AIM： Different strains of bifidobacteria were analysed for their effects on HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells （IECs） in in vitro models both of the non-inflamed and inflamed intestinal epithelium. METHODS： A repor...AIM： Different strains of bifidobacteria were analysed for their effects on HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells （IECs） in in vitro models both of the non-inflamed and inflamed intestinal epithelium. METHODS： A reporter gene system in HT-29 cells was used to measure levels of NF-KB activation after challenge with bifidobacteria or after bacterial pre-treatment following LPS challenge. IL-8 protein and pro-inflammatory gene expression was investigated using normal HT-29 cells. RESULTS： None of the bifidobacteria tested induced activation of nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） indicating that bifidobacteria themselves do not induce inflammatory events in IECs. However, six out of eight bifidobacteria tested inhibited lipopolysaccharide- （LPS-） induced NF-κB activation in a dose- and strain-dependent manner. In contrast, NF-κB activation in response to challenge with tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） was affected by none of the tested bifidobacteria, indicating that the inhibitory effect of bifidobacteria is specific for LPS-induced inflammation in IECs. As shown with two of the six inhibitionpositive bifidobacteria, LPS-induced inhibition of NF-κB activation was accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease of interleukin 8 （IL-8） secretion and by lower mRNA levels for IL-8, TNF-α, cyclooxygenase 2 （Cox-2）, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1（ICAM-1）. CONCLUSION： Some strains of bifidobacteria are effective in inhibiting LPS-induced inflammation and thus might be appropriate candidates for probiotic intervention in chronic intestinal inflammation.展开更多
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide,with an estimated prevalence of 31%in Latin America.The presence of metabolic comorbidities coexisting with liv...Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide,with an estimated prevalence of 31%in Latin America.The presence of metabolic comorbidities coexisting with liver disease varies substantially among populations.It is acknowledged that obesity is boosting the type 2 diabetes mellitus“epidemic,”and both conditions are significant contributors to the increasing number of patients with MASLD.Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis represents a condition of chronic liver inflammation and is considered the most severe form of MASLD.MASLD diagnosis is based on the presence of steatosis,noninvasive scores and altered liver tests.Noninvasive scores of liver fibrosis,such as serum biomarkers,which should be used in primary care to rule out advanced fibrosis,are simple,inexpensive,and widely available.Currently,guidelines from international hepatology societies recommend using noninvasive strategies to simplify case finding and management of high-risk patients with MASLD in clinical practice.Unfortunately,there is no definite pharmacological treatment for the condition.Creating public health policies to treat patients with risk factors for MASLD prevention is essential.展开更多
Since the 1960s,a new class of Si-based advanced ceramics called polymer-derived ceramics(PDCs)has been widely reported because of their unique capabilities to produce various ceramic materials(e.g.,ceramic fibers,cer...Since the 1960s,a new class of Si-based advanced ceramics called polymer-derived ceramics(PDCs)has been widely reported because of their unique capabilities to produce various ceramic materials(e.g.,ceramic fibers,ceramic matrix composites,foams,films,and coatings)and their versatile applications.Particularly,due to their promising structural and functional properties for energy conversion and storage,the applications of PDCs in these fields have attracted much attention in recent years.This review highlights the recent progress in the PDC field with the focus on energy conversion and storage applications.Firstly,a brief introduction of the Si-based polymer-derived ceramics in terms of synthesis,processing,and microstructure characterization is provided,followed by a summary of PDCs used in energy conversion systems(mainly in gas turbine engines),including fundamentals and material issues,ceramic matrix composites,ceramic fibers,thermal and environmental barrier coatings,as well as high-temperature sensors.Subsequently,applications of PDCs in the field of energy storage are reviewed with a strong focus on anode materials for lithium and sodium ion batteries.The possible applications of the PDCs in Li–S batteries,supercapacitors,and fuel cells are discussed as well.Finally,a summary of the reported applications and perspectives for future research with PDCs are presented.展开更多
A novel single-source-precursor for SiC-TaC-C nanocomposites was successfully synthesized by the chemical reaction between a polycarbosilane(allylhydridopolycarbosilane,AHPCS)and tantalum(V)chloride(TaCls),which was c...A novel single-source-precursor for SiC-TaC-C nanocomposites was successfully synthesized by the chemical reaction between a polycarbosilane(allylhydridopolycarbosilane,AHPCS)and tantalum(V)chloride(TaCls),which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra(FTIR)measurement.After pyrolysis of the resultant single-source-precursors at 900"C,amorphous ceramic powders were obtained.The 900 C ceramics were anncaled at different temperatures in the range of 1200-1600℃ to gain SiC-TaC-C nanocomposites.The phase evolution of ceramic nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The results indicate that the TaC starts to crystallize at lower temperature than theβ-SiC.It is particularly worth pointing out that the unique core-shell structured TaC-C nanoparticles were in-situ formed and homogeneously distributed in the ceramic matrix after annealing at 1400 C.Even at a high temperature of 1600 C,the grain sizes ofβ-SiC and TaC are smaller than 30 nm,flilling the definition of nanocomposites.The present study related to SiC-TaC C nanocomposites paves a new road for enriching ultra-high temperature ceramic family suitable for structural/functional applications in harsh environment.展开更多
