A cross-sectional survey of first-aid kit equipment in a family in Sichuan, China.

PURPOSE: To examine residents' first-aid kit preparation and its influencing factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 449 permanent residents in Sichuan Province using convenience sampling. We examined participants' demographic characteristics, self-efficacy, health literacy, and personality. FINDINGS: Of the participants, 111 (24.7%) stocked a home first-aid kit. The most frequent supplies were disinfection supplies (91.9%), common medicines (86.5%), and dressing supplies (76.6%). Family per capita monthly income, medical expenses payment method, chronic diseases, general self-efficacy, and health literacy were influencing factors of family first-aid kit preparedness. CONCLUSION: A multilevel and interactive emergency literacy education system should be established to improve residents' abilities to prevent emergencies.

Nano multi-layered HfO2/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

This study marks a significant stride in enhancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications through the development of a type II nano-heterojunction comprising HfO2 and α - Fe2O3. Fabricated via Physical Vapor Deposition/Radio Frequency (PVD/RF) sputtering, this nano-heterojunction effectively addresses the efficiency limitations inherent in traditional α - Fe2O3photoanodes. The integration of HfO2 leads to a substantial increase in photocurrent density, soaring from 62 µA/cm2 for pure α - Fe2O3 to 1.46 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V versus the Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE). This enhancement, a 23-fold increase, is primarily attributed to the improved absorption of photons in the visible range and the facilitation of more efficient charge transfer. The enhanced performance and long-term stability of the HfO2/α - Fe2O3 nano-heterojunction, validated through XRD, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, EDS, SEM, EIS, and UPS analyses, demonstrate its potential as a promising and cost-effective solution for PEC water splitting applications, leveraging renewable energy sources.

Hyaluronic acid/dextran-based polymeric micelles co-delivering ursolic acid and doxorubicin to mitochondria for potentiating chemotherapy in MDR cancer.

Cancer multidrug resistance (MDR) dramatically hindered the efficiency of standard chemotherapy. Mitochondria are highly involved in the occurrence and development of MDR; thus, inducing its malfunction will be an appealing strategy to treat MDR tumors. In this paper, a natural polysaccharides-based nanoplatform (TDTD@UA/HA micelles) with cell and mitochondria dual-targeting ability was facilely fabricated to co-deliver ursolic acid (UA) and doxorubicin (DOX) for combinatorial MDR therapy. TDTD@UA/HA micelles featured a spherical morphology, narrow size distribution (∼140 nm), as well as favorable drug co-loading capacity (DOX: 8.41 %, UA: 9.06 %). After hyaluronic acid (HA)-mediated endocytosis, the lysosomal hyaluronidase promoted the degradation of HA layer and then the positive triphenylphosphine groups were exposed, which significantly enhanced the mitochondria-accumulation of nano micelles. Subsequently, DOX and UA were specifically released into mitochondria under the trigger of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by severe mitochondrial destruction through generating ROS, exhausting mitochondrial membrane potential, and blocking energy supply, etc.; ultimately contributing to the susceptibility restoration of MCF-7/ADR cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Importantly, TDTD@UA/HA micelles performed potent anticancer efficacy without distinct toxicity on the MDR tumor-bearing nude mice model. Overall, the versatile nanomedicine represented a new therapeutic paradigm and held great promise in overcoming MDR-related cancer.

Heterostructured WO3-TiVO4 thin-film photocatalyst for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting via solar irradiation has garnered significant interest due to its potential in large-scale renewable hydrogen production. Heterostructure materials have emerged as an effective strategy, demonstrating enhanced performance in photoelectrochemical water-splitting applications compared to individual photocatalysts. In this study, to augment the performance of sprayed TiVO4 thin films, a hydrothermally prepared WO3 underlayer was integrated beneath the spray pyrolised TiVO4 film. The consequent heterostructure demonstrated notable enhancements in optical, structural, microstructural attributes, and photocurrent properties. This improvement is attributed to the strategic deposition of WO3 underlayer, forming a heterostructure composite electrode. This led to a marked increase in photocurrent density for the WO3/TiVO4 photoanode, reaching a peak of 740 µA/cm2 at an applied potential of 1.23 V vs RHE, about nine-fold that of standalone TiVO4. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a reduced semicircle for the heterostructure, indicating improved charge transfer compared to bare TiVO4. The heterostructure photoelectrode exhibited enhanced charge carrier conductivity at the interface and sustained stability over 3 h. The distinct attributes of heterostructure photoelectrode present significant opportunities for devising highly efficient sunlight-driven water-splitting systems.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance Using Cobalt-Catalyst-Loaded PVD/RF-Engineered WO3 Photoelectrodes.

