Correlation between hydration properties and electrochemical performances on Ln cation size effect in layered perovskite for protonic ceramic fuel cells

PrBa_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(1.5)Fe_(0.5)O_(5+δ)(PrBSCF) has attracted much research interest as a potential triple ionic and electronic conductor(TIEC) electrode for protonic ceramic fuel cells(PCFCs). The chemical formula for Pr BSCF is AA'B_(2)O_(5+δ), with Pr(A-site) and Ba/Sr(A'-site) alternately stacked along the c-axis. Due to these structural features, the bulk oxygen ion diffusivity is significantly enhanced through the disorder-free channels in the PrO layer;thus, the A site cations(lanthanide ions) play a pivotal role in determining the overall electrochemical properties of layered perovskites. Consequently, previous research has predominantly focused on the electrical properties and oxygen bulk/surface kinetics of Ln cation effects,whereas the hydration properties for PCFC systems remain unidentified. Here, we thoroughly examined the proton uptake behavior and thermodynamic parameters for the hydration reaction to conclusively determine the changes in the electrochemical performances depending on LnBa_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(1.5)Fe_(0.5)O_(5+δ)(LnBSCF,Ln=Pr, Nd, and Gd) cathodes. At 500 ℃, the quantitative proton concentration of PrBSCF was 2.04 mol% and progressively decreased as the Ln cation size decreased. Similarly, the Gibbs free energy indicated that less energy was required for the formation of protonic defects in the order of Pr BSCF < Nd BSCF < Gd BSCF. To elucidate the close relationship between hydration properties and electrochemical performances in LnBSCF cathodes, PCFC single cell measurements and analysis of the distribution of relaxation time were further investigated.

Conceptual design of a 714-MHz RFQ for compact proton injectors and development of a new tuning algorithm on its aluminium prototype

Radio frequency quadrupoles(RFQs),which are crucial components of proton injectors,significantly affect the performance of proton accelerator facilities.An RFQ with a high frequency of 714 MHz dedicated to compact proton injectors for medi-cal applications is designed in this study.The RFQ is designed to accelerate proton beams from 50 keV to 4 MeV within a short length of 2 m and can be matched closely with the downstream drift tube linac to capture more particles through a preliminary optimization.To develop an advanced RFQ,challenging techniques,including fabrication and tuning method,must be evaluated and verified using a prototype.An aluminium prototype is derived from the conceptual design of the RFQ and then redesigned to confirm the radio frequency performance,fabrication procedure,and feasibility of the tuning algorithm.Eventually,a new tuning algorithm based on the response matrix and least-squares method is developed,which yields favorable results based on the prototype,i.e.,the errors of the dipole and quadrupole components reduced to a low level after several tuning iterations.Benefiting from the conceptual design and techniques obtained from the prototype,the formal mechanical design of the 2-m RFQ is ready for the next manufacturing step.

Molecular-level proton acceptor boosts oxygen evolution catalysis to enable efficient industrial-scale water splitting

Industrial water splitting has long been suppressed by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction(OER),which requires a catalyst to be efficient.Herein,we propose a molecular-level proton acceptor strategy to produce an efficient OER catalyst that can boost industrial-scale water splitting.Molecular-level phosphate(-PO_(4))group is introduced to modify the surface of PrBa_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)Co_(2)O_(5)+δ(PBCC).The achieved catalyst(PO_(4)-PBCC)exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic performance in alkaline media.Based on the X-ray absorption spectroscopy results and density functional theory(DFT)calculations,the PO_(4)on the surface,which is regarded as the Lewis base,is the key factor to overcome the kinetic limitation of the proton transfer process during the OER.The use of the catalyst in a membrane electrode assembly(MEA)is further evaluated for industrial-scale water splitting,and it only needs a low voltage of 1.66 V to achieve a large current density of 1 A cm^(-2).This work provides a new molecular-level strategy to develop highly efficient OER electrocatalysts for industrial applications.