The atomic structural features and the mechanical properties of amorphous silicoboron carbonitride ceramics with 13 different compositions in the Si–BN–C phase diagram are investigated employing ab-initio calculatio...The atomic structural features and the mechanical properties of amorphous silicoboron carbonitride ceramics with 13 different compositions in the Si–BN–C phase diagram are investigated employing ab-initio calculations.Both chemical bonds and local structures within the amorphous network relate to the elemental composition.The distribution of nine types of chemical bonds is composition-dependent,where the B–C,Si–N,Si–C,and B–N bonds hold a large proportion for all compositions.Si prefers to be tetrahedrally coordinated,while B and N prefer sp^(2)-like trigonal coordination.In the case of C,the tetrahedral coordination is predominant at relatively low C contents,while the trigonal coordination is found to be the main feature with the increasing C content.Such local structural characteristics greatly influence the mechanical properties of SiBCN ceramics.Among the studied amorphous ceramics,SiB_(2)C_(3)N_(2) and SiB_(3)C_(2)N_(3) with low Si contents and moderate C and/or BN contents have high elastic moduli,high tensile/shear strengths,and good debonding capability.The increment of Si,C,and BN contents on this basis results in the decrease of mechanical properties.The increasing Si content leads to the increment of Si-contained bonds that reduce the bond strength of SiBCN ceramics,while the latter two cases are attributed to the raise of sp^(2)-like trigonal configuration of C and BN.These discoveries are expected to guide the composition-tailored optimization of SiBCN ceramics.展开更多
To improve the oxidation resistance of short carbon fiber(C_(sf))-reinforced mechanically alloyed SiBCN(MA-SiBCN)(C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN)composites,dense amorphous C_(sf)/SiBCN composites containing both MA-SiBCN and polymer...To improve the oxidation resistance of short carbon fiber(C_(sf))-reinforced mechanically alloyed SiBCN(MA-SiBCN)(C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN)composites,dense amorphous C_(sf)/SiBCN composites containing both MA-SiBCN and polymer-derived ceramics SiBCN(PDCs-SiBCN)were prepared by repeated polymer infiltration and pyrolysis(PIP)of layered C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN composites at 1100℃,and the oxidation behavior and damage mechanism of the as-prepared C_(sf)/SiBCN at 1300–1600℃ were compared and discussed with those of C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN.The C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN composites resist oxidation attack up to 1400℃ but fail at 1500℃ due to the collapse of the porous framework,while the PIP-densified C_(sf)/SiBCN composites are resistant to static air up to 1600℃.During oxidation,oxygen diffuses through preexisting pores and the pores left by oxidation of carbon fibers and pyrolytic carbon(PyC)to the interior of the matrix.Owing to the oxidative coupling effect of the MA-SiBCN and PDCs-SiBCN matrices,a relatively continuous and dense oxide layer is formed on the sample surface,and the interfacial region between the oxide layer and the matrix of the as-prepared composite contains an amorphous glassy structure mainly consisting of Si and O and an incompletely oxidized but partially crystallized matrix,which is primarily responsible for improving the oxidation resistance.展开更多
FIB-SEM tomography is a powerful technique that integrates a focused ion beam(FIB)and a scanning electron microscope(SEM)to capture high-resolution imaging data of nanostructures.This approach involves collecting in-p...FIB-SEM tomography is a powerful technique that integrates a focused ion beam(FIB)and a scanning electron microscope(SEM)to capture high-resolution imaging data of nanostructures.This approach involves collecting in-plane SEM imagesand using FIB to remove material layers for imaging subsequent planes,thereby producing image stacks.However,theseimage stacks in FIB-SEM tomography are subject to the shine-through effect,which makes structures visible from theposterior regions of the current plane.This artifact introduces an ambiguity between image intensity and structures in thecurrent plane,making conventional segmentation methods such as thresholding or the k-means algorithm insufficient.Inthis study,we propose a multimodal machine learning approach that combines intensity information obtained at differentelectron beam accelerating voltages to improve the three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction of nanostructures.By treatingthe increased shine-through effect at higher accelerating voltages as a form of additional information,the proposed methodsignificantly improves segmentation accuracy and leads to more precise 3D reconstructions for real FIB tomography data.展开更多
AIM To develop a scale of domains associated with the health-related quality-of-life(HRQOL) in patients with cirrhosis-related ascites.METHODS We initially undertook literature searches and a qualitative study in orde...AIM To develop a scale of domains associated with the health-related quality-of-life(HRQOL) in patients with cirrhosis-related ascites.METHODS We initially undertook literature searches and a qualitative study in order to design a cirrhosis-associated ascites symptom(CAS) scale describing symptoms with a potential detrimental impact on health related quality of life(HRQL)(the higher the score, the worse the symptoms). Discriminatory validity was assessed in a validation cohort including cirrhotic patients with(1) tense/severe;(2) moderate/mild; or(3) no ascites(controls). Patients also completed chronic liver disease questionnaire(CLDQ) and the Euro QoL 5-Dimensions 5-Level(EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire evaluating HRQL. The relation between scale scores was analysed using Spearman correlations. RESULTS The final CAS scale included 14 items. The equivalent reliability was high(Chronbach's alpha 0.88). The validation cohort included 103 patients(72% men, mean age 62.4 years). The mean scores for each question in the CAS scale were higher for patients with severe/tense ascites than for mild/moderate ascites and controls. Compared with controls(mean = 9.9 points), the total CAS scale score was higher for severe/tense ascites(mean = 23.8 points) as well as moderate/mild ascites(mean = 18.6 points)(P < 0.001 both groups). We found a strong correlation between the total CAS and CLDQ score(rho = 0.82, P < 0.001) and a moderate correlation between the CAS and the EQ-5D-5L score(0.67, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The CAS is a valid tool, which reflects HRQOL in patients with ascites.展开更多
