Trifunctional robust electrocatalysts based on 3D Fe/N-doped carbon nanocubes encapsulating Co4N nanoparticles for efficient battery-powered water electrolyzers

Herein,we have designed a highly active and robust trifunctional electrocatalyst derived from Prussian blue analogs,where Co_(4)N nanoparticles are encapsulated by Fe embedded in N-doped carbon nanocubes to synthesize hierarchically structured Co_(4)N@Fe/N-C for rechargeable zinc-air batteries and overall water-splitting electrolyzers.As confirmed by theoretical and experimental results,the high intrinsic oxygen reduction reaction,oxygen evolution reaction,and hydrogen evolution reaction activities of Co_(4)N@Fe/N-C were attributed to the formation of the heterointerface and the modulated local electronic structure.Moreover,Co_(4)N@Fe/N-C induced improvement in these trifunctional electrocatalytic activities owing to the hierarchical hollow nanocube structure,uniform distribution of Co_(4)N,and conductive encapsulation by Fe/N-C.Thus,the rechargeable zinc-air battery with Co_(4)N@Fe/N-C delivers a high specific capacity of 789.9 mAh g-1 and stable voltage profiles over 500 cycles.Furthermore,the overall water electrolyzer with Co_(4)N@Fe/N-C achieved better durability and rate performance than that with the Pt/C and IrO2 catalysts,delivering a high Faradaic efficiency of 96.4%.Along with the great potential of the integrated water electrolyzer powered by a zinc-air battery for practical applications,therefore,the mechanistic understanding and active site identification provide valuable insights into the rational design of advanced multifunctional electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion.

Progress on Transition Metal Ions Dissolution Suppression Strategies in Prussian Blue Analogs for Aqueous Sodium-/Potassium-Ion Batteries

Aqueous sodium-ion batteries(ASIBs)and aqueous potassium-ion batteries(APIBs)present significant potential for large-scale energy storage due to their cost-effectiveness,safety,and environmental compatibility.Nonetheless,the intricate energy storage mechanisms in aqueous electrolytes place stringent require-ments on the host materials.Prussian blue analogs(PBAs),with their open three-dimensional framework and facile synthesis,stand out as leading candidates for aqueous energy storage.However,PBAs possess a swift capacity fade and limited cycle longevity,for their structural integrity is compromised by the pronounced dis-solution of transition metal(TM)ions in the aqueous milieu.This manuscript provides an exhaustive review of the recent advancements concerning PBAs in ASIBs and APIBs.The dissolution mechanisms of TM ions in PBAs,informed by their structural attributes and redox processes,are thoroughly examined.Moreover,this study delves into innovative design tactics to alleviate the dissolution issue of TM ions.In conclusion,the paper consolidates various strategies for suppressing the dissolution of TM ions in PBAs and posits avenues for prospective exploration of high-safety aqueous sodium-/potassium-ion batteries.

Advancements in medical treatment for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors:A beacon of hope

This editorial highlights the remarkable advancements in medical treatment strategies for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors(pan-NETs),emphasizing tailored approaches for specific subtypes.Cytoreductive surgery and somatostatin analogs(SSAs)play pivotal roles in managing tumors,while palliative options such as molecular targeted therapy,peptide receptor radionuclide therapy,and chemotherapy are reserved for SSA-refractory patients.Gastrinomas,insul-inomas,glucagonomas,carcinoid tumors and VIPomas necessitate distinct thera-peutic strategies.Understanding the genetic basis of pan-NETs and exploring immunotherapies could lead to promising avenues for future research.This review underscores the evolving landscape of pan-NET treatment,offering renewed hope and improved outcomes for patients facing this complex disease.