Overlapping approach Proton Pump Inhibitors/Nux vomica-Heel as new intervention for gastro-esophageal reflux management:Delphi consensus study

BACKGROUND Gastro-esophageal reflux disease(GERD)may affect the upper digestive tract;up to 20%of population in Western nations are affected by GERD.Antacids,histamine H2-receptor antagonists,and Proton Pump Inhibitors(PPIs)are considered the referring medications for GERD.Nevertheless,PPIs must be managed carefully because their use,especially chronic,could be linked with some adverse effects.An effective and safe alternative pharmacological tool for GERD is needed.After the identification of potentially new medications to flank PPIs,it is mandatory to revise and improve good clinical practices even through a consensus process.AIM To optimize diagnosis and treatment guidelines for GERD through a consensus based on Delphi method.METHODS The availability of clinical studies describing the action of the multicomponent/multitarget medication Nux vomica-Heel,subject of the consensus,is the basic prerequisite for the consensus itself.A modified Delphi process was used to reach a consensus among a panel of Italian GERD specialists on the overlapping approach PPIs/Nux vomica-Heel as a new intervention model for the management of GERD.The Voting Consensus group was composed of 49 Italian Medical Doctors with different specializations:Gastroenterology,otolaryngology,geriatrics,and general medicine.A scientific committee analyzed the literature,determined areas that required investigation(in agreement with the multiple-choice questionnaire results),and identified two topics of interest:(1)GERD disease;and(2)GERD treatment.Statements for each of these topics were then formulated and validated.The Delphi process involved two rounds of questioning submitted to the panel experts using an online platform.RESULTS According to their routinary GERD practice and current clinical evidence,the panel members provided feedback to each questionnaire statement.The experts evaluated 15 statements and reached consensus on all 15.The statements regarding the GERD disease showed high levels of agreement,with consensus ranging from 70%to 92%.The statements regarding the GERD treatment also showed very high levels of agreement,with consensus ranging from 90%to 100%.This Delphi process was able to reach consensus among physicians in relevant aspects of GERD management,such as the adoption of a new approach to treat patients with GERD based on the overlapping between PPIs and Nux vomica-Heel.The consensus was unanimous among the physicians with different specializations,underlying the uniqueness of the agreement reached to identify in the overlapping approach between PPIs and Nux vomica-Heel a new intervention model for GERD management.The results support that an effective approach to deprescribe PPIs through a progressive decalage timetable(reducing PPIs administration to as-needed use),should be considered.CONCLUSION Nux vomica-Heel appears to be a valid opportunity for GERD treatment to favor the deprescription of PPIs and to maintain low disease activity together with the symptomatology remission.

Moisture‑Electric–Moisture‑Sensitive Heterostructure Triggered Proton Hopping for Quality‑Enhancing Moist‑Electric Generator

Moisture-enabled electricity(ME)is a method of converting the potential energy of water in the external environment into electrical energy through the interaction of functional materials with water molecules and can be directly applied to energy harvesting and signal expression.However,ME can be unreliable in numerous applications due to its sluggish response to moisture,thus sacrificing the value of fast energy harvesting and highly accurate information representation.Here,by constructing a moisture-electric-moisture-sensitive(ME-MS)heterostructure,we develop an efficient ME generator with ultra-fast electric response to moisture achieved by triggering Grotthuss protons hopping in the sensitized ZnO,which modulates the heterostructure built-in interfacial potential,enables quick response(0.435 s),an unprecedented ultra-fast response rate of 972.4 mV s^(−1),and a durable electrical signal output for 8 h without any attenuation.Our research provides an efficient way to generate electricity and important insight for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of moisture-generated carrier migration in ME generator,which has a more comprehensive working scene and can serve as a typical model for human health monitoring and smart medical electronics design.

Effects of proton pump inhibitors on inflammatory bowel disease:An updated review

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is believed to be caused by various factors,including abnormalities in disease susceptibility genes,environmental factors,immune factors,and intestinal bacteria.Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs)are the primary drugs used to treat acid-related diseases.They are also commonly prescribed to patients with IBD.Recent studies have suggested a potential association between the use of certain medications,such as PPIs,and the occurrence and progression of IBD.In this review,we summarize the potential impact of PPIs on IBD and analyze the underlying mechanisms.Our findings may provide insights for conducting further investigations into the effects of PPIs on IBD and serve as an important reminder for physicians to exercise caution when prescribing PPIs to patients with IBD.