Considered as a top priority of industrial devel- opment, Industry 4.0 （or Industrie 4.0 as the German ver- sion） has being highlighted as the pursuit of both academy and practice in companies. In this paper, based ...Considered as a top priority of industrial devel- opment, Industry 4.0 （or Industrie 4.0 as the German ver- sion） has being highlighted as the pursuit of both academy and practice in companies. In this paper, based on the review of state of art and also the state of practice in dif- ferent countries, shortcomings have been revealed as the lacking of applicable framework for the implementation of Industrie 4.0. Therefore, in order to shed some light on the knowledge of the details, a reference architecture is developed, where four perspectives namely manufacturing process, devices, software and engineering have been highlighted. Moreover, with a view on the importance of Cyber-Physical systems, the structure of Cyber-Physical System are established for the in-depth analysis. Further cases with the usage of Cyber-Physical System are also arranged, which attempts to provide some implications to match the theoretical findings together with the experience of companies. In general, results of this paper could be useful for the extending on the theoretical understanding of Industrie 4.0. Additionally, applied framework and proto- types based on the usage of Cyber-Physical Systems are also potential to help companies to design the layout of sensor nets, to achieve coordination and controlling of smart machines, to realize synchronous production with systematic structure, and to extend the usage of information and communication technologies to the maintenance scheduling.展开更多
Soils are impacted globally by several anthropogenic factors,including chemical pollutants.Among those,perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)are of concern due to their high environmental persistence,and ...Soils are impacted globally by several anthropogenic factors,including chemical pollutants.Among those,perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)are of concern due to their high environmental persistence,and as they might affect soil structure and function.However,data on impacts of PFAS on soil structure and microbially-driven processes are currently lacking.This study explored the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS),perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid(PFBS)at environmental-relevant concentrations on soil health,using a 6-week microcosm experiment.PFAS(even at 0.5 ng g-1 for PFBS)significantly increased litter decomposition,associated with positive effects on-glucosidase activities.This effect increased with PFAS concentrations.Soil pH was significantly increased,likely as a direct consequence of increased litter decomposition affected by PFAS.Soil respiration was significantly inhibited by PFAS in week 3,while this effect was more variable in week 6.Water-stable aggregates were negatively affected by PFOS,possibly related to microbial shifts.PFAS affected soil bacterial and fungal abundance,but not microbial and certain enzyme activities.Our work highlights the potential effects of PFAS on soil health,and we argue that this substance class could be a factor of environmental change of potentially broad relevance in terrestrial ecosystem functioning.展开更多
Polymer-derived ultra-high-temperature ceramic(UHTC)nanocomposites have attracted growing attention due to the increasing demands for advanced thermal structure components in aerospace.Herein,hafnium carbide(HfC)whisk...Polymer-derived ultra-high-temperature ceramic(UHTC)nanocomposites have attracted growing attention due to the increasing demands for advanced thermal structure components in aerospace.Herein,hafnium carbide(HfC)whiskers are successfully fabricated in carbon fiber preforms via the polymer-derived ceramic(PDC)method.A novel carbon nanotube(CNT)template growth mechanism combined with the PDC method is proposed in this work,which is different from the conventional vapor–liquid–solid(VLS)mechanism that is commonly used for polymer-derived nanostructured ceramics.The CNTs are synthesized and proved to be the templates for fabricating the HfC whiskers,which are generated by the released low-molecular-weight gas such as CO,CO_(2),and CH4 during the pyrolysis of a Hf-containing precursor.The formed products are composed of inner single crystal HfC whiskers that are measured to be several tens of micrometers in length and 100–200 nm in diameter and outer HfC/HfO_(2)particles.Our work not only proposes a new strategy to prepare the HfC whiskers,but also puts forward a new thinking of the efficient utilization of a UHTC polymer precursor.展开更多
The optimal ventilation method for patients suffering from cardiac arrest and receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)remains unclear,and the recent guidelines do not provide detailed information.[1-3]During CPR,c...The optimal ventilation method for patients suffering from cardiac arrest and receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)remains unclear,and the recent guidelines do not provide detailed information.[1-3]During CPR,changing thoracic pressures due to chest compressions and ventilation pressure infl uence venous return and cardiac output,respectively.[4-6]Novel mechanical ventilation modes that are synchronized to chest compressions may improve blood flow and oxygenation.[4]In this porcine trial,we investigated the feasibility of a specially designed chest compression synchronized ventilation(CCSV)mode with peak pressures limited to 40 mbar(1 mbar=0.1 kPa)and an experimental synchronized ventilation(SV)limited to 20 mbar,respectively,intended to achieve a more lung-protective ventilation pattern during resuscitation.We evaluated whether the diff erent synchronized pressure levels ameliorate hemodynamics,gas exchange and pulmonary function and compared it to intermittent positive pressure ventilation(IPPV).展开更多
