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Several application examples have been demonstrated, including the detection of physiological signals on human volunteers, the feedback control of intelligent robots, the grasping operation of underwater soft grippers, and the environmental wind-speed monitoring. As such, this work demonstrates a versatile and economical methodology to produce high-performance flexible sensors for various potential applications.Ethylene (C2H4) is an important product in carbon dioxide electroreduction (CO2RR) because of the essential role it plays in chemical industry. While several strategies have been proposed to tune the selectivity of Cu-based catalysts in order to achieve high C2H4 faradaic efficiency, maintaining high selectivity toward C2H4 in CO2RR remains an unresolved problem hampering the deployment of CO2 conversion technology due to the lack of stable electrocatalysts. Here, we develop a facile method to deposit a layer of Cu2O on Cu foil by an electrochemical pulsed potential treatment. This method is capable to easily scale up and synthesize multiple electrodes in one step. After the synthesis, the pulsed copper foil, denoted as P-Cu, exhibits good C2H4 faradaic efficiency of ∼50% in CO2RR at a potential around -1.0 V vs. RHE. The C2H4 selectivity is also found to be quantitatively correlated with the roughness factor (RF) of Cu-based catalysts. More importantly, for the first time, we demonstrate that the P-Cu electrode is quite durable in CO2RR to produce C2H4 for more than 6 months.The systematicness, flexibility, and complexity of natural biological organisms are a constant stream of inspiration for researchers. HDAC inhibitor mechanism Therefore, mimicking the natural intelligence system to develop microrobotics has attracted broad interests. However, developing a multifunctional device for various application scenarios has great challenges. Herein, we present a bionic multifunctional actuation device─a light-driven mudskipper-like actuator that is composed of a porous silicone elastomer and graphene oxide. The actuator exhibits a reversible and well-integrated response to near-infrared (NIR) light due to the photothermal-induced contractile stress in the actuation film, which promotes generation of cyclical and rapid locomotion upon NIR light being switched on and off, such as bending in air and crawling in liquid. Furthermore, through rational device design and modulation of light, the mechanically versatile device can float and swim controllably following a predesigned route at the liquid/air interface. More interestingly, the actuator can jump from liquid medium to air with an extremely short response time (400 ms), a maximum speed of 2 m s-1, and a height of 14.3 cm under the stimulation of near-infrared light. The present work possesses great potential in the applications of bioinspired actuators in various fields, such as microrobots, sensors, and locomotion.Aqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising candidates for low-cost, grid-scale energy storage. However, the polymer-based membranes that are used in most prototypical systems fail to prevent crossover of small-molecule reactants, which results in high rates of capacity fade. In this work, we explore the feasibility of a von Alpen sodium superionic conductor Na3.1Zr1.55Si2.3P0.7O11 (NaSICON) as an RFB membrane by examining its resistance, permeability, and interfacial morphology as a function of electrolyte composition and temperature. The resistance of NaSICON is stable for several weeks while immersed in neutral to strongly alkaline ([OH-] = 3 M) aqueous electrolytes, and its permeability to polysulfide-based and permanganate-based small-molecule RFB reactants is negligible compared to that of Nafion. The glassy phase of the NaSICON microstructure at the membrane-electrolyte interface is susceptible to some etching while in contact with aqueous electrolytes containing sodium ions. This etching becomes more extensive when potassium ions are present in the electrolyte, leading in certain instances to complete disintegration of the membrane. A ∼0.7 mm-thin NaSICON membrane can nevertheless support over three weeks of cycling of a ferrocyanide|permanganate flow cell in a strongly alkaline electrolyte ([OH-] = 3 M), with apparently negligible reactant crossover and very low capacity fade ( less then 0.04%/day). NaSICON's area-specific resistance also decreases dramatically with increasing temperature and decreasing membrane thickness; there is a 5.6× reduction from a 1.19 mm-thick membrane at 18 °C (101 Ωcm2) to a 0.61 mm-thick one at 70 °C (18 Ωcm2). Lowering the thickness of the membrane to 0.1 mm or lower will result in power densities at above ambient temperatures that are comparable to power densities of polymer membrane-containing flow cells. This work highlights the promise of ceramic membranes as effective separators in RFBs operating under neutral pH to strongly alkaline pH conditions.Improving the durability of cathode materials at low temperature is of great importance for the development nowadays of lithium ion batteries, since the practical capacity and cycling stability of the electrode are reduced significantly at low temperature. Herein, by amorphous Zr3(PO4)4 surface engineering, we realize a stable high-voltage LiCoO2 operation (4.6 V) at -25 °C. The highly amorphous surface layer can help to form a high-quality cathode-electrolyte interphase with strong stability and low interface resistance, especially at low temperature. Such a surface-engineered LiCoO2 shows a capacity of 179.2 mAh g-1 at 0.2C and an excellent cyclability with 91% capacity retention after 300 cycles (1C). As a comparison, bare LiCoO2 shows only 161.6 mAh g-1 and 1% capacity retention under the same circumstances. This work confirms that surface regulation and control engineering is an effective route to improve the high-voltage and low-temperature performance of LiCoO2.The treatment of high salt organic sewage is considered to be a high energy consumption process, and it is difficult to degrade organic matter and separate salt and water simultaneously. In this study, a gradient structure titanium oxide nanowire film is developed, which can realize the thorough treatment of sewage under sunlight. Among the film, part TiO2-x has enhanced photocatalytic properties and can completely degrade 0.02 g·L-1 methylene blue in 90 min under 2 sun. Part TinO2n-1 has excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and can achieve 1.833 kg·m-2·h-1 water evaporation rate at 1 sun. Through the special structure design, salt positioning crystallization can be realized to ensure the film's stable operation for a long time. The gradient hydrophilicity of the film ensures adequate and rapid water transfer, while the water flow can induce a significant hydrovoltaic effect. The measured VOC is positively correlated with light intensity and photothermal area and corresponds to the water evaporation rate.Semiconductor/metal-organic framework (MOF) heterojunctions have demonstrated promising performance for the photoconversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals. To further improve performance, we must understand better the factors which govern charge transfer across the heterojunction interface. However, the effects of interfacial electric fields, which can drive or hinder electron flow, are not commonly investigated in MOF-based heterojunctions. In this study, we highlight the importance of interfacial band bending using two carbon nitride/MOF heterojunctions with either Co-ZIF-L or Ti-MIL-125-NH2. Direct measurement of the electronic structures using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), work function, valence band, and band gap measurements led to the construction of a simple band model at the heterojunction interface. This model, based on the heterojunction components and band bending, enabled us to rationalize the photocatalytic enhancements and losses observed in MOF-based heterojunctions. Using the insight gained from a promising band bending diagram, we developed a Type II carbon nitride/MOF heterojunction with a 2-fold enhanced CO2 photoreduction activity compared to the physical mixture.

