mg C ha-1 and 4.93 Mg C ha-1, respectively. (3) Spatially, the central and southwestern regions of Lishui City exhibit high levels of forest AGC, whereas the eastern and northeastern regions display comparatively lower levels. Over time, there has been a consistent increase in the total forest AGC in Lishui City over the past three decades, escalating from 1.36×107 Mg C in 1989 to 6.16×107 Mg C in 2019. Discussion: This study provided a set of effective hyperparameters and model of machine learning suitable for subtropical forests and a reference data for improving carbon sequestration capacity of subtropical forests in Lishui City.

Pneumocystis carinii infection drives upregulation of Fn1 expression that causes pulmonary fibrosis with an inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that may cause pneumonia and lead to pulmonary fibrosis. AIMS: This study attempted to investigate the role of P. carinii infection-related genes in regulating lung fibrosis in mice. METHODS: A screening of P. carinii infection-related differential mRNAs was performed using the GEO database, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction using the STRING website in order to obtain P. carinii infection-related key genes. The development of a mouse model with gene aberrant expression was achieved by utilizing mice carrying the Cre-LoxP recombinase system. Dexamethasone was employed to induce tracheal infection in order to develop a model of pulmonary fibrosis, and the magnitude of lung injury was assessed by performing hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and Masson staining. Lung coefficient and hydroxyproline level were assessed on sections of lung tissue as well. Finally, the magnitude of lung fibrosis and inflammation in mice was determined based on immunofluorescence and on the expression of genes associated with lung fibrosis and inflammation. RESULTS: Fn1 was found by PPI with the highest connectivity in the PPI network associated with immunity and inflammation. Besides, Fn1 was significantly highly expressed in P. carinii-infected mice samples. The P carinii pneumonia (PCP)+Fn1fl/fl group had significantly higher lung coefficients, hydroxyproline levels and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-8 and NLRP3 expression levels, and significantly lower IL-10 expression levels. The results found in PCP+SPC-Cre:Fn1fl/fl group were the opposite. The results of the pulmonary fibrosis level study showed that the PCP+Fn1fl/fl group had the most intense H&E and Masson staining, and significantly higher expression levels of Col1A2, Col3A1 and α-SMA, which were lower in the PCP+SPC-Cre:Fn1fl/fl group. CONCLUSIONS: P. carinii infection may promote the upregulation of Fn1, which causes pulmonary fibrosis with an inflammatory response.

Microplastic-Enhanced Cadmium Toxicity: A Growing Threat to the Sea Grape, Caulerpa lentillifera.

The escalating impact of human activities has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals in marine environments, posing serious threats to marine ecosystems. As essential components of oceanic ecosystems, large seaweeds such as Caulerpa lentillifera play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. This study investigated the effects of MPs and cadmium (Cd) on the growth, physiology, biochemistry, and Cd accumulation in C. lentillifera while elucidating the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms. The results demonstrated that exposure to MPs alone significantly promoted the growth. In contrast, exposure to Cd either alone or in combination with MPs significantly suppressed growth by reducing stem and stolon length, bud count, weight gain, and specific growth rates. Combined exposure to MPs and Cd exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effect on growth. MPs had negligible impact while Cd exposure either alone or combined with MPs impaired antioxidant defenses and exacerbated oxidative damage; with combined exposure being the most detrimental. Analysis of Cd content revealed that MPs significantly increased Cd accumulation in algae intensifying its toxic effects. Gene expression analysis revealed that Cd exposure down-regulated key genes involved in photosynthesis, impairing both photosynthetic efficiency and energy conversion. The combined exposure of MPs and Cd further exacerbated these effects. In contrast, MPs alone activated the ribosome pathway, supporting ribosomal stability and protein synthesis. Additionally, both Cd exposure alone or in combination with MPs significantly reduced chlorophyll B and soluble sugar content, negatively impacting photosynthesis and nutrient accumulation. In summary, low concentrations of MPs promoted C. lentillifera growth, but the presence of Cd hindered it by disrupting photosynthesis and antioxidant mechanisms. Furthermore, the coexistence of MPs intensified the toxic effects of Cd. These findings enhance our understanding of how both MPs and Cd impact large seaweed ecosystems and provide crucial insights for assessing their ecological risks.