Correlation between cerebral neurotransmitters levels by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Cognitive dysfunction is the main manifestation of central neuropathy.Although cognitive impairments tend to be overlooked in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM),there is a growing body of evidence linking DM to cognitive dysfunction.Hyperglycemia is closely related to neurological abnormalities,while often disregarded in clinical practice.Changes in cerebral neurotransmitter levels are associated with a variety of neurological abnormalities and may be closely related to blood glucose control in patients with type 2 DM(T2DM).AIM To evaluate the concentrations of cerebral neurotransmitters in T2DM patients exhibiting different hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)levels.METHODS A total of 130 T2DM patients were enrolled at the Department of Endocrinology of Shanghai East Hospital.The participants were divided into four groups according to their HbA1c levels using the interquartile method,namely Q1(<7.875%),Q2(7.875%-9.050%),Q3(9.050%-11.200%)and Q4(≥11.200%).Clinical data were collected and measured,including age,height,weight,neck/waist/hip circumferences,blood pressure,comorbidities,duration of DM,and biochemical indicators.Meanwhile,neurotransmitters in the left hippocampus and left brainstem area were detected by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.RESULTS The HbA1c level was significantly associated with urinary microalbumin(mALB),triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR),and beta cell function(HOMA-β),N-acetylaspartate/creatine(NAA/Cr),and NAA/choline(NAA/Cho).Spearman correlation analysis showed that mALB,LDL-C,HOMA-IR and NAA/Cr in the left brainstem area were positively correlated with the level of HbA1c(P<0.05),whereas HOMA-βwas negatively correlated with the HbA1c level(P<0.05).Ordered multiple logistic regression analysis showed that NAA/Cho[Odds ratio(OR):1.608,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.004-2.578,P<0.05],LDL-C(OR:1.627,95%CI:1.119-2.370,P<0.05),and HOMA-IR(OR:1.107,95%CI:1.031-1.188,P<0.01)were independent predictors of poor glycemic control.CONCLUSION The cerebral neurotransmitter concentrations in the left brainstem area in patients with T2DM are closely related to glycemic control,which may be the basis for the changes in cognitive function in diabetic patients.

In-situ coating and surface partial protonation co-promoting performance of single-crystal nickel-rich cathode in all-solid-state batteries

The poor electrochemical performance of all-solid-state batteries(ASSBs),which is assemblied by Ni-rich cathode and poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)-based electrolytes,can be attributed to unstable cathodic interface and poor crystal structure stability of Ni-rich cathode.Several coating strategies are previously employed to enhance the stability of the cathodic interface and crystal structure for Ni-rich cathode.However,these methods can hardly achieve simplicity and high efficiency simultaneously.In this work,polyacrylic acid(PAA)replaced traditional PVDF as a binder for cathode,which can achieve a uniform PAA-Li(LixPAA(0<x≤1))coating layer on the surface of single-crystal LiNi_(0.83)Co_(0.12)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)(SC-NCM83)due to H^(+)/Li^(+)exchange reaction during the initial charging-discharging process.The formation of PAA-Li coating layer on cathode can promote interfacial Li^(+)transport and enhance the stability of the cathodic interface.Furthermore,the partially-protonated surface of SC-NCM83 casued by H^(+)/Li^(+)exchange reaction can restrict Ni ions transport to enhance the crystal structure stability.The proposed SC-NCM83-PAA exhibits superior cycling performance with a retention of 92%compared with that(57.3%)of SC-NCM83-polyvinylidene difluoride(PVDF)after 200 cycles.This work provides a practical strategy to construct high-performance cathodes for ASSBs.

Sensitivity investigation of 100-MeV proton irradiation to SiGe HBT single event effect

The single event effect(SEE) sensitivity of silicon–germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor(Si Ge HBT) irradiated by 100-Me V proton is investigated. The simulation results indicate that the most sensitive position of the Si Ge HBT device is the emitter center, where the protons pass through the larger collector-substrate(CS) junction. Furthermore, in this work the experimental studies are also carried out by using 100-Me V proton. In order to consider the influence of temperature on SEE, both simulation and experiment are conducted at a temperature of 93 K. At a cryogenic temperature, the carrier mobility increases, which leads to higher transient current peaks, but the duration of the current decreases significantly.Notably, at the same proton flux, there is only one single event transient(SET) that occurs at 93 K. Thus, the radiation hard ability of the device increases at cryogenic temperatures. The simulation results are found to be qualitatively consistent with the experimental results of 100-Me V protons. To further evaluate the tolerance of the device, the influence of proton on Si Ge HBT after gamma-ray(^(60)Coγ) irradiation is investigated. As a result, as the cumulative dose increases, the introduction of traps results in a significant reduction in both the peak value and duration of the transient currents.