Cubic silicon nitride(-Si_(3)N_(4))is superhard and one of the hardest materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride(cBN),but has higher thermal stability in an oxidizing environment than diamond,making it a competi...Cubic silicon nitride(-Si_(3)N_(4))is superhard and one of the hardest materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride(cBN),but has higher thermal stability in an oxidizing environment than diamond,making it a competitive candidate for technological applications in harsh conditions(e.g.,drill head and abrasives).Here,we report the high-pressure synthesis and characterization of the structural and mechanical properties of a γ-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) ceramic nanocomposite derived from single-phase amorphous silicon(Si)-hafnium(Hf)-nitrogen(N)precursor.The synthesis of the-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) nanocomposite is performed at~20 GPa and ca.1500 ℃ in a large volume multi anvil press.The structural evolution of the amorphous precursor and its crystallization to-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) nanocomposites under high pressures is assessed by the in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction(ED-XRD)measurements at~19.5 GPa in the temperature range of ca.1000-1900℃.The fracture toughness(K_(IC))of the two-phase nanocomposite amounts~6/6.9 MPa·m^(1/2) and is about 2 times that of single-phaseγ-Si_(3)N_(4),while its hardness of ca.30 GPa remains high.This work provides a reliable and feasible route for the synthesis of advanced hard and tough-Si_(3)N_(4)-based nanocomposites with excellent thermal stabililty.展开更多
Despite the advent and growing availability of magnetic resonance imaging,the imaging modality of choice in the acute care of stroke patients in many institutions remains computed tomography.The hyperdense artery sign...Despite the advent and growing availability of magnetic resonance imaging,the imaging modality of choice in the acute care of stroke patients in many institutions remains computed tomography.The hyperdense artery sign is the earliest marker of acute ischemic stroke.In this short review,we discuss the pathology,incidence,clinical aspects,imaging findings,significance and future questions that need to be addressed concerning this important sign.展开更多
SiBN ceramics are widely considered to be the most promising material for microwavetransparent applications in harsh environments owing to its excellent thermal stability and low dielectric constant.This work focuses ...SiBN ceramics are widely considered to be the most promising material for microwavetransparent applications in harsh environments owing to its excellent thermal stability and low dielectric constant.This work focuses on the synthesis and ceramization of single-source precursors for the preparation of SiBN ceramics as well as the investigation of the corresponding microstructural evolution at high temperatures including molecular dynamic simulations.Carbon-and chlorine-free perhydropolysilazanes were reacted with borane dimethyl sulfide complex at different molar ratios to synthesize single-source precursors,which were subsequently pyrolyzed and annealed under N2 atmosphere(without ammonolysis)to prepare SiBN ceramics at 1100,1200,and 1300℃with high ceramic yield in contrast to previously widely-used ammonolysis synthesis process.The obtained amorphous SiBN ceramics were shown to have remarkably improved thermal stability and oxidation resistance compared to amorphous silicon nitride.Particularly,the experimental results have been combined with molecular dynamics simulation to further study the amorphous structure of SiBN and the atomic-scale diffusion behavior of Si,B,and N at 1300℃.Incorporation of boron into the Si–N network is found to suppress the crystallization of the formed amorphous silicon nitride and hence improves its thermal stability in N2 atmosphere.展开更多
Glassy carbon(GC)is a type of non-graphitizing disordered carbon material at ambient pressure and high temperatures,which has been widely used due to its excellent mechanical properties.Here we report the changes in t...Glassy carbon(GC)is a type of non-graphitizing disordered carbon material at ambient pressure and high temperatures,which has been widely used due to its excellent mechanical properties.Here we report the changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of GC treated at high pressures(up to 5 GPa)and high temperatures.The formation of intermediate sp2-sp3 phases is identified at moderate treatment temperatures before the complete graphitization of GC,by analyzing synchrotron X-ray diffraction,Raman spectra,and transmission electron microscopy images.The intermediate metastable carbon materials exhibit superior mechanical properties with hardness reaching up to 10 GPa and compressive strength reaching as high as 2.5 GPa,nearly doubling those of raw GC,and improving elasticity and thermal stability.The synthesis pressure used in this study can be achieved in the industry on a commercial scale,enabling the scalable synthesis of this type of strong,hard,and elastic carbon materials.展开更多
文摘AIM： Different strains of bifidobacteria were analysed for their effects on HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells （IECs） in in vitro models both of the non-inflamed and inflamed intestinal epithelium. METHODS： A reporter gene system in HT-29 cells was used to measure levels of NF-KB activation after challenge with bifidobacteria or after bacterial pre-treatment following LPS challenge. IL-8 protein and pro-inflammatory gene expression was investigated using normal HT-29 cells. RESULTS： None of the bifidobacteria tested induced activation of nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） indicating that bifidobacteria themselves do not induce inflammatory events in IECs. However, six out of eight bifidobacteria tested inhibited lipopolysaccharide- （LPS-） induced NF-κB activation in a dose- and strain-dependent manner. In contrast, NF-κB activation in response to challenge with tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） was affected by none of the tested bifidobacteria, indicating that the inhibitory effect of bifidobacteria is specific for LPS-induced inflammation in IECs. As shown with two of the six inhibitionpositive bifidobacteria, LPS-induced inhibition of NF-κB activation was accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease of interleukin 8 （IL-8） secretion and by lower mRNA levels for IL-8, TNF-α, cyclooxygenase 2 （Cox-2）, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1（ICAM-1）. CONCLUSION： Some strains of bifidobacteria are effective in inhibiting LPS-induced inflammation and thus might be appropriate candidates for probiotic intervention in chronic intestinal inflammation.