Clinical Effectiveness of a 3-Step Versus a 6-Step Hand Hygiene Technique: A Randomized Controlled Cross-over Study.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the clinical effectiveness of the 3-step hand hygiene (HH) technique (3-HT) compared with the 6-step HH technique (6-HT; World Health Organization 6-step technique) using an alcohol-based hand rub. Methods: A randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted from November to December 2023 in 10 wards of a tertiary A-level hospital according to CONSORT guidelines. The 240 healthcare workers (HCWs) were randomly divided into the 3-HT intervention group or the 6-HT control group. The trial was conducted in 2 stages, and the effectiveness of each indicator in the 2 groups was compared after a washout period of 2 weeks. Results: Compared with the 6-HT, the 3-HT has demonstrated significant superiority in all indicators of HH compliance as well as the accuracy rate of HH practices. The total HH median times for the 3-HT and 6-HT were 16.00 (interquartile range, 15.00-20.00) and 32.50 (30.00-40.00) seconds, respectively (P < .05). The reduction factors for bacterial colony-forming unit counts did not differ and the colony-forming unit counts were not significantly different. Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus were detected before and after the use of hand rubs. HCWs preferred the 3-HT over the 6-HT. There were no significant difference in healthcare-associated infections rate between the 2 techniques. Conclusions: The 3-HT was significantly superior to the 6-HT in terms of the HH eligibility rate, compliance, and HH time. The safety and feasibility of the 3-HT were verified by assessing microorganism count.

Prevention and Control of Coal and Gas Outburst by Directional Hydraulic Fracturing through Seams and Its Application.

The regionalized pressure relief, permeability enhancement, and outburst prevention of "three high and one low" coal seams with high gas, high ground stress, high outburst risk, and low permeability have become important problems to be solved urgently in realizing the sustainable development of coal mines. In this study, a combination of theoretical research, RFPA2D-Flow numerical simulation, and field test was used to study the initiation mechanism and propagation law of directional hydraulic fracturing fractures through the seam. The results show that fracture initiation depends on the axial and radial horizontal stress of the fracture hole, the physical and mechanical properties of coal and rock, and the inside of the weakest layer. Single-hole hydraulic fracturing can achieve a pressure relief radius of 7-8 m, but there is a stress concentration zone outside, which is not conducive to regional pressure relief and permeability enhancement. Directional hydraulic fracturing with multiple holes produces an approximate cylindrical compression and crushing ring and a penetrating fracture surface along the center line of the pressure crack hole and the directional hole, which better eliminates the phenomenon of stress concentration in nondirectional hydraulic fracturing. The technology was applied to the 2238 auxiliary roadway of Chengzhuang Mine of Jinmei Group, and the field implementation results showed that field implementation results showed that directional hydraulic fracturing through the seam reduced the gas content in the coal seam to a great extent, and the coal seam gas content was reduced by about 42.3%, indicating that the technology can effectively reduce the risk of coal and gas outbursts.

Laser speckle reduction using polymer-stabilized liquid crystals doped with Ag nanowires.

Miniaturized and pure static devices are expected to be used in laser-imaging systems for speckle reduction. In this study, a pure static device based on polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) doped with Ag nanowires was developed to effectively suppress laser speckles. The concentrations of the polymer and Ag nanowires in the PSLC were optimized, and then the PSLC devices were fabricated. A measurement system was set up to characterize the electro-optical properties of the fabricated PSLC devices. Subsequently, a laser projection system was built to demonstrate the speckle-reduction performance. Moreover, the degree of scattering and response time of the developed PSLC devices were investigated and discussed. A PSLC doped with 0.02 wt% Ag nanowires and 3 wt% polymer having a device size of 2 × 2 × 0.1 cm3 was demonstrated to produce a speckle-reduction efficiency of 51.4 % under very low driving voltages. The experimental results verified effectiveness and superiority of the developed speckle reduction method based on PSLC doped with Ag nanowires.

Cicada Wing-Inspired Transparent Polystyrene Film Integrating Self-Cleaning, Antifogging, and Antibacterial Properties.