Study on the optimal incident proton energy of ^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT)is recognized as a precise binary targeted radiotherapy technique that effectively eliminates tumors through the^(10)B(n,α)^(7)Li nuclear reaction.Among various neutron sources,accelerator-based sources have emerged as particularly promising for BNCT applications.The^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be reaction is highly regarded as a potential neutron source for BNCT,owing to its low threshold energy for the reaction,significant neutron yield,appropriate average neutron energy,and additional benefits.This study utilized Monte Carlo simulations to model the physical interactions within a lithium target subjected to proton bombardment,including neutron moderation by an MgF_(2)moderator and subsequent BNCT dose analysis using a Snyder head phantom.The study focused on calculating the yields of epithermal neutrons for various incident proton energies,finding an optimal energy at 2.7 MeV.Furthermore,the Snyder head phantom was employed in dose simulations to validate the effectiveness of this specific incident energy when utilizing a^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be neutron source for BNCT purposes.

Endoscopic full-thickness plication along with argon plasma coagulation for treatment of proton pump inhibitor dependent gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND Most endoscopic anti-reflux interventions for gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)management are technically challenging to practice with inadequate data to support it utility.Therefore,this study was carried to evaluate the effectiveness and safety newer endoscopic full-thickness fundoplication(EFTP)device along with Argon Plasma Coagulation to treat individuals with GERD.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety newer EFTP device along with Argon Plasma Coagulation to treat individuals with GERD.METHODS This study was a single-center comparative analysis conducted on patients treated at a Noble Institute of Gastroenterology,Ahmedabad,hospital between 2020 and 2022.The research aimed to retrospectively analyze patient data on GERD symptoms and proton pump inhibitor(PPI)dependence who underwent EFTP using the GERD-X system along with argon plasma coagulation(APC).The primary endpoint was the mean change in the total gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life(GERD-HRQL)score compared to the baseline measurement at the 3-month follow-up.Secondary endpoints encompassed enhancements in the overall GERD-HRQL score,improvements in GERD symptom scores at the 3 and changes in PPI usage at the 3 and 12-month time points.RESULTS In this study,patients most were in Hill Class II,and over half had ineffective esophageal motility.Following the EFTP procedure,there were significant improvements in heartburn and regurgitation scores,as well as GERDHRQL scores(P<0.001).PPI use significantly decreased,with 82.6%not needing PPIs or prokinetics at end of 1 year.No significant adverse events related to the procedures were observed in either group.CONCLUSION The EFTP along with APC procedure shows promise in addressing GERD symptoms and improving patients'quality of life,particularly for suitable candidates.Moreover,the application of a lone clip with APC yielded superior outcomes and exhibited greater cost-effectiveness.

Static superconducting gantry‑based proton CT combined with X‑ray CT as prior image for FLASH proton therapy

Proton FLASH therapy with an ultra-high dose rate is in urgent need of more accurate treatment plan system(TPS)to promote the development of proton computed tomography(CT)without intrinsic error compared with the transformation from X-ray CT.This paper presents an imaging mode of proton CT based on static superconducting gantry different from the conventional rotational gantry.The beam energy for proton CT is fixed at 350 MeV,which is boosted by a compact proton linac from 230 MeV,and then delivered by the gantry to scan the patient’s body for proton imaging.This study demonstrates that the static superconducting gantry-based proton CT is effective in clinical applications.In particular,the imaging mode,which combines the relative stopping power(RSP)map from X-ray CT as prior knowledge,can produce much a higher accuracy RSP map for TPSs and positioning and achieve ultra-fast image for real-time image-guided radiotherapy.This paper presents the conceptual design of a boosting linac,static superconducting gantry and proton CT imaging equipment.The feasibility of energy enhancement is verified by simulation,and results from Geant4 simulations and reconstruction algorithms are presented,including the simulation verification of the advantage of the imaging mode.

