Baunadcock7865

Phase change materials (PCMs) provide a state-of-the-art thermal energy storage capability and offer enormous potential for solar energy storage systems. However, the widespread adaptation of PCMs in advanced energy systems is often limited by low energy harvesting efficiency and poor shape stability. Thus, developing shape-stable PCMs for high-efficiency solar-thermal energy storage has remained an impediment to further advancement. Herein, we devised novel shape-stable composite PCMs based on monodispersed CuS disk-like nanoparticles and solid-solid PCM polyurethane (PU). In our devised composite system, the incorporated CuS nanoparticles act as a photonic nanoheater and the PU matrix acts as the heat reservoir which can store thermal energy via the latent heat while the phase transition occurs. The fabricated CuS@PU composite with 4 wt % doping of CuS nanodisks exhibits a phase change enthalpy of around 120 J/g, which is only 14% lower than that of the neat PU PCM. Owing to the solid-state phase transition of the PU PCM, only 0.6% of energy storage loss occurred over 100 repeated heating and cooling cycles. Besides, the solar-thermal energy storage efficiency of the CuS@PU composite exceeds 92% at 1 sun illumination under the full solar spectrum. Based on these outstanding thermophysical properties such as excellent shape stability, thermal stability, and thermal reliability, the developed CuS@PU composite PCMs are imperative candidates for real-world applications.The development of a controllable, selective, and repeatable etch process is crucial for controlling the layer thickness and patterning of two-dimensional (2D) materials. However, the atomically thin dimensions and high structural similarity of different 2D materials make it difficult to adapt conventional thin-film etch processes. In this work, we propose a selective, damage-free atomic layer etch (ALE) that enables layer-by-layer removal of monolayer WSe2 without altering the physical, optical, and electronic properties of the underlying layers. The etch uses a top-down approach where the topmost layer is oxidized in a self-limited manner and then removed using a selective etch. Using a comprehensive set of material, optical, and electrical characterization, we show that the quality of our ALE processed layers is comparable to that of pristine layers of similar thickness. The ALE processed WSe2 layers preserve their bright photoluminescence characteristics and possess high room-temperature hole mobilities of 515 cm2/V·s, essential for fabricating high-performance 2D devices. Further, using graphene as a testbed, we demonstrate the fabrication of ultra-clean 2D devices using a sacrificial monolayer WSe2 layer to protect the channel during processing, which is etched in the final process step in a technique we call sacrificial WSe2 with ALE processing (SWAP). The graphene transistors made using the SWAP technique demonstrate high room-temperature field-effect mobilities, up to 200,000 cm2/V·s, better than previously reported unencapsulated graphene devices.Waterproof and breathable membranes (WBMs) are highly demanded worldwide due to their promising applications in outdoor protective clothing, medical hygiene, and electronic devices. However, the design of such materials integrated with environmental friendliness and high functionality has been considered a long-standing challenge. Herein, we report the green-solvent-processed polyamide fibrous membranes with amphiphobicity and bonding structure via ethanol-based electrospinning and water-based impregnating techniques, endowing the fibrous membranes with outstanding water/oil/dust-resistant and good breathable properties. The developed green smart fibrous membranes exhibit integrated properties with robust water and oil intrusion pressures of 101.2 and 32.4 kPa, respectively, excellent dust removal efficiency of above 99.9%, good water vapor transmission rate of 11.2 kg m-2 d-1, air permeability of 2.6 mm s-1, tensile strength of 15.6 MPa, and strong toughness of 22.8 MJ m-3, enabling the membranes to protect human beings and electronic devices effectively. This work may shed light on designing the next generation green smart fibrous WBMs for protective textiles.

Determine the safety and efficacy of balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (ET) in pediatric patients.

Retrospective matched cohort study.

Tertiary medical center.

Pediatric patients (<18 yr) with persistent (>1.5 yr) chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) with previous tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion versus matched controls.

Balloon dilation of the cartilaginous ET (BDET) was performed using concomitant myringotomy with/without tube placement and adjunctive procedures if indicated versus controls (TT).

Otitis media with effusion (OME)/retraction with need for additional tube, tympanogram, audiogram, otomicroscopy, ET mucosal inflammation/opening score, and Valsalva maneuver.

Forty six ETs (26 patients), ages 7 to 17 years (mean 12.5) underwent BDET. Mean follow-up was 2.3 years (standard deviation [SD], 1.1; range, 6 mo-5 yr). Significant improvements were observed for all measures. Tympanic membranes were healthy in 9% preoperatively, 38% at 6 months, 55% at 12 months, and 93% at 36 months postoperatively. Tympanograms improved to type A in 50% at 6 months, 59% at 12 months, and 85% at 36 months. Mean scores of mucosal inflammation declined from 3.2 (±0.6) preoperatively to 2.5 (±0.7) at 6 months and 1.7 (±0.6) at 36 months postoperatively. FGFR inhibitor BDET had lower risk of failure versus TT insertion (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10, 0.70; p = 0.007). Probability of being failure free at 2 years was 87% (95% CI 70, 94%) after BDET and 56% (95% CI 40, 70%) after TT insertions.

BDET is a safe and possibly effective procedure in selected pediatric patients with chronic ETD.

BDET is a safe and possibly effective procedure in selected pediatric patients with chronic ETD.

Evaluate the impact of cochlear implantation (CI) on retention for United States active duty (AD) service members.

Retrospective observational study.

Tertiary military CI centers.

AD service members who underwent CI and completed a telephonic survey.

The ability for military personnel to maintain AD status following CI as determined by the nonvolitional hearing-related AD separation rate and whether subjects would recommend CI to other qualified candidates.

Twenty AD service members who underwent CI between 2004 and 2020 completed a telephonic survey. Fifteen (75%) were single-sided deafness (SSD) and five were traditional CI candidates. The mean age was 40.3 years (range 27.5-64.3), 19 (95%) were male, and 12 (80%) were Caucasian. Ten (50%) were officers and 14 (70%) were noncombat support personnel. Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss was the most common cause of hearing loss (8, 40%) followed by occupational noise exposure (4, 20%). Sixteen (80%) maintained AD status yielding 46.15 person-years of AD service following CI.