A transparent film integrating antifouling, antifogging, and antibacterial properties is crucial for its application as a protective mask, goggles, or lens. Herein, applying dynamic injection molding coupled with a bionic gradient template, a fast and efficient method is proposed for the preparation of the bionic polystyrene surface (BNPPS) with a cicada wing-inspired nanopillar structure. The contact angle of the BNPPS film increases continuously along the wing vein, while the sliding angle decreases continuously, mimicking the gradient wetting state of a cicada wing and providing excellent self-propelled removal properties for tiny water droplets. Notably, the BNPPS film has a transmittance higher than 90% and a reflectivity lower than 5% in the visible light range. Dyeing water, milk, juice, cola, and ink can slide smoothly from the BNPPS film surface without leaving any residue. Importantly, the nanopillars on the BNPPS film surface can penetrate and kill most of the Escherichia coli within 20 min. Therefore, the prepared BNPPS film with sufficient mechanical strength gathers the unique properties of the cicada wing together. The proposed research is expected to offer valuable guidance for fabricating self-cleaning, antifogging, and antibacterial optical devices that could be utilized in medical and vision systems operating in harsh environments.

AIM2 fosters lung adenocarcinoma immune escape by modulating PD-L1 expression in tumor-associated macrophages via JAK/STAT3.

This work was devised to discuss the effect of AIM2 on the immunosuppression of LUAD tumors, as well as its molecular mechanism. An allograft mouse model was built. Mouse macrophages were isolated and collected. The infiltration level of Mø and expression of M1 Mø, M2 Mø markers, and PD-L1 were assayed by IHC and flow cytometry. Expression levels of M1 Mø and M2 Mø marker genes and PD-L1 were detected by qPCR. The expression of proteins linked with JAK/STAT3 was tested by western blot. CD8+T cells and NK cells were activated in vitro and co-cultured with mouse macrophages, and their cytotoxicity was detected by LDH method. The proportion of CD206+PD-L1+ cells and the activation and proliferation of CD8+T cells were assayed by flow cytometry. Multicolor immunofluorescence was utilized to assay the co-localization of proteins. AIM2 demonstrated a high expression in LUAD, exhibiting a conspicuous positive correlation with the expression of the M2 Mø markers as well as PD-L1. Expression of M1 markers was upregulated after knockdown of AIM2, while M2 markers expression and PD-L1 were downregulated, and the colocalization of proteins linked with PD-L1 and M2 Mø was decreased. The infiltration and cytotoxicity of CD8+T cells and NK cells increased after silencing AIM2. After the knockdown of AIM2, which was enriched in the JAK/STAT3 pathway, the phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK2, and STAT3 were reduced, the immune infiltration level of CD8+T cells increased, and the co-localization level of PD-L1 and PD-1 dropped. The activity and proliferation level of CD8+T cells were increased with the reduced PD-1 expression. AIM2 fosters M2 Mø polarization and PD-L1 expression via the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Moreover, AIM2 promotes the immune escape of LUAD via the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Our work may blaze a trail for the clinical treatment of LUAD.

Management of Long-Term Sores and Ulcers of Breast Cancer Survivors With Chinese Herbal Medicines: A Case Report.

Background: The treatment of long-term sores and ulcers of breast cancer metastatic recurrence is a serious challenge with successful cases rarely being documented. Herein we reported a successful case using the internal vitality supporting method of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). Case Summary: A 59-year-old female Chinese patient, 10 years after breast cancer surgery, developed metastatic lesions in the lung. Thereafter she received radiofrequency ablation and adjuvant treatments for 1 year with severe sequelae, a right unhealed sore and ulcer. She became frustrated and depressive. And subsequently sought exclusive treatment under the guidance of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician. The patient's condition was categorized as a Qi (or vitality) deficiency-related sore and ulcer. In the next six months, the patient still follows a traditional Chinese medicine therapeutic regimen based on the internal vitality supporting method of Chinese herbs. Conclusion: The sore and ulcer from the surgical wound were healed. Up to now, the tumor markers have remained stable. TCM personalized survivorship treatment and psychosocial support can help patients improve their quality of life after acute treatment and in the long-term for cancer survivors.

Characterization of Theabrownins Prepared From Tea Polyphenols by Enzymatic and Chemical Oxidation and Their Inhibitory Effect on Colon Cancer Cells.