Gel-state polybenzimidazole proton exchange membranes with flexible alkyl sulfonic acid side chains for a wider operating temperature range(25–240 ℃)

High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells(HT-PEMFC) possess distinct technical advantages of high output power, simplified water/heat management, increased tolerance to fuel impurities and diverse fuel sources, within the temperature range of 120–200 ℃. However, for practical automobile applications, it was crucial to broaden their low-temperature operating window and enable cold start-up capability. Herein, gel-state phosphoric acid(PA) doped sulfonated polybenzimidazole(PBI) proton exchange membranes(PEMs) were designed and synthesized via PPA sol-gel process and in-situ sultone ring-opening reactions with various proton transport pathways based on absorbed PA, flexible alkyl chain connected sulfonic acid groups and imidazole sites. The effects of flexible alkyl sulfonic acid side chain length and content on PA doping level, proton conductivity, and membrane stability under different temperature and relative humidity(RH) were thoroughly investigated. The prepared gel-state membranes contained a self-assembled lamellar and porous structure that facilitated the absorption of a large amount of PA with rapid proton transporting mechanisms. At room temperature, the optimized membrane exhibited a proton conductivity of 0.069 S cm^(-1), which was further increased to 0.162 and 0.358 S cm^(-1)at 80 and 200 ℃, respectively, without additional humidification. The most significant contribution of this work was demonstrating the feasibility of gel-state sulfonated PBI membranes in expanding HT-PEMFC application opportunities over a wider operating range of 25 to 240 ℃.

Rational Design of Electrode–Electrolyte Interphase and Electrolytes for Rechargeable Proton Batteries

Rechargeable proton batteries have been regarded as a promising technology for next-generation energy storage devices,due to the smallest size,lightest weight,ultrafast diffusion kinetics and negligible cost of proton as charge carriers.Nevertheless,a proton battery possessing both high energy and power density is yet achieved.In addition,poor cycling stability is another major challenge making the lifespan of proton batteries unsatisfactory.These issues have motivated extensive research into electrode materials.Nonetheless,the design of electrode–electrolyte interphase and electrolytes is underdeveloped for solving the challenges.In this review,we summarize the development of interphase and electrolytes for proton batteries and elaborate on their importance in enhancing the energy density,power density and battery lifespan.The fundamental understanding of interphase is reviewed with respect to the desolvation process,interfacial reaction kinetics,solvent-electrode interactions,and analysis techniques.We categorize the currently used electrolytes according to their physicochemical properties and analyze their electrochemical potential window,solvent(e.g.,water)activities,ionic conductivity,thermal stability,and safety.Finally,we offer our views on the challenges and opportunities toward the future research for both interphase and electrolytes for achieving high-performance proton batteries for energy storage.

GPU-based cross-platform Monte Carlo proton dose calculation engine in the framework of Taichi

In recent years,graphics processing units(GPUs)have been applied to accelerate Monte Carlo(MC)simulations for proton dose calculation in radiotherapy.Nonetheless,current GPU platforms,such as Compute Unified Device Architecture(CUDA)and Open Computing Language(OpenCL),suffer from cross-platform limitation or relatively high programming barrier.However,the Taichi toolkit,which was developed to overcome these difficulties,has been successfully applied to high-performance numerical computations.Based on the class II condensed history simulation scheme with various proton-nucleus interactions,we developed a GPU-accelerated MC engine for proton transport using the Taichi toolkit.Dose distributions in homogeneous and heterogeneous geometries were calculated for 110,160,and 200 MeV protons and were compared with those obtained by full MC simulations using TOPAS.The gamma passing rates were greater than 0.99 and 0.95 with criteria of 2 mm,2%and 1 mm,1%,respectively,in all the benchmark tests.Moreover,the calculation speed was at least 5800 times faster than that of TOPAS,and the number of lines of code was approximately 10 times less than those of CUDA or OpenCL.Our study provides a highly accurate,efficient,and easy-to-use proton dose calculation engine for fast prototyping,beamlet calculation,and education purposes.

Promoting Proton Migration Kinetics by Ni^(2+)Regulating Enables Improved Aqueous Zn-MnO_(2) Batteries

The energy storage behaviors of MnO_(2) for aqueous Zn-MnO_(2) batteries mainly depend on the Zn^(2+)/H^(+)intercalation but are limited by poor ion/electron migration dynamics and stability.Herein,a strategy is proposed that promoting proton migration kinetics ameliorates H^(+)storage activity by introducing Ni^(2+)intoγ-MnO_(2)(Ni-MnO_(2)).Ni^(2+)can lower the diffusion barrier of H^(+)and selectively induce the ion intercalation,thereby alleviating the electrostatic interaction with the lattice.Moreover,Ni^(2+)enables the adjacent[MnO6]octahedrons to have better electron conductivity.The Ni-MnO_(2) exhibits superior rate performance(nearly four times specific capacity compared with MnO_(2))and ultra-long-cycle stability(100%of capacity retention after 11000 cycles at 3.0 A g^(-1)).The calculation indicates that the Ni-MnO_(2) allows H^(+)migrate rapidly along the one-dimensional tunnel due to reduction of the activation energy caused by Ni^(2+)regulating,thus achieving excellent reaction kinetics.This work brings great potential for the development of high-performance aqueous Zn-MnO_(2) batteries.