Experimental and computational optimization of Prussian blue analogues as high-performance cathodes for sodium-ion batteries:A review

In this review,we discuss the electrochemical properties of Prussian blue(PB)for Na^(+)storage by combining structural engineering and electrolyte modifications.We integrated experimental data and density functional theory(DFT)in sodium-ion battery(SIB)research to refine the atomic arrangements and crystal lattices and introduce substitutions and dopants.These changes affect the lattice stability,intercalation,electronic and ionic conductivities,and electrochemical performance.We unraveled the intricate structure-electrochemical behavior relationship by combining experimental data with computational models,including first-principles calculations.This holistic approach identified techniques for optimizing PB and Prussian blue analog(PBA)structu ral properties for SIBs.We also discuss the tuning of electrolytes by systematically adjusting their composition,concentration,and additives using a combination of molecular dynamics(MD)simulations and DFT computations.Our review offers a comprehensive assessment of strategies for enhancing the electrochemical properties of PB and PBAs through structural engineering and electrolyte modifications,combining experimental insights with advanced computational simulations,and paving the way for next-generation energy storage systems.

Paravertebral block's effect on analgesia and inflammation in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization and microwave ablation

BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with microwave ablation(MWA)is an effective treatment strategy for patients with advanced gastric cancer and liver metastasis.However,it may cause severe postoperative pain and inflammatory responses.The paravertebral block(PVB)is a regional anesthetic technique that provides analgesia to the thoracic and abdominal regions.AIM To evaluate the effect of PVB on postoperative analgesia and inflammatory response in patients undergoing TACE combined with MWA for advanced gastric cancer and liver metastasis.METHODS Sixty patients were randomly divided into PVB and control groups.The PVB group received ultrasound-guided PVB with 0.375%ropivacaine preoperatively,whereas the control group received intravenous analgesia with sufentanil.The primary outcome was the visual analog scale(VAS)score for pain at 6 h,12 h,24 h,and 48 h after the procedure.Secondary outcomes were the dose of sufentanil used,incidence of adverse events,and levels of inflammatory markers(white blood cell count,neutrophil percentage,C-reactive protein,and procalcitonin)before and after the procedure.RESULTS The PVB group had significantly lower VAS scores at 6 h,12 h,24 h,and 48 h after the procedure compared with the control group(P<0.05).The PVB group also had a significantly lower consumption of sufentanil and a lower incidence of nausea,vomiting,and respiratory depression than did the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the PVB group had significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers 24 h and 48 h after the procedure(P<0.05).CONCLUSION PVB can effectively reduce postoperative pain and inflammatory responses and improve postoperative comfort and recovery in patients with advanced gastric cancer and liver metastasis treated with TACE combined with MWA.

Clinical therapeutic effect of self-prescribed Sanhanchushi Tongbi on lumbar disc herniation

BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniation(LDH)commonly occurs during spinal surgery;LDH is on the increase in younger patients and is classified as"paralysis"and"back pain."Sanhanchushi Tongbi(SPST)is a customized prescription.It disperses cold,relieves pain,removes cold from the meridians and viscera,and treats neuropathic pain.However,few studies have investigated its mechanism of pain relief.AIM To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on LDH treated with self-prescribed SPST.METHODS A total of 211 patients with LDH syndrome were divided into two groups:107 patients in the control group were treated with conventional massage combined with traction,and 104 patients in the observation group were treated with a combination of the control regimen and self-prescribed oral SPST.The patients were treated for 4 wk.Indices of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score and serum inflammatory factor levels were measured.RESULTS After therapy,the TCM syndrome score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The main symptoms,clinical signs,daily activities,and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group after therapy(P<0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and C-reactive protein were lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).In the observation group,superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher,whereas malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower,compared with the control group(P<0.05).The overall efficacy rate in the observation group was 96.15%,which was substantially higher than that in the control group(88.79%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Self-prescribed SPST can reduce the levels of inflammatory and pain-causing factors as well as lumbar pain in patients with LDH.