文摘Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide,with an estimated prevalence of 31%in Latin America.The presence of metabolic comorbidities coexisting with liver disease varies substantially among populations.It is acknowledged that obesity is boosting the type 2 diabetes mellitus“epidemic,”and both conditions are significant contributors to the increasing number of patients with MASLD.Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis represents a condition of chronic liver inflammation and is considered the most severe form of MASLD.MASLD diagnosis is based on the presence of steatosis,noninvasive scores and altered liver tests.Noninvasive scores of liver fibrosis,such as serum biomarkers,which should be used in primary care to rule out advanced fibrosis,are simple,inexpensive,and widely available.Currently,guidelines from international hepatology societies recommend using noninvasive strategies to simplify case finding and management of high-risk patients with MASLD in clinical practice.Unfortunately,there is no definite pharmacological treatment for the condition.Creating public health policies to treat patients with risk factors for MASLD prevention is essential.
基金Zhaoju Yu thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51872246 and 52061135102)for financial supportQingbo Wen thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52102085)+3 种基金the State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy,Central South University,Changsha,China(No.621022117)Fangmu Qu acknowledges the financial support by the China Scholarship Council(CSC,No.201904910776)This review also originated from the Research Training Group at TU Darmstadt and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology(KIT)entitled“Materials Composites from Composite Materials”funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG,No.GRK 2561)Magdalena Graczyk-Zajac acknowledges DFG support in the frame of the project GR 4440/4-1.
文摘Since the 1960s,a new class of Si-based advanced ceramics called polymer-derived ceramics(PDCs)has been widely reported because of their unique capabilities to produce various ceramic materials(e.g.,ceramic fibers,ceramic matrix composites,foams,films,and coatings)and their versatile applications.Particularly,due to their promising structural and functional properties for energy conversion and storage,the applications of PDCs in these fields have attracted much attention in recent years.This review highlights the recent progress in the PDC field with the focus on energy conversion and storage applications.Firstly,a brief introduction of the Si-based polymer-derived ceramics in terms of synthesis,processing,and microstructure characterization is provided,followed by a summary of PDCs used in energy conversion systems(mainly in gas turbine engines),including fundamentals and material issues,ceramic matrix composites,ceramic fibers,thermal and environmental barrier coatings,as well as high-temperature sensors.Subsequently,applications of PDCs in the field of energy storage are reviewed with a strong focus on anode materials for lithium and sodium ion batteries.The possible applications of the PDCs in Li–S batteries,supercapacitors,and fuel cells are discussed as well.Finally,a summary of the reported applications and perspectives for future research with PDCs are presented.
基金Zhaoju Yu thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51872246)for financial support.
文摘A novel single-source-precursor for SiC-TaC-C nanocomposites was successfully synthesized by the chemical reaction between a polycarbosilane(allylhydridopolycarbosilane,AHPCS)and tantalum(V)chloride(TaCls),which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra(FTIR)measurement.After pyrolysis of the resultant single-source-precursors at 900"C,amorphous ceramic powders were obtained.The 900 C ceramics were anncaled at different temperatures in the range of 1200-1600℃ to gain SiC-TaC-C nanocomposites.The phase evolution of ceramic nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The results indicate that the TaC starts to crystallize at lower temperature than theβ-SiC.It is particularly worth pointing out that the unique core-shell structured TaC-C nanoparticles were in-situ formed and homogeneously distributed in the ceramic matrix after annealing at 1400 C.Even at a high temperature of 1600 C,the grain sizes ofβ-SiC and TaC are smaller than 30 nm,flilling the definition of nanocomposites.The present study related to SiC-TaC C nanocomposites paves a new road for enriching ultra-high temperature ceramic family suitable for structural/functional applications in harsh environment.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52002092,52172068,52232004)Heilongjiang Natural Science Fund for Young Scholars(YQ2021E017)+1 种基金Heilongjiang Touyan Team Program and Advanced Talents Scientific Research Foundation of Shenzhenthe financial support provided by the Research Training Group GRK 2561“Mat ComCom Mat:Materials Compounds from Composite Materials for Applications in Extreme Conditions”funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG),Bonn,Germany。
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52002092,51832002,and 52172071)the Program for Professor of Special Appointment(Eastern Scholar)at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning(No.GZ2020012)+1 种基金Heilongjiang Natural Science Fund for Young Scholars(No.YQ2021E017)the Heilongjiang Touyan Innovation Team Program.Ralf Riedel thanks the German Science Foundation(DFG,Bonn,Germany)for financial support within the graduate school GRK 2561.