Critical to boosting photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance is improving visible light absorption, accelerating carrier separation, and reducing electron-hole pair recombination. In this investigation, the PVD/RF method was employed to fabricate WO3 thin films that were subsequently treated using the surface treatment process, and the film surface was modified by introducing varying concentrations of cobalt nanoparticles, a non-noble metal, as an effective Co catalyst. The results show that the impact of loaded cobalt nanoparticles on the film surface can explain the extended absorption spectrum of visible light, efficiently capturing photogenerated electrons. This leads to an increased concentration of charge carriers, promoting a faster rate of carrier separation and enhancing interface charge transfer efficiency. Compared with a pristine WO3 thin film photoanode, the photocurrent of the as-prepared Co/WO3 films shows a higher PEC activity, with more than a one-fold increase in photocurrent density from 1.020 mA/cm2 to 1.485 mA/cm2 under simulated solar radiation. The phase, crystallinity, and surface of the prepared films were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The PVD/RF method, scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were employed to assess the surface morphology of the fabricated film electrode. Optical properties were studied using UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy. Simultaneously, the photoelectrochemical properties of both films were evaluated using linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These results offer a valuable reference for designing high-performance photoanodes on a large scale for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications.

Effect of awake prone positioning on tracheal intubation rates in patients with COVID-19: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: We investigated the effect of awake prone positioning on endotracheal intubation rates in spontaneously breathing patients with COVID-19 not undergoing endotracheal intubation. Methods: We searched the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PUBMED, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases until December 31, 2022. Prospective randomized controlled, cohort, and case-control studies were included. A meta-analysis was performed on the primary outcome measure, tracheal intubation rates, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Ten studies with a total of 2641 patients were included. The tracheal intubation rate in the awake prone position was 34% (95%CI: 0.59-1.10; P = 0.18; I2 = 55%), showing a non-significant benefit. Mortality was lower in prone-positioned than in supine-positioned patients (odds ratio: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.93; P = 0.007; I2 = 46%), prone positioning significantly improved the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (mean difference -29.17; 95%CI: -50.91 to -7.43; P = 0.009; I2 = 44%). Conclusions: Prone positioning can improve the PaO2/FIO2 ratio in patients with COVID-19 but we found no significant effect on tracheal intubation rates. Awake prone positioning seems to be associated with lower mortality, however, and may thus be a beneficial and effective intervention for patients with COVID-19. The optimal timing, duration, and target population need to be determined in future studies.

Fabrication and Characterization of Tantalum-Iron Composites for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution represents a transformative avenue in addressing the challenges of fossil fuels, heralding a renewable and pristine alternative to conventional fossil fuel-driven energy paradigms. Yet, a formidable challenge is crafting a high-efficacy, stable photocatalyst that optimizes solar energy transduction and charge partitioning even under adversarial conditions. Within the scope of this investigation, tantalum-iron heterojunction composites characterized by intricate, discoidal nanostructured materials were meticulously synthesized using a solvothermal-augmented calcination protocol. The X-ray diffraction, coupled with Rietveld refinements delineated the nuanced alterations in phase constitution and structural intricacies engendered by disparate calcination thermal regimes. An exhaustive study encompassing nano-morphology, electronic band attributes, bandgap dynamics, and a rigorous appraisal of their photocatalytic prowess has been executed for the composite array. Intriguingly, the specimen denoted as 1000-1, a heterojunction composite of TaO2/Ta2O5/FeTaO4, manifested an exemplary photocatalytic hydrogen evolution capacity, registering at 51.24 µmol/g, which eclipses its counterpart, 1100-1 (Ta2O5/FeTaO4), by an impressive margin. Such revelations amplify the prospective utility of these tantalum iron matrices, endorsing their candidacy as potent agents for sustainable hydrogen production via photocatalysis.

Synergistic Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Properties of the Cobalt Nanoparticles-Embedded TiVO4 Thin Film.

