Surface Engineering in SnO2/Si for High-Performance Broadband Photodetectors.

Silicon-based photodetectors are important optoelectronic devices in many fields. Many investigations have been conducted to improve the performance of silicon-based photodetectors, such as spectral responsivity and sensitivity in the ultraviolet band. In this study, we combine the surface structure engineering of silicon with wide-bandgap semiconductor SnO2 films to realize textured Si-based heterojunction photodetectors. The obtained SnO2/T-Si photodetectors exhibit high responsivity ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared light. Under a bias voltage of 1 V, SnO2/T-Si photodetectors (PDs) with an inverted pyramid texture show the best performance, and the typical responsivities to ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light are 0.512, 0.538, 1.88 (800 nm, 67.7 µW/cm2) A/W@1 V, respectively. The photodetectors exhibit short rise and decay times of 18.07 and 29.16 ms, respectively. Our results demonstrate that SnO2/T-Si can serve as a high-performance broadband photodetector.

Enhanced light-to-thermal conversion performance of all-carbon aerogels based form-stable phase change material composites.

The exploitation of excellent performance form-stable phase change material composites (FS-PCMCs) with enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency and high phase change latent heat is of great significance for thermal energy storage. In this work, a new type of FS-PCMCs with superior light-to-thermal conversion performance were created by impregnation of organic phase change material (1-hexadecylamine (HDA) and 1-tetradecylamine (TDA)) into the graphene aerogel (GA) and all-carbon aerogel (GCA) through a simple direct infusion. The multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are wound around the inner wall of the GA layer to form a three-dimensional (3D) porous network structure to support fatty amine (FAs), thus achieving shape stability before and after phase transition. Moreover, the FS-PCMCs has extremely high phase transition enthalpy (203.1-248 kJ·kg-1) and good recyclability. More importantly, due to the high absorbance of GCA, it can enhance its light absorption capacity and reduce thermal radiation. The light-to-thermal conversion efficiency of the FS-PCMCs is 72.36%-88.25%. Taking the improvement of the comprehensive properties of the FS-PCMCs, the results of this work may open up a way for rational design and preparation of high-performance FS-PCMCs with enhanced storage capacity and light-to-thermal conversion efficiency for the efficient utilization of solar energy.

Experimental study on the influence of virtual tourism spatial situation on the tourists' temperature comfort in the context of metaverse.

The Metaverse is a new application of the internet and social form which integrates a myriad of new technologies. It can not only create a parallel space that is closely connected to the real world while highly independent, but also bring the immersive experience of virtual scenarios without delay. The virtual tourism space situations that integrate realistic visual, audio, and temperature sensations can restore the real tourism environment to the greatest extent, and improve tourists' perception and satisfaction with the experience. The purpose of this experimental lab study is to examine the effects of the virtual tourism audio-visual conditions and environmental temperature on tourists' thermal sensation and temperature comfort. VR equipment and microclimate simulation technology was applied in a 3 × 2 × 2 experimental design (n = 180), simulating the virtual tourism scenarios. Electrocardiogram devices were also employed to assess participants' physiological indicators. Study results suggest that: (1) Virtual tourism spatial situations (environmental temperature and audio-visual conditions) significantly affect participants' thermal sensation and part of the physiological indicators; (2) Virtual tourism spatial situations (environmental temperature and audio-visual conditions) significantly affect participants' temperature comfort; and (3) Physiological responses (indicators) mediate the effect from tourism spatial situations to temperature comfort. The study mainly contributes to the literature about virtual tourism experience and spatial situations under the concept of the Metaverse, as well as provides theoretical and managerial implications for the development of "immersive" virtual tourism scenarios.