文摘The atomic structural features and the mechanical properties of amorphous silicoboron carbonitride ceramics with 13 different compositions in the Si–BN–C phase diagram are investigated employing ab-initio calculations.Both chemical bonds and local structures within the amorphous network relate to the elemental composition.The distribution of nine types of chemical bonds is composition-dependent,where the B–C,Si–N,Si–C,and B–N bonds hold a large proportion for all compositions.Si prefers to be tetrahedrally coordinated,while B and N prefer sp^(2)-like trigonal coordination.In the case of C,the tetrahedral coordination is predominant at relatively low C contents,while the trigonal coordination is found to be the main feature with the increasing C content.Such local structural characteristics greatly influence the mechanical properties of SiBCN ceramics.Among the studied amorphous ceramics,SiB_(2)C_(3)N_(2) and SiB_(3)C_(2)N_(3) with low Si contents and moderate C and/or BN contents have high elastic moduli,high tensile/shear strengths,and good debonding capability.The increment of Si,C,and BN contents on this basis results in the decrease of mechanical properties.The increasing Si content leads to the increment of Si-contained bonds that reduce the bond strength of SiBCN ceramics,while the latter two cases are attributed to the raise of sp^(2)-like trigonal configuration of C and BN.These discoveries are expected to guide the composition-tailored optimization of SiBCN ceramics.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52372059,52172068,52232004,and 52002092)the Heilongjiang Natural Science Fund for Young Scholars(No.YQ2021E017)+3 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2022FRFK060012)the Heilongjiang Touyan Team Program,and the Advanced Talents Scientific Research Foundation of Shenzhen:Yu Zhou.the Beijing Engineering Research Center of Efficient and Green Aerospace Propulsion Technology and Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory of BICE(No.LabASP-2023-11)the Huiyan Action(No.1A423653)the Key Technologies R&D Program of CNBM(No.2023SJYL05).Ralf Riedel also gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Research Training Group 2561“MatCom-ComMat:Materials Compounds from Composite Materials for Applications in Extreme Conditions”funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG),Bonn,Germany.
文摘To improve the oxidation resistance of short carbon fiber(C_(sf))-reinforced mechanically alloyed SiBCN(MA-SiBCN)(C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN)composites,dense amorphous C_(sf)/SiBCN composites containing both MA-SiBCN and polymer-derived ceramics SiBCN(PDCs-SiBCN)were prepared by repeated polymer infiltration and pyrolysis(PIP)of layered C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN composites at 1100℃,and the oxidation behavior and damage mechanism of the as-prepared C_(sf)/SiBCN at 1300–1600℃ were compared and discussed with those of C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN.The C_(sf)/MA-SiBCN composites resist oxidation attack up to 1400℃ but fail at 1500℃ due to the collapse of the porous framework,while the PIP-densified C_(sf)/SiBCN composites are resistant to static air up to 1600℃.During oxidation,oxygen diffuses through preexisting pores and the pores left by oxidation of carbon fibers and pyrolytic carbon(PyC)to the interior of the matrix.Owing to the oxidative coupling effect of the MA-SiBCN and PDCs-SiBCN matrices,a relatively continuous and dense oxide layer is formed on the sample surface,and the interfacial region between the oxide layer and the matrix of the as-prepared composite contains an amorphous glassy structure mainly consisting of Si and O and an incompletely oxidized but partially crystallized matrix,which is primarily responsible for improving the oxidation resistance.
基金funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemein-schaft(DFG,German Research Foundation)-SFB 986-Project number 192346071.
文摘FIB-SEM tomography is a powerful technique that integrates a focused ion beam(FIB)and a scanning electron microscope(SEM)to capture high-resolution imaging data of nanostructures.This approach involves collecting in-plane SEM imagesand using FIB to remove material layers for imaging subsequent planes,thereby producing image stacks.However,theseimage stacks in FIB-SEM tomography are subject to the shine-through effect,which makes structures visible from theposterior regions of the current plane.This artifact introduces an ambiguity between image intensity and structures in thecurrent plane,making conventional segmentation methods such as thresholding or the k-means algorithm insufficient.Inthis study,we propose a multimodal machine learning approach that combines intensity information obtained at differentelectron beam accelerating voltages to improve the three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction of nanostructures.By treatingthe increased shine-through effect at higher accelerating voltages as a form of additional information,the proposed methodsignificantly improves segmentation accuracy and leads to more precise 3D reconstructions for real FIB tomography data.
文摘AIM To develop a scale of domains associated with the health-related quality-of-life(HRQOL) in patients with cirrhosis-related ascites.METHODS We initially undertook literature searches and a qualitative study in order to design a cirrhosis-associated ascites symptom(CAS) scale describing symptoms with a potential detrimental impact on health related quality of life(HRQL)(the higher the score, the worse the symptoms). Discriminatory validity was assessed in a validation cohort including cirrhotic patients with(1) tense/severe;(2) moderate/mild; or(3) no ascites(controls). Patients also completed chronic liver disease questionnaire(CLDQ) and the Euro QoL 5-Dimensions 5-Level(EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire evaluating HRQL. The relation between scale scores was analysed using Spearman correlations. RESULTS The final CAS scale included 14 items. The equivalent reliability was high(Chronbach's alpha 0.88). The validation cohort included 103 patients(72% men, mean age 62.4 years). The mean scores for each question in the CAS scale were higher for patients with severe/tense ascites than for mild/moderate ascites and controls. Compared with controls(mean = 9.9 points), the total CAS scale score was higher for severe/tense ascites(mean = 23.8 points) as well as moderate/mild ascites(mean = 18.6 points)(P < 0.001 both groups). We found a strong correlation between the total CAS and CLDQ score(rho = 0.82, P < 0.001) and a moderate correlation between the CAS and the EQ-5D-5L score(0.67, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The CAS is a valid tool, which reflects HRQOL in patients with ascites.
