Stretchable, Rehealable, Recyclable, and Reconfigurable Integrated Strain Sensor for Joint Motion and Respiration Monitoring

Cutting-edge technologies of stretchable, skin-mountable, and wearable electronics have attracted tremendous attention recentlydue to their very wide applications and promising performances. One direction of particular interest is to investigate novel properties in stretchable electronics by exploring multifunctional materials. Here, we report an integrated strain sensing system that is highly stretchable, rehealable, fully recyclable, and reconfigurable. This system consists of dynamic covalent thermoset polyimine as the moldable substrate and encapsulation, eutectic liquid metal alloy as the strain sensing unit and interconnects, and off-the-shelf chip components for measuring and magnifying functions. The device can be attached on different parts of the human body for accurately monitoring joint motion and respiration. Such a strain sensing system provides a reliable, economical, and ecofriendly solution to wearable technologies, with wide applications in health care, prosthetics, robotics, and biomedical devices.</p

Divergent Evolution of TRC Genes in Mammalian Niche Adaptation

Mammals inhabit a wide variety of ecological niches, which in turn can be affected by various ecological factors, especially in relation to immunity. The canonical TRC repertoire (TRAC, TRBC, TRGC, and TRDC) codes C regions of T