Nullors, and Nullor Circuits;There Applications in Symbolic Circuit Analysis and Design

The objective in this presentation is to introduce some of the unique properties and applications of nullors in active circuit analysis and designs. The emphasis is to discuss the role nullors can play in symbolic representation of transfer functions. To show this we adopt the topological platform for the circuit analysis and use a recently developed Admittance Method (AM) to achieve the Sum of Tree Products (STP), replacing the determinant and cofactors of the Nodal Admittance Matrix (NAM) of the circuit. To construct a transfer function, we start with a given active circuit and convert all its controlled sources and I/O-ports to nullors. Now, with a solid nullor circuit (passive elements and nullors) we first eliminate the passive elements through AM operations. This produces the STPs. Second, the all-nullor circuit is then used to find the signs or the STPs. Finally, the transfer function (in symbolic, if chosen) is obtained from the ratio between the STPs.

An Adaptive Control Strategy for Energy Storage Interface Converter Based on Analogous Virtual Synchronous Generator

In the DC microgrid,the lack of inertia and damping in power electronic converters results in poor stability of DC bus voltage and low inertia of the DC microgrid during fluctuations in load and photovoltaic power.To address this issue,the application of a virtual synchronous generator(VSG)in grid-connected inverters control is referenced and proposes a control strategy called the analogous virtual synchronous generator(AVSG)control strategy for the interface DC/DC converter of the battery in the microgrid.Besides,a flexible parameter adaptive control method is introduced to further enhance the inertial behavior of the AVSG control.Firstly,a theoretical analysis is conducted on the various components of the DC microgrid,the structure of analogous virtual synchronous generator,and the control structure’s main parameters related to the DC microgrid’s inertial behavior.Secondly,the voltage change rate tracking coefficient is introduced to adjust the change of the virtual capacitance and damping coefficient flexibility,which further strengthens the inertia trend of the DC microgrid.Additionally,a small-signal modeling approach is used to analyze the approximate range of the AVSG’s main parameters ensuring system stability.Finally,conduct a simulation analysis by building the model of the DC microgrid system with photovoltaic(PV)and battery energy storage(BES)in MATLAB/Simulink.Simulation results from different scenarios have verified that the AVSG control introduces fixed inertia and damping into the droop control of the battery,resulting in a certain level of inertia enhancement.Furthermore,the additional adaptive control strategy built upon the AVSG control provides better and flexible inertial support for the DC microgrid,further enhances the stability of the DC bus voltage,and has a more positive impact on the battery performance.

Habitable Land Will Soon Become the World’s Scarcest Resource: Why Appalachia Should Choose Climate Change Havens over Millionaire Estates and Golf Courses

This research advocates for the construction of Climate Change Haven Communities across the Appalachian Region. The proposed development plan can be extended to the northern tier states across the US and also to the northern and mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. We present an analogy to the earlier climate change period of the Last Glacial Maximum/“Ice Age” in which these same northern regions of the planet were covered in ice sheets making them uninhabitable for most humans and many plant and animal species. In some significant ways, the Ice Age scenario can be a reverse-model for our current climate crisis. We also advocate strongly for the prevention of upscale real estate development projects in these same regions of the globe, as these will foreclose the possibility of safely sheltering the millions of persons who will be displaced by climate change over the next 5 to 10 years.

Effectiveness of treating menorrhagia using microwave endometrial ablation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz

BACKGROUND Microwave endometrial ablation(MEA)is a minimally invasive treatment for menorrhagia.It has been covered by the national insurance in Japan since April 2012,and its demand has been increasing as the importance of women’s health has advanced in society.AIM To examine the efficacy of MEA as a treatment option for menorrhagia.METHODS In this study,we retrospectively analyzed 76 patients who underwent MEA between January 2016 and March 2020 in our department.MEA was performed in the lithotomy position,under general anesthesia,and with transabdominal ultrasound guidance,including the entire endometrial circumference while confirming endometrial coagulation.The Microtaze AFM-712 and the Sounding Applicator CSA-40CBL-1006200C were used for MEA,and the endometrium was ablated using a Microtaze output of 70 W and coagulation energization time of 50 s per cycle.The visual analog scale(VAS)was used to evaluate menorrhagia,menstrual pain,and treatment satisfaction.Additionally,the hemoglobin(Hb)levels before and after MEA and associated complications were investigated.RESULTS The average age of the patients was 44.8±4.0 years.While 14 patients had functional menorrhagia,62 had organic menorrhagia,of whom 14 had endometrial polyps,40 had uterine fibroids,and 8 had adenomyosis.The VAS score before MEA and 3 and 6 mo after the procedure were 10,1.3±1.3,and 1.3±1.3,respectively,for menorrhagia and 10,1.3±1.8,and 1.3±1.8,respectively,for menstrual pain,both showing improvements(P<0.001).The MEA Hb level significantly improved from 9.2±4.2 g/dL before MEA to 13.4±1.2 g/dL after MEA(P=0.003).Treatment satisfaction was high,with a VAS score of 9.6±0.7.Endometritis was observed in one patient after surgery and was treated with antibiotics.CONCLUSION MEA is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia.