文摘Considered as a top priority of industrial devel- opment, Industry 4.0 （or Industrie 4.0 as the German ver- sion） has being highlighted as the pursuit of both academy and practice in companies. In this paper, based on the review of state of art and also the state of practice in dif- ferent countries, shortcomings have been revealed as the lacking of applicable framework for the implementation of Industrie 4.0. Therefore, in order to shed some light on the knowledge of the details, a reference architecture is developed, where four perspectives namely manufacturing process, devices, software and engineering have been highlighted. Moreover, with a view on the importance of Cyber-Physical systems, the structure of Cyber-Physical System are established for the in-depth analysis. Further cases with the usage of Cyber-Physical System are also arranged, which attempts to provide some implications to match the theoretical findings together with the experience of companies. In general, results of this paper could be useful for the extending on the theoretical understanding of Industrie 4.0. Additionally, applied framework and proto- types based on the usage of Cyber-Physical Systems are also potential to help companies to design the layout of sensor nets, to achieve coordination and controlling of smart machines, to realize synchronous production with systematic structure, and to extend the usage of information and communication technologies to the maintenance scheduling.
文摘Soils are impacted globally by several anthropogenic factors,including chemical pollutants.Among those,perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)are of concern due to their high environmental persistence,and as they might affect soil structure and function.However,data on impacts of PFAS on soil structure and microbially-driven processes are currently lacking.This study explored the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS),perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid(PFBS)at environmental-relevant concentrations on soil health,using a 6-week microcosm experiment.PFAS(even at 0.5 ng g-1 for PFBS)significantly increased litter decomposition,associated with positive effects on-glucosidase activities.This effect increased with PFAS concentrations.Soil pH was significantly increased,likely as a direct consequence of increased litter decomposition affected by PFAS.Soil respiration was significantly inhibited by PFAS in week 3,while this effect was more variable in week 6.Water-stable aggregates were negatively affected by PFOS,possibly related to microbial shifts.PFAS affected soil bacterial and fungal abundance,but not microbial and certain enzyme activities.Our work highlights the potential effects of PFAS on soil health,and we argue that this substance class could be a factor of environmental change of potentially broad relevance in terrestrial ecosystem functioning.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52293373,52130205,and 52061135102)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2021YFA0715803).Also,we would like to thank ND Basic Research Funds of Northwestern Polytechnical University(Grant No.G2022WD)and China Scholarship Program,2020(Grant No.202006290179).
文摘Polymer-derived ultra-high-temperature ceramic(UHTC)nanocomposites have attracted growing attention due to the increasing demands for advanced thermal structure components in aerospace.Herein,hafnium carbide(HfC)whiskers are successfully fabricated in carbon fiber preforms via the polymer-derived ceramic(PDC)method.A novel carbon nanotube(CNT)template growth mechanism combined with the PDC method is proposed in this work,which is different from the conventional vapor–liquid–solid(VLS)mechanism that is commonly used for polymer-derived nanostructured ceramics.The CNTs are synthesized and proved to be the templates for fabricating the HfC whiskers,which are generated by the released low-molecular-weight gas such as CO,CO_(2),and CH4 during the pyrolysis of a Hf-containing precursor.The formed products are composed of inner single crystal HfC whiskers that are measured to be several tens of micrometers in length and 100–200 nm in diameter and outer HfC/HfO_(2)particles.Our work not only proposes a new strategy to prepare the HfC whiskers,but also puts forward a new thinking of the efficient utilization of a UHTC polymer precursor.
基金funded by internal university research funding of the University Medical Center Mainz granted personal to Miriam Renz as well as a personal grant of the German Research Foundation to Robert Ruemmler (RU 2371/1)。
文摘The optimal ventilation method for patients suffering from cardiac arrest and receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)remains unclear,and the recent guidelines do not provide detailed information.[1-3]During CPR,changing thoracic pressures due to chest compressions and ventilation pressure infl uence venous return and cardiac output,respectively.[4-6]Novel mechanical ventilation modes that are synchronized to chest compressions may improve blood flow and oxygenation.[4]In this porcine trial,we investigated the feasibility of a specially designed chest compression synchronized ventilation(CCSV)mode with peak pressures limited to 40 mbar(1 mbar=0.1 kPa)and an experimental synchronized ventilation(SV)limited to 20 mbar,respectively,intended to achieve a more lung-protective ventilation pattern during resuscitation.We evaluated whether the diff erent synchronized pressure levels ameliorate hemodynamics,gas exchange and pulmonary function and compared it to intermittent positive pressure ventilation(IPPV).