Theabrownins (TBs) are prepared from dark tea and contain a large number of complex heterogeneous components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and flavonoids, which are difficult to remove. In addition, some toxic and harmful extraction solvents are used to purify TBs. These obstacles hinder the utilization and industrialization of TBs. In this study, tea polyphenols were used as substrates and polyphenol oxidase and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) were used successively to prepare theabrownins (TBs-E). The UV-visible characteristic absorption peaks of the TBs-E were located at 203 and 270 nm and Fourier-transform IR analysis showed that they were polymerized phenolic substances containing the hydroxy and carboxyl groups. The TBs-E aqueous solution was negatively charged and the absolute values of the zeta potential increased with increasing pH. A storage experiment showed that TBs-E were more stable at pH 7.0 and in low-temperature environments around 25°C. HT-29 human colon cancer cells were used to evaluate the biological activity of TBs-E through 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT), H&E staining, propidium iodide immunofluorescent staining, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR assays. The TBs-E significantly inhibited cell growth and caused late apoptosis, particularly at the dose of 500 µg/ml. The TBs-E markedly reduced the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes and increased the generation of reactive oxygen species to break the redox balance, which may have led to cell damage and death. These results will promote research and industrialization of TBs.

Efficient fabrication of tilt micro/nanopillars on polypropylene surface with robust superhydrophobicity for directional water droplet rebound.

The directional rebound and transport of water droplets plays an important role in microfluidic devices, anti-fogging, and water harvesting. Herein, an extrusion compression molding and directional stretch demolding method was used to prepare a polypropylene (PP) surface with tilt micro/nanopillars with a contact angle of 157 ± 3°. The rolling angle is the highest (9 ± 4°) when the direction of rotation is opposite the tilt direction of the micro/nanopillars, showing excellent water repellency and anisotropy of the surface. Compared with the position of the first collision of the water droplet, the position of the second collision shifted ∼1.5 mm along the tilt direction of the micro/nanopillars, driven by the surface tension component during the collision. The directional rebound behavior is controlled by the droplet energy and the tilt angle. The micro/nanopillars demonstrate excellent self-cleaning property and mechanical durability, which shows the possibility of their practical engineering applications.

Erector spinae plane block for spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although the erector spinae plane block has been used in various truncal surgical procedures, its clinical benefits in patients undergoing spinal surgery remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical benefits of erector spinae plane block in patients undergoing spinal surgery. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for randomized controlled trials comparing the erector spinae plane block with a nonblocked control for spinal surgery. RESULTS: Twelve studies encompassing 696 subjects were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. We found that the erector spinae plane block decreased postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption in the postoperative and intraoperative periods. Moreover, it prolonged the time to the first rescue analgesic, reduced the number of patients who required rescue analgesia, and lowered the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. However, it did not exhibit efficacy in decreasing the incidence of urinary retention and itching or shortening the length of hospital stays, or the time to first ambulation. CONCLUSIONS: Erector spinae plane block improves analgesic efficacy among patients undergoing spinal surgery compared with nonblocked controls; however, there is insufficient evidence regarding the benefits of erector spinae plane block for rapid recovery.

Diagnosing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Efficient Harris Hawks-Inspired Fuzzy K-Nearest Neighbor Prediction Methods.

This study is devoted to proposing a useful intelligent prediction model to distinguish the severity of COVID-19, to provide a more fair and reasonable reference for assisting clinical diagnostic decision-making. Based on patients' necessary information, pre-existing diseases, symptoms, immune indexes, and complications, this article proposes a prediction model using the Harris hawks optimization (HHO) to optimize the Fuzzy K-nearest neighbor (FKNN), which is called HHO-FKNN. This model is utilized to distinguish the severity of COVID-19. In HHO-FKNN, the purpose of introducing HHO is to optimize the FKNN's optimal parameters and feature subsets simultaneously. Also, based on actual COVID-19 data, we conducted a comparative experiment between HHO-FKNN and several well-known machine learning algorithms, which result shows that not only the proposed HHO-FKNN can obtain better classification performance and higher stability on the four indexes but also screen out the key features that distinguish severe COVID-19 from mild COVID-19. Therefore, we can conclude that the proposed HHO-FKNN model is expected to become a useful tool for COVID-19 prediction.