A review of automatic detection of epilepsy based on EEG signals

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that occurs at all ages.Epilepsy not only brings physical pain to patients,but also brings a huge burden to the lives of patients and their families.At present,epilepsy detection is still achieved through the observation of electroencephalography(EEG)by medical staff.However,this process takes a long time and consumes energy,which will create a huge workload to medical staff.Therefore,it is particularly important to realize the automatic detection of epilepsy.This paper introduces,in detail,the overall framework of EEG-based automatic epilepsy identification and the typical methods involved in each step.Aiming at the core modules,that is,signal acquisition analog front end(AFE),feature extraction and classifier selection,method summary and theoretical explanation are carried out.Finally,the future research directions in the field of automatic detection of epilepsy are prospected.

High-Bandwidth,Low-Power CMOS Transistor Based CAB for Field Programmable Analog Array

This article presents an integrated current mode configurable analog block(CAB)system for field-programmable analog array(FPAA).The proposed architecture is based on the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS)transistor level design where MOSFET transistors operating in the saturation region are adopted.The proposed CAB architecture is designed to implement six of thewidely used current mode operations in analog processing systems:addition,subtraction,integration,multiplication,division,and pass operation.The functionality of the proposed CAB is demonstrated through these six operations,where each operation is chosen based on the user’s selection in the CAB interface system.The architecture of the CAB system proposes an optimized way of designing and integrating only three functional cells with the interface circuitry to achieve the six operations.Furthermore,optimized programming and digital tuning circuitry are implemented in the architecture to control and interface with the functional cells.Moreover,these designed programming and tuning circuitries play an essential role in optimizing the performance of the proposed design.Simulation of the proposed CMOS Transistor Based CAB system is carried out using Tanner EDA Tools in 0.35μm standard CMOS technology.The design uses a±1.5 V power supply and results in maximum 3 dB bandwidth of 34.9 MHz and an approximate size of 0.0537 mm2.This demonstrates the advantages of the design over the current state-of-the-art designs presented for comparison in this article.Consequently,the proposed design has a clear aspect of simplicity,low power consumption,and high bandwidth operation,which makes it a suitable candidate for mobile telecommunications applications.

Low-temperature metal–oxide thin-film transistor technologies for implementing flexible electronic circuits and systems

Here we review two 300℃metal–oxide(MO)thin-film transistor(TFT)technologies for the implementation of flexible electronic circuits and systems.Fluorination-enhanced TFTs for suppressing the variation and shift of turn-on voltage(VON),and dual-gate TFTs for acquiring sensor signals and modulating VON have been deployed to improve the robustness and performance of the systems in which they are deployed.Digital circuit building blocks based on fluorinated TFTs have been designed,fabricated,and characterized,which demonstrate the utility of the proposed low-temperature TFT technologies for implementing flexible electronic systems.The construction and characterization of an analog front-end system for the acquisition of bio-potential signals and an active-matrix sensor array for the acquisition of tactile images have been reported recently.

What Are the Roles of Hydrogen in Infinite-Layer Nickelates?

Even after more than 30 years of intensive effort,the understanding of physical origin accounting for the high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates remains the open question in condensed matter physics.A possible way to solve this long-standing question is to find other cuprate-analogous structures.