Continuous thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) connected with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump is an effective modality to reduce postoperative pain following thoracic surgery. For the PCA settings, the programmed intermittent bolus infusion (PIBI) and continuous infusion (CI) are commonly practiced. However, the comparative effectiveness between the 2 approaches has been inconsistent. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the optimal PCA settings to treat postthoracotomy pain by combing PIBI and CI together.

All enrolled patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery accepted ultrasound-guided TPVB catheterization before the surgery and then were randomly allocated in to 3 groups depending on different settings of the PCA pump connecting to the TPVB catheter the PIBI+CI, PIBI, and CI groups. Numerical Rating Scales were evaluated for each patient at T1 (1 h after extubation), T2 (12 h after the surgery), T3 (24 h after the surgery), T4 (36 h after the surgery), and T5 (48 h after the surgery). Besther PIBI or CI alone in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Therefore, it should be advocated to improve the management of postoperative pain, clinical outcomes, and ultimately patient satisfaction.

The combination of PIBI and CI provides superior analgesic modality to either PIBI or CI alone in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Therefore, it should be advocated to improve the management of postoperative pain, clinical outcomes, and ultimately patient satisfaction.

Certain population groups face a disproportionate burden of exposure to COVID-19. This study examined characteristics of Canadians living in private households in fall 2020 and winter 2021 who had been infected with COVID-19.

With an online questionnaire and an at-home finger-prick blood test, the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey was designed to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection among people in private households in Canada. Data were collected from respondents aged 1 or older in the 10 provinces and the three territorial capitals, from November 2020 to April 2021. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to identify characteristics that were associated with being seropositive for a past COVID-19 infection. Gender differences in observed associations were examined.

After covariate adjustment, younger age and visible minority status were associated with an increased likelihood of being seropositive for a past COVID-19 infection. For males, having a visible minority status, having less education and living in a multi-unit dwelling increased the likelihood of being seropositive. Females were more likely to have been seropositive if they worked in health care in direct contact with others.

As Canada navigates the fifth and possibly a sixth wave of the pandemic, understanding who was more likely to be infected in earlier waves can help ongoing public health efforts to stop the transmission of COVID-19.

As Canada navigates the fifth and possibly a sixth wave of the pandemic, understanding who was more likely to be infected in earlier waves can help ongoing public health efforts to stop the transmission of COVID-19.