To optimize the semiconductor properties of TiVO4 thin films and enhance their performance, we incorporated cobalt nanoparticles as an effective co-catalyst consisting of a non-noble metal. Through an investigation into the impact of cobalt loading on spray pyrolyzed TiVO4 thin films, we observed a significant enhancement in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. This was accomplished by carefully optimizing the concentrations of Co2+ (3 mM) to fabricate a composite electrode, resulting in a higher photocurrent density for the TiVO4:Co photoanode. When an applied potential of 1.23 V (vs RHE) was used, the photocurrent density reached 450 µA/cm2, approximately 5 times higher than that of bare TiVO4. We conducted a thorough characterization of the composite structure and optical properties. Additionally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis indicated that the TiVO4/Co thin film exhibited a smaller semicircle, indicating a significant improvement in charge transfer at the interface. In comparison to bare TiVO4, the TiVO4/Co composite exhibited a notable improvement in photocatalytic activity when degrading methylene blue (MB) dye, a widely employed model dye. Under light illumination, a TiVO4/Co thin film exhibited a notable dye degradation rate of 97% within a 45 min duration. The scalability of our fabrication method makes it suitable for large-area devices intended for sunlight-driven PEC seawater splitting studies.

Frequency of child restraint system use and parental knowledge of such systems in western China.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the frequency of child restraint system (CRS) use in cars and assessed parental knowledge and attitudes toward such restraint systems in western China. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022. Hospitals and kindergartens were convenience sampling selected, and parents with cars were asked whether they owned and used CRS. Parents' knowledge and attitudes toward such systems were also determined. Factors associated with CRS were explored using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 4764 questionnaires were distributed to parents with children 0-6 years old. Among the 4455 responses received, 50.8% of the respondents owned CRS, and most of which were front-facing child seats (42.0%). Less than half (44.4%) reported using a CRS sometimes, but only 19.6% used it all the time. The possession and use of a CRS varied significantly with the parental education level, age of the child, place of residence, number of children, family income, travel frequency, and travel distance. Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of car travel with a child and monthly family income significantly affected CRS use. Most parents (85.2%) perceived that adult seat belt in cars are effective at protecting their children in the event of a crash. The most frequent reason for not using a CRS was the tendency for children to travel in the car less often. CONCLUSIONS: Although approximately half of the respondents owned a CRS, most of them used it rarely, if at all. Educating parents about safe ways for children to ride in a car and use of safety belts may promote CRS use.

A Nanosized Codelivery System Based on Intracellular Stimuli-Triggered Dual-Drug Release for Multilevel Chemotherapy Amplification in Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer.

Lacking nano-systems for precisely codelivering the chemotherapeutics paclitaxel (PTX) and the natural P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor, quercetin (QU), into cancer cells and controlling their intracellular release extremely decreased the anticancer effects in multidrug resistant (MDR) tumors. To overcome this hurdle, we constructed hybrid polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) which consist of redox-sensitive PTX/polyethyleneimine-tocopherol hydrogen succinate-dithioglycollic acid PNPs and pH-sensitive hyaluronic acid-QU conjugates. The obtained hybrid PNPs can be internalized into drug-resistant breast cancer cells by the hyaluronic acid/CD44-mediated endocytosis pathway and escape from the lysosome through the "proton sponge effect". Under the trigger of intracellular stimuli, the nanoplatform used the pH/glutathione dual-sensitive disassembly to release QU and PTX. The PTX diffused into microtubules to induce tumor cell apoptosis, while QU promoted PTX retention by down-regulating P-gp expression. Moreover, tocopherol hydrogen succinate and QU disturbed mitochondrial functions by generating excessive reactive oxygen species, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, and releasing cytochrome c into the cytosol which consequently achieved intracellular multilevel chemotherapy amplification in MDR cancers. Importantly, the PNPs substantially suppressed tumors growth with an average volume 2.54-fold lower than that of the control group in the MCF-7/ADR tumor-bearing nude mice model. These presented PNPs would provide a valuable reference for the coadministration of natural compounds and anticarcinogens for satisfactory combination therapy in MDR cancers.

Recent advances in polymeric core-shell nanocarriers for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs.

The treatment effect of chemotherapeutics is often impeded by nonspecific biodistribution and limited biocompatibility. Polymeric core-shell nanocarriers (PCS NCs) composed of a polymer core and at least one shell have been widely applied for cancer therapy and have shown great potential in selectively delivering chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor sites. These PCS NCs can effectively ameliorate the delivery efficiency and therapeutic index of anticarcinogens by prolonging drug residence in the bloodstream, enhancing tumor tissue drug penetration, facilitating cellular drug uptake, controlling the spatiotemporal release of payloads, or codelivering two or more bioactive agents. This review summarizes recently published literature on using PCS NCs to transport chemotherapeutic drugs with poor aqueous solubility and discusses their design principles, structural features, functional properties, and potential limitations.

In Situ Growth of Metallic 1T-MoS2 on TiO2 Nanotubes with Improved Photocatalytic Performance.