Structural Variation between the Western and Eastern Kuqa Fold-and-thrust Belt,China:Insights from Seismic Interpretation and Analog Modeling

The Kuqa fold-and-thrust belt exhibits apparent structural variation in the western and eastern zone.Two salt layer act as effective decollements and influence the varied deformation.In this study,detailed seismic interpretations and analog modeling are presented to construct the suprasalt and subsalt structures in the transfer zone of the middle Kuqa and investigate the influence of the two salt layers.The results reveal that the relationship of the two salt layers changes from separated to connected,and then overlapped toward the foreland in the transfer zone.Different structural models are formed in the suprasalt and subsalt units due to the interaction of the two salt layers.The imbricate thrust faults form two broom-like fault systems in the subsalt units.The suprasalt units develop detached folds terminating toward the east in the region near the orogenic belt.Whereas,two offset anticlines with different trends develop at the frontal edge of the lower salt layer and the trailing edge of the upper salt layer,respectively.According to exploration results in this region,the relationship between suprasalt and subsalt structures has an influence on hydrocarbon accumulation.We believe that the connected deformation contains high-risk plays while the decoupled deformation contains well-preserved plays.

Performance optimization of tri-gate junctionless FinFET using channel stack engineering for digital and analog/RF design

This manuscript explores the behavior of a junctionless tri-gate FinFET at the nano-scale region using SiGe material for the channel.For the analysis,three different channel structures are used:(a)tri-layer stack channel(TLSC)(Si-SiGe-Si),(b)double layer stack channel(DLSC)(SiGe-Si),(c)single layer channel(SLC)(S_(i)).The I−V characteristics,subthreshold swing(SS),drain-induced barrier lowering(DIBL),threshold voltage(V_(t)),drain current(ION),OFF current(IOFF),and ON-OFF current ratio(ION/IOFF)are observed for the structures at a 20 nm gate length.It is seen that TLSC provides 21.3%and 14.3%more ON current than DLSC and SLC,respectively.The paper also explores the analog and RF factors such as input transconductance(g_(m)),output transconductance(gds),gain(gm/gds),transconductance generation factor(TGF),cut-off frequency(f_(T)),maximum oscillation frequency(f_(max)),gain frequency product(GFP)and linearity performance parameters such as second and third-order harmonics(g_(m2),g_(m3)),voltage intercept points(VIP_(2),VIP_(3))and 1-dB compression points for the three structures.The results show that the TLSC has a high analog performance due to more gm and provides 16.3%,48.4%more gain than SLC and DLSC,respectively and it also provides better linearity.All the results are obtained using the VisualTCAD tool.

A Low-Power 12-Bit SAR ADC for Analog Convolutional Kernel of Mixed-Signal CNN Accelerator

As deep learning techniques such as Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs)are widely adopted,the complexity of CNNs is rapidly increasing due to the growing demand for CNN accelerator system-on-chip(SoC).Although conventional CNN accelerators can reduce the computational time of learning and inference tasks,they tend to occupy large chip areas due to many multiply-and-accumulate(MAC)operators when implemented in complex digital circuits,incurring excessive power consumption.To overcome these drawbacks,this work implements an analog convolutional filter consisting of an analog multiply-and-accumulate arithmetic circuit along with an analog-to-digital converter(ADC).This paper introduces the architecture of an analog convolutional kernel comprised of low-power ultra-small circuits for neural network accelerator chips.ADC is an essential component of the analog convolutional kernel used to convert the analog convolutional result to digital values to be stored in memory.This work presents the implementation of a highly low-power and area-efficient 12-bit Successive Approximation Register(SAR)ADC.Unlink most other SAR-ADCs with differential structure;the proposed ADC employs a single-ended capacitor array to support the preceding single-ended max-pooling circuit along with minimal power consumption.The SARADCimplementation also introduces a unique circuit that reduces kick-back noise to increase performance.It was implemented in a test chip using a 55 nm CMOS process.It demonstrates that the proposed ADC reduces Kick-back noise by 40%and consequently improves the ADC’s resolution by about 10%while providing a near rail-to-rail dynamic rangewith significantly lower power consumption than conventional ADCs.The ADC test chip shows a chip size of 4600μm^(2)with a power consumption of 6.6μW while providing an signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio(SNDR)of 68.45 dB,corresponding to an effective number of bits(ENOB)of 11.07 bits.