Facilitate Signing with the Family Doctor: A Study of the Practice in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: In the time since primary care was implemented in China in 2009, programs of promoting residents signing with family doctor services have been key. However, there has been a lack of effective evaluation of its implementation. METHODS: We used mixed methods for evaluating existing measures of facilitating signing with family doctors in Shanghai. Based on the Donabedian model, qualitative informant interviews were conducted to obtain experts' evaluations in aspects of team construction (structure) and innovative solutions for promoting and supervising signings (process). Quantitative data were used to analyse the utilization situation (outcome) from "Shanghai Family Doctor Signing Data Platform". RESULTS: Measures of signing with family doctors in Shanghai have functioned well, but there is still a lack of sufficient family doctors and specialists, including paediatricians and gynaecologists. Although proportions of the key population (average=62.59%) and the elderly population (>65 years) (average=78.10%) who had signed with family doctors were relatively high, the proportion of the permanent resident population (average=29.36%) who had signed with family doctors was low from 2017 to 2020 in Shanghai. The proportions of residents seeking medical advice in signed community health centres in outskirts (71.08%) were higher than those in suburbs (63.51%) and urban areas (53.49%), whereas the proportion of those seeking medical advice from recommended multiple medical institutions were similarly low in urban areas, outskirts and suburbs. CONCLUSION: The practice of facilitate signing with family doctors in Shanghai has increased. However, we showed that numbers of family doctors were relatively low, and there remains a need for more experienced gynaecology and paediatrics professionals, compared with Western countries. Additionally, efforts should be made to increase proportions of residents who utilize the program, especially in urban areas, and seek medical services in contracted group hospitals and community health centres.

Environmental Temperature in Thermal Comfort Under Different Virtual Tourism Activity Intensities: Based on Microclimate Simulation Experiment.

Although COVID-19 lockdowns and travel regulations have restricted the spatial area for human activities, tourists can still use virtual devices and applications for travel purposes. This study aimed to explore the thermal comfort and satisfaction of tourists under various tourist activity intensities, using experimental and semi-structured interview methods, combined with microclimate simulation experiments and electrocardiogram data to monitor physiological indicators. The results showed that: (1) The thermal comfort of virtual tourists had a significant correlation with the environmental temperature. (2) The thermal comfort of virtual tourists differed under various activity intensities. The virtual tourism activity intensity moderated the relation between environmental temperature and tourists' thermal comfort. (3) In the state of exercise (slow walking, fast walking), the environmental temperature affected tourists' physiological indicators. (4) Virtual tourism that integrates realistic visual, audio, and tactile sensations can improve tourists' perception and satisfaction. The results provide a new perspective for the study of the virtual tourism experience and thermal comfort. In addition, it provides theoretical and practical support for the development of virtual tourism scenes in the environmental temperature context.

Interface decoration of exfoliated MXene ultra-thin nanosheets for fire and smoke suppressions of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has broad applications as lightweight materials due to its multiple advantages and unique properties. Nevertheless, toxicity emission under fire conditions remains a major concern, particularly in building fire scenarios. To circumvent the problem, it is imperative that an effective flame retardant is sought to suppress the flame and release of combustion/smoke products whilst maintaining the favorable material properties of TPU. In the current work, a simple method is proposed for the preparation and utilization of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetrabutyl phosphine chloride (TBPC) modified Ti3C2 (MXene) ultra-thin nanosheets. During the cone calorimeter tests, significant reduction in peak heat release rate (51.2% and 52.2%), peak smoke production rate (57.1% and 57.4%), peak CO production (39.4% and 41.6%) and peak CO2 production (49.7% and 51.7%) were recorded by the mere introduction of 2 wt.% CTAB-Ti3C2 and TBPC-Ti3C2 to TPU. These superior fire safety properties resulting from the significant reduction of the fire, smoke and toxicity hazards are attributed to the excellent dispersion, catalytic and barrier effect of Ti3C2 ultra-thin nanosheets in TPU. Future applications of exfoliated MXene nanosheets as flame retardant appear to be very promising.

Surface Manipulation of Thermal-Exfoliated Hexagonal Boron Nitride with Polyaniline for Improving Thermal Stability and Fire Safety Performance of Polymeric Materials.

In this article, the polyaniline (PANI)/thermal-exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (BNO) hierarchical structure (PANI-BNO) was constructed via in situ deposition to improve the dispersion and interfacial adhesion of boron nitride in multi-aromatic polystyrene (PS) and polar thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Because of the conjugated structure and polar groups in PANI, the uniform dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion between PANI-BNO and PS and TPU were achieved. Thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the incorporation of PANI-BNO enhanced the thermal stability of PS and TPU, i.e., the temperatures at both 5 and 50 wt % mass loss. In addition, PANI with high charring ability also acted as a critical component to generate a synergistic effect with BNO on reducing the fire hazards of PS and TPU. This well-designed structure led to a remarkable reduction of flammable decomposed products and CO and CO2 yields. Meanwhile, a dramatic decrease in the real-time smoke density and total smoke production was observed for PS and TPU nanocomposites with 3 wt % PANI-BNO hybrids, respectively. The multiple synergistic effects (synergistic dispersion, char formation, and barrier effect) are believed to be the primary source for these enhanced properties of polymer nanocomposites.