1T-MoS2 is in situ grown on TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) using a hydrothermal method, forming a 1T-MoS2@TNTs composite, which is confirmed by its physical characterization. The prepared composites show enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light, and the improved photocatalytic activity is closely related to the loaded amount of 1T-MoS2. Therein, 0.5 wt % 1T-MoS2@TNTs can degrade 57% in 1 h, which is the highest photocatalytic efficiency observed in experiments so far. It is speculated that the introduction of 1T-MoS2 may optimize light absorption and charge separation/transport. The active species are identified and the reaction mechanism is proposed here.

Recent advances in photodegradation of antibiotic residues in water.

Antibiotics are widely present in the environment due to their extensive and long-term use in modern medicine. The presence and dispersal of these compounds in the environment lead to the dissemination of antibiotic residues, thereby seriously threatening human and ecosystem health. Thus, the effective management of antibiotic residues in water and the practical applications of the management methods are long-term matters of contention among academics. Particularly, photocatalysis has attracted extensive interest as it enables the treatment of antibiotic residues in an eco-friendly manner. Considerable progress has been achieved in the implementation of photocatalytic treatment of antibiotic residues in the past few years. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments on this important topic. This review primarily focuses on the application of photocatalysis as a promising solution for the efficient decomposition of antibiotic residues in water. Particular emphasis was laid on improvement and modification strategies, such as augmented light harvesting, improved charge separation, and strengthened interface interaction, all of which enable the design of powerful photocatalysts to enhance the photocatalytic removal of antibiotics.

Extraction optimization, physicochemical properties and antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of polysaccharides from roxburgh rose (Rosa roxburghii Tratt.) leaves.

The optimum extraction conditions of polysaccharides from roxburgh rose (Rosa roxburghii Tratt.) leaves (RLP) were obtained by response surface methodology (RSM), which were a liquid to solid ratio of 21.16 mL/g, an extraction temperature of 81.32 °C, and an extraction time of 90.49 min. An RLP yield of 11.04% was obtained under these conditions. DEAE-52 cellulose and Sepharose CL-6B columns were used to purify the RLP, and the purified polysaccharide components RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were obtained. Both RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were composed of galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara). However, the molar ratios of GalA, Glc, Gal, and Ara in RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were different. At a concentration of 10 mg/mL, the α-amylase inhibitory activities of RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 reached 80.74% and 89.85% that of acarbose, respectively, and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of RLP-1.2 reached 87.91% that of acarbose. In addition, both RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 showed good antioxidant activity. These results suggested that RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 possess potential as natural hypoglycemic agents or natural antioxidants.

Synthesis of Novel 1T/2H-MoS2 from MoO3 Nanowires with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance.

Metallic 1T-phase MoS2 is a newly emerging and attractive catalyst since it has more available active sites and high carrier mobility in comparison with its widely used counterpart of semiconducting 2H-MoS2. Herein, 1T/2H-MoS2(N) (N: MoO3 nanowires were used to prepare 1T/2H-MoS2) was synthesized by using molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanowires as the starting material and applied in the photodegradation of antibiotic residue in water. Enhanced photocatalytic performance was observed on the obtained 1T/2H-MoS2(N), which was 2.8 and 1.3 times higher than those on 1T/2H-MoS2(P) (P: commercial MoO3 powder was used to prepare 1T/2H-MoS2) and 2H-MoS2, respectively. The active component responsible for the photodegradation was detected and a reaction mechanism is proposed.

Facile Construction of All-Solid-State Z-Scheme g-C3N4/TiO2 Thin Film for the Efficient Visible-Light Degradation of Organic Pollutant.

The increasing discharge of dyes and antibiotic pollutants in water has brought serious environmental problems. However, it is difficult to remove such pollutants effectively by traditional sewage treatment technologies. Semiconductor photocatalysis is a new environment-friendly technique and is widely used in aqueous pollution control. TiO2 is one of the most investigated photocatalysts; however, it still faces the main drawbacks of a poor visible-light response and a low charge-separation efficiency. Moreover, powder photocatalyst is difficult to be recovered, which is another obstacle limiting the practical application. In this article, g-C3N4/TiO2 heterojunction is simply immobilized on a glass substrate to form an all-solid-state Z-scheme heterojunction. The obtained thin-film photocatalyst was characterized and applied in the visible-light photodegradation of colored rhodamine B and tetracycline hydrochloride. The photocatalytic performance is related to the deposited layers, and the sample with five layers shows the best photocatalytic efficiency. The thin-film photocatalyst is easy to be recovered with stability. The active component responsible for the photodegradation is identified and a Z-scheme mechanism is proposed.