Dynamic Analogical Association Algorithm Based on Manifold Matching for Few-Shot Learning

At present,deep learning has been well applied in many fields.However,due to the high complexity of hypothesis space,numerous training samples are usually required to ensure the reliability of minimizing experience risk.Therefore,training a classifier with a small number of training examples is a challenging task.From a biological point of view,based on the assumption that rich prior knowledge and analogical association should enable human beings to quickly distinguish novel things from a few or even one example,we proposed a dynamic analogical association algorithm to make the model use only a few labeled samples for classification.To be specific,the algorithm search for knowledge structures similar to existing tasks in prior knowledge based on manifold matching,and combine sampling distributions to generate offsets instead of two sample points,thereby ensuring high confidence and significant contribution to the classification.The comparative results on two common benchmark datasets substantiate the superiority of the proposed method compared to existing data generation approaches for few-shot learning,and the effectiveness of the algorithm has been proved through ablation experiments.

Conscious Slower Breathing Predominates Parasympathetic Activity and Provides a Relaxing Effect, in Healthy Japanese Adult Women

Background: The optimal breathing pattern (BP) to effectively regulate autonomic nervous activity is yet to be determined. Objective: We aimed to clarify the effects of four BPs (BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, and BP-4) on autonomic nervous activity and mood changes. Methods: Eleven healthy adult female volunteers performed each BP in a sitting position for 5 min in a resting state. The time required for one breathing for BP-1 (30 breaths/min), BP-2 (20 breaths/min), BP-3 (15 breaths/min), and BP-4 (10 breaths/min) were 2 s, 3 s, 4 s, and 6 s, respectively. The inspiratory/expiratory time of one breathing was 1 s/1 s, 1 s/2 s, 2 s/2 s, and 2 s/4 s. The high-frequency component (HF) and low-frequency component (LF)/HF ratio during and before (control) performing a BP were calculated from heart rate variability data recorded using the wearable biometric information tracer M-BIT. Three mood changes, which are, “pleasure—unpleasure”, “relaxation—tension”, and “sleepiness—arousal”, in the subjects were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) before and after performing a BP. Results: Slower breathing induced an increase in HF power and a reduction in LF/HF ratio, indicating increased parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic dominance. Furthermore, VAS revealed that slower breathing increased the tendency to feel “pleasure”, “relaxation”, and “sleepiness”. Conclusion: Our results suggest that slower breathing predominates parasympathetic activity in the autonomic nervous system, resulting in a relaxing effect. This result may help lay the foundation for deriving breathing methods that efficiently regulate an individual’s autonomic activity.

Analysis of a Pull-Apart Basin and Its Associated Fractures in the Woodford Shale, Central Oklahoma

Pull-apart basins are faulting and folding zones with high intensity of fractures that strongly affect the production in unconventional shale gas. While most observations of pull-apart basins were from surface mapping or laboratory experiments, we investigated a nascent pull-apart basin in the subsurface. We characterized a nascent pull-apart basin along the strike-slip fault within the Woodford Shale by using seismic attributes analyses, including coherence, dip-azimuth, and curvature. The results indicate a 32 km long, N-S striking strike-slip fault that displays a distinct but young pull-apart basin, which is ~1.6 km by 3.2 km in size and is bounded by two quasi-circular faults. The curvature attribute map reveals two quasi-circular folds, which depart from the main strike-slip fault at ~25°, resulting in an elliptical basin. Inside the basin, a series of echelon quasi-circular normal faults step into the bottom of the basin with ~80 m of total subsidence. We propose that the controls of the shape of pull-apart basin are the brittleness of the shale, and we suggest proper seismic attributes as a useful tool for investigating high fracture intensity in the subsurface for hydrofracturing and horizontal drilling within the shale.