Pore-Scale Investigation of Coupled Two-Phase and Reactive Transport in the Cathode Electrode of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

A three-dimensional multicomponent multiphase lattice Boltzmann model(LBM)is established to model the coupled two-phase and reactive transport phenomena in the cathode electrode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.The gas diff usion layer(GDL)and microporous layer(MPL)are stochastically reconstructed with the inside dynamic distribution of oxygen and liquid water resolved,and the catalyst layer is simplifi ed as a superthin layer to address the electrochemical reaction,which provides a clear description of the fl ooding eff ect on mass transport and performance.Diff erent kinds of electrodes are reconstructed to determine the optimum porosity and structure design of the GDL and MPL by comparing the transport resistance and per-formance under the fl ooding condition.The simulation results show that gradient porosity GDL helps to increase the reactive area and average concentration under fl ooding.The presence of the MPL ensures the oxygen transport space and reaction area because liquid water cannot transport through micropores.Moreover,the MPL helps in the uniform distribution of oxygen for an effi cient in-plane transport capacity.Crack and perforation structures can accelerate the water transport in the assembly.The systematic perforation design yields the best performance under fl ooding by separating the transport of liquid water and oxygen.

A new imaging mode based on X-ray CT as prior image and sparsely sampled projections for rapid clinical proton CT

Proton computed tomography(CT)has a distinct practical significance in clinical applications.It eliminates 3–5%errors caused by the transformation of Hounsfield unit(HU)to relative stopping power(RSP)values when using X-ray CT for positioning and treatment planning systems(TPSs).Following the development of FLASH proton therapy,there are increased requirements for accurate and rapid positioning in TPSs.Thus,a new rapid proton CT imaging mode is proposed based on sparsely sampled projections.The proton beam was boosted to 350 MeV by a compact proton linear accelerator(LINAC).In this study,the comparisons of the proton scattering with the energy of 350 MeV and 230 MeV are conducted based on GEANT4 simulations.As the sparsely sampled information associated with beam acquisitions at 12 angles is not enough for reconstruction,X-ray CT is used as a prior image.The RSP map generated by converting the X-ray CT was constructed based on Monte Carlo simulations.Considering the estimation of the most likely path(MLP),the prior image-constrained compressed sensing(PICCS)algorithm is used to reconstruct images from two different phantoms using sparse proton projections of 350 MeV parallel proton beam.The results show that it is feasible to realize the proton image reconstruction with the rapid proton CT imaging proposed in this paper.It can produce RSP maps with much higher accuracy for TPSs and fast positioning to achieve ultra-fast imaging for real-time image-guided radiotherapy(IGRT)in clinical proton therapy applications.

Efficient proton conduction in porous and crystalline covalent-organic frameworks(COFs)

To attain the objectives of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality,the development of stable and highperformance ion-conducting materials holds enormous relevance in various energy storage and conversion devices.Particularly,crystalline porous materials possessing built-in ordered nanochannels exhibit remarkable superiority in comprehending the ion transfer mechanisms with precision.In this regard,covalent organic frameworks(COFs)are highly regarded as a promising alternative due to their preeminent structural tunability,accessible well-defined pores,and excellent thermal/chemical stability under hydrous/anhydrous conditions.By the availability of organic units and the diversity of topologies and connections,advances in COFs have been increasing rapidly over the last decade and they have emerged as a new field of proton-conducting materials.Therefore,a comprehensive summary and discussion are urgently needed to provide an"at a glance"understanding of the prospects and challenges in the development of proton-conducting COFs.In this review,we target a comprehensive review of COFs in the field of proton conductivity from the aspects of design strategies,the proton conducting mechanism/features,the relationships of structure-function,and the application of research.The relevant content of theoretical simulation,advanced structural characterizations,prospects,and challenges are also presented elaborately and critically.More importantly,we sincerely hope that this progress report will form a consistent view of this field and provide inspiration for future research.

Structure of the Quarks and a New Model of Protons and Neutrons: Answer to Some Open Questions

The described structural model tries to answer some open questions such as: Why do quarks not exist in the open state? Where are the antiparticles from the Big Bang?