Self-assembly of Polyaniline： Mechanism Study

Anisotropic polyaniline （PAni） plates decorated with self-aligned nanofiber arrays were synthesized under the hydrothermaI conditions. The formation mechanism of the self-assembled structures was investigated by studying the effect on PAni micro-structure with additive electrolyte in reaction system, and numerical simulation for dependence of systematic electrostatic energy on cross angles of self-assembled nanofiber arrays in grid textured PAni plates. It is proposed that the electrostatic interaction based on ionic doping charges plays an important role in the formation of the self-assembled PAni structures.

Liquid-metal microgrid stretchable electronics based on bionic leaf veins with ultra-stretchability and high conductivity

Stretchable electronics that monitor joint activity and treat diseases based on liquid metal could be used in the development of healthcare applications.Such devices can be seamlessly integrated with human skin.However,most high-precision microstructures and complex patterns are difficult to fabricate due to the limitations of conventional fabrication solutions,resulting in suboptimal performance under practical conditions.Here,a liquid-metal stretchable system utilizing natural leaf veins was reported as microstructures,which was based on a biomimetic concept and utilized an all-solution process for the preparation of complex microstructures.The systems are ultra-high tensile(800%tensile strain),environmentally stable(20 days)and mechanically durable(300-cycle).The system can accurately recognize the wearer's finger bending level as well as simple gesture signals.At the same time,the system acts as a wearable heater,which can realize the fast heating behavior of heating up to 50℃in 3 min under the human body-safe voltage(1.5 V).The tensile stability is demonstrated by the heterogeneous integration of lasers(405 nm)with the system interconnects for a stretchable and wearable light source.

A direct electrochemical biosensor for rapid glucose detection based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages

Given the increasing number of diabetic patients,rapid and accurate detection of glucose in body fluids is critical.This study developed a direct electrochemical biosensor for glucose based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages(NCNCs).NCNCs possess a large specific surface area of 1395 m^(2)·g^(-1),a high N atomic content of 9.37%and good biocompatibility,which is favorable for enzyme loading and electron transfer.The surface average concentration of electroactive glucose oxidase on NCNCs was 2.82×10^(-10)mol·cm^(-2).The NCNC-based direct electrochemical biosensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 13.7μA·(mmol·L^(-1))^(-1)·cm^(-2),rapid response time of 5 s and an impressive electron-transferrate constant(ks)of 1.87 s^(-1).Furthermore,we investigated an NCNC-based direct electron transfer(DET)biosensor for sweat glucose detection,which demonstrated tremendous promise for non-invasive wearable diabetes diagnosis.

Tunable structural coloration of ultrathin zirconia nanotubes film

Zirconium(Zr) is a rare metal widely used in aero space and military applications.However,its single color does not meet the requirements of camouflage and aesthetics.Here,a series of ultrathin structural colorations of Zr by coating it with a one-step anodization procedure were realized.

Effects of different courses of moxibustion treatment on intestinal flora and inflammation of a rat model of knee osteoarthritis

Objective:This study was done to determine the effects of different courses of moxibustion on a rat knee osteoarthritis(KOA)model,and explore the dose–effect relationship of moxibustion on KOA from the perspectives of intestinal flora and inflammatory factors.Methods:Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal,model,moxibustion for 2 weeks,moxibustion for 4 weeks and moxibustion for 6 weeks groups(n=5 each group).A KOA rat model was induced by monosodium iodoacetate,and moxibustion intervention was performed at the acupoints“Dubi”(ST35)and“Zusanli”(ST36),once every other day.Pathologic changes in the cartilage of rat knee joints were assessed after intervention,and fecal samples were subjected to 16 S r RNA high-throughput sequencing for microbial diversity analysis.Results:Damage to the knee articular cartilage was obvious in the model group,which also had increased levels of pro-inflammatory factors,decreased levels of anti-inflammatory factors,and intestinal flora disorders with decreased diversity.The degree of cartilage damage in the 4 and 6 weeks of moxibustion groups was significantly improved compared with the model group.The 4 and 6 weeks of moxibustion groups also demonstrated reduced levels of interleukin-1βand tumor necrosis factor-a and increased levels of interleukin-10(P<0.05).Both the abundance and diversity of the intestinal flora were increased,approaching those of the normal group.Abundances of probiotics Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 increased,while that of the pathogenic bacteria Lachnospiraceae NK4 A136 group decreased(P<0.05).Although the abundance of Lachnospiraceae NK4 A136 group decreased in the 2 weeks of moxibustion group compared with the model group(P<0.05),there was no statistically significant difference in serum inflammatory factors,flora species diversity or degree of pathological damage compared with the model group.Conclusion:Moxibustion treatment led to significant improvements in the intestinal flora and inflammatory factors of rats with KOA.Moxibustion treatment of 4 and 6 weeks led to better outcomes than the 2-week course.Moxibustion for 4 and 6 weeks can regulate intestinal flora dysfunction with increased probiotics and reduced pathogenic bacteria,reduce pro-inflammatory factors and increase antiinflammatory factors.No significant differences were seen between the effects of moxibustion for 4 weeks and 6 weeks.

Research on the body surface resistance imbalance degree at yuan-source points of three yin meridians of foot in the patients with primary dysmenorrhea

Objective:To explore whether or not the changes in body surface resistance at yuan-source points of three yin meridians of foot can specifically responds the onset of primary dysmenorrhea(PD) in females of menstrual period and the before and after,so as to provide the evidence for acupoint selection in clinic.Methods:A total of 90 cases of PD were recruited in a PD group and 90 healthy female undergraduates were recruited in a normal group.The yuan-source of points of three yin meridians of foot were selected,i.e.Taibai(太白SP3),Taichong(太冲LR3) and Taixi(太溪KI3).The acupoints for control were Xuehai(血海SP10),the non-special acupoint,Xuanzhong(悬钟GB39),the acupoint not on the relevant meridian,as well as a non-meridian point.Successively,before menstruation,on Day 1 during menstruation and on Day 3 after menstruation,the body surface resistance at the above-mentioned test sites was detected in the participants of two groups each day.The resistance imbalance degree(RID) of the bilateral acupoints was taken as the outcome indicator.The observation lasted one menstrual cycle.Results:(1) Intra-group comparison:at LR3,the RID was lower on Day 1 during menstruation than that before menstruation significantly in the normal group(P ≤0.05).There was no significant change in RID at the same time points,but RID on Day 3 after menstruation was lower significantly than that before menstruation in the PD group(P ≤0.05).At SP3,KI3,SP10,GB39 and sham acupoint,there were no significant differences in RID among different time points within the same group(all P> 0.05).(2) Intergroup comparison:there were no significant differences in RID among different time points at the same point.(all P> 0.05).Conclusion:RID at yuan-source points of three yin meridians of foot cannot specifically respond to PD.However,at LR3,before and after menstruation,RID changes are different between PD patients and healthy female undergraduates,which needs a further study in the future.

Exploration on the feasibility of moxibustion in prevention and treatment of COVID-19 from the perspective of modern medical mechanism

Novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19)is rampant in many countries and regions and there is no time to delay the exploration of the scheme for its prevention and control.The pathogenic characteristics of novel coronavirus and the effect of moxibustion for warming up yang and strengthening the antipathogenic qi were analyzed in this paper.From the perspective of modern medical mechanism,during the prevention and treatment of novel coronaviral infection,moxibustion may be able to prevent and treat COVID-19 by improving the body’s immunity so as to conquer virus,by anti-inflammation to alleviate the inflammatory response of COVID-19 and by improving lung function to inhibit pulmonary fibrosis.