基金Part of this research was carried out at PETRA III LVP at beamline P61B(beamtime I-20200434)and P02.1Shrikant Bhat and Robert Farla acknowedge the support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research,Germany(BMBF,Nos.05K16WC2 and 05K13WC2)+2 种基金Wei Li and Leonore Wiehl also acknowledge the travel support from DESY.Zhaoju Yu thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51872246 and 52061135102)for financial supportMarc Widenmeyer and Anke Weidenkaff are grateful for the financial support by the German Ministry of Education and Research(No.03SF0618B)Wei Li acknowledges the financial support from China Scholarship Council(No.201907040060).
文摘Cubic silicon nitride(-Si_(3)N_(4))is superhard and one of the hardest materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride(cBN),but has higher thermal stability in an oxidizing environment than diamond,making it a competitive candidate for technological applications in harsh conditions(e.g.,drill head and abrasives).Here,we report the high-pressure synthesis and characterization of the structural and mechanical properties of a γ-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) ceramic nanocomposite derived from single-phase amorphous silicon(Si)-hafnium(Hf)-nitrogen(N)precursor.The synthesis of the-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) nanocomposite is performed at~20 GPa and ca.1500 ℃ in a large volume multi anvil press.The structural evolution of the amorphous precursor and its crystallization to-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) nanocomposites under high pressures is assessed by the in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction(ED-XRD)measurements at~19.5 GPa in the temperature range of ca.1000-1900℃.The fracture toughness(K_(IC))of the two-phase nanocomposite amounts~6/6.9 MPa·m^(1/2) and is about 2 times that of single-phaseγ-Si_(3)N_(4),while its hardness of ca.30 GPa remains high.This work provides a reliable and feasible route for the synthesis of advanced hard and tough-Si_(3)N_(4)-based nanocomposites with excellent thermal stabililty.
文摘Despite the advent and growing availability of magnetic resonance imaging,the imaging modality of choice in the acute care of stroke patients in many institutions remains computed tomography.The hyperdense artery sign is the earliest marker of acute ischemic stroke.In this short review,we discuss the pathology,incidence,clinical aspects,imaging findings,significance and future questions that need to be addressed concerning this important sign.
基金the German Science Foundation(DFG),Bonn,Germany,for their continuous support in the field of high-pressure materials chemistrythe DFG for founding a new priority research program entitled"Synthesis,In situ Characterization and Quantum Mechanical Modeling of Earth Materials,0xides,Carbides and Nitrides at Extremely High Pressures and Temperatures"(DFG-SPP 1236)+1 种基金the DFG for financial support(contracts Kr 1805/5-1 and Kr 1805/9-1)grants from the Forschungszentrum Julich and from the Center for Computation and Communication at Aachen.
基金The authors would like to acknowledge Merck KGaA for the financial support of this research project.Wei Li acknowledges financial support from China Scholarship Council(No.201907040060)during his research at TU Darmstadt.Zhenghao Wu acknowledges the funding of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft via the SFB-TRR 146“Multiscale Simulation Methods for Soft Matter Systems”,Project A8.
文摘SiBN ceramics are widely considered to be the most promising material for microwavetransparent applications in harsh environments owing to its excellent thermal stability and low dielectric constant.This work focuses on the synthesis and ceramization of single-source precursors for the preparation of SiBN ceramics as well as the investigation of the corresponding microstructural evolution at high temperatures including molecular dynamic simulations.Carbon-and chlorine-free perhydropolysilazanes were reacted with borane dimethyl sulfide complex at different molar ratios to synthesize single-source precursors,which were subsequently pyrolyzed and annealed under N2 atmosphere(without ammonolysis)to prepare SiBN ceramics at 1100,1200,and 1300℃with high ceramic yield in contrast to previously widely-used ammonolysis synthesis process.The obtained amorphous SiBN ceramics were shown to have remarkably improved thermal stability and oxidation resistance compared to amorphous silicon nitride.Particularly,the experimental results have been combined with molecular dynamics simulation to further study the amorphous structure of SiBN and the atomic-scale diffusion behavior of Si,B,and N at 1300℃.Incorporation of boron into the Si–N network is found to suppress the crystallization of the formed amorphous silicon nitride and hence improves its thermal stability in N2 atmosphere.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grants No.2018YFA0703400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants Nos.51672238,91963203,51722209,and 51525205)+2 种基金M.Hu acknowledges fellowship support by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.Z.Zhao acknowledges 100 talents plan of Hebei Province(Grants No.E2016100013)NSF for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hebei Province of China(Grants No.E2018203349)K.Luo acknowledges the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grants No.2017M620097).
文摘Glassy carbon(GC)is a type of non-graphitizing disordered carbon material at ambient pressure and high temperatures,which has been widely used due to its excellent mechanical properties.Here we report the changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of GC treated at high pressures(up to 5 GPa)and high temperatures.The formation of intermediate sp2-sp3 phases is identified at moderate treatment temperatures before the complete graphitization of GC,by analyzing synchrotron X-ray diffraction,Raman spectra,and transmission electron microscopy images.The intermediate metastable carbon materials exhibit superior mechanical properties with hardness reaching up to 10 GPa and compressive strength reaching as high as 2.5 GPa,nearly doubling those of raw GC,and improving elasticity and thermal stability.The synthesis pressure used in this study can be achieved in the industry on a commercial scale,enabling the scalable synthesis of this type of strong,hard,and elastic carbon materials.