Isolation and characterization of a hyperbranched proteoglycan from Ganoderma lucidum for anti-diabetes.

Presently, an efficient protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitor, named FYGL-n, was isolated from Ganoderma Lucidum and characterized for its structure and bioactivity. Structure and chain conformation of FYGL-n based on both chemical and spectroscopic analysis showed that FYGL-n was a hyperbranched heteropolysaccharide bonded with protein via both serine and threonine residues by O-type glycoside, and showed a sphere observed by AFM. Specifically, monosaccharide composition indicated that FYGL-n consisted of D-arabinose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose and D-glucose in a mole ratio of 0.08:0.21:0.24:0.47, with a molecular mass of 72.9 kDa. The analysis of amino acids in FYGL-n indicated that there were 16 common amino acids, among which aspartic acid, glycine, serine, alanine, glutamic acid and threonine were the dominant components. Also it was demonstrated that FYGL-n could inhibit the PTP1B activity on a competitive mechanism in vitro.

Structural characterization and bioactivity evaluation of an acidic proteoglycan extract from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies for PTP1B inhibition and anti-diabetes.

A water-soluble PTP1B inhibitor, named FYGL-a, was fractionated for structure investigation and bioactivity evaluation. FYGL-a is an ingredient of a reported antihyperglycemia extract from Ganoderma Lucidum fruiting bodies. Composition analysis indicated that FYGL-a was a 100.2 kDa acidic proteoglycan, consisting of 85 ± 2% heteropolysaccharide chain with rhamnose, galactose, glucose, and glucuronic acid residues in a mole ratio of 1.0:3.7:3.9:2.0, and the 15 ± 2% protein moiety of FYGL-a was covalently bonded to the polysaccharide chain in O-linkage type via threonine residues. The complete sequence of FYGL-a was characterized systematically by periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, (1)H & (13)C 1D NMR, and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, COSY, & TOCSY). The chemical structure of FYGL-a was determined as following, which may play special role in the competitive inhibition of PTP1B and antihyperglycemia potency.

Structure characterization of a novel neutral polysaccharide isolated from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies.

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a mushroom which has been used for health promotion for a long time in China. In the present work a neutral hetero-polysaccharide, named FYGL-1, was isolated from FYGL which was reported previously capable of antihyperglycemia in vivo for further detailed chemical structure investigation. The results of monosaccharide composition and GPC analysis indicated that FYGL-1 consisted of galactose, rhamnose and glucose in mole ratio of 1.00:1.15:3.22 with a molecular weight of 78kDa. The detailed structure of FYGL-1 was characterized by periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, along with FT-IR, GC, GC-MS, 1D (1)H and (13)C NMR and 2D NMR (HSQC, COSY, NOESY and TOCSY). Based on the analysis of the results, the structure of the repeating unit of FYGL-1 was established as:

[Study on anatomy of anterior tibial tendon and its clinical application].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the normal and abnormal insertions of the anterior tibial tendon and store up knowledge for clinical application. METHODS: Forty-six antiseptic specimens of the foot of Chinese were selected for anatomical and histological studies on the insertions. The methods included taking the photos, adding up the numbers of the insertions that mainly attach to the first metatarsal os or the medial cuneiform os and measuring the length of the tendons from the line connecting the malleolus lateralis projection and malleolus medialis projection to the insertion. RESULTS: The insertions could be categorized as three types: 28 (60.87%) insertions belonged to the bundle type; 14 (30.43%) insertions were of the medial type; 4 (8.7%) insertions were of the bifurcate type. 40 insertions mainly attached to the medial cuneiform os; 6 insertions mainly attached to the first metatarsal os. The length of the anterior tibial tendon of adults was determined to be 72.33 +/- 5.29 mm and the length of the children's tendon 56.77 +/- 4.54 mm. CONCLUSION: The aboved finding suggest that in clinical treatment the insertions of the bifurcate type should be cut off completely as the anterior tibial tendons of the bifurcate type are transferred into the lateral part of the feet. The insertions of the bundle type and bifurcate type are not suitable for the split anterior tibial tendon transfer, but the medial type cases are suitable for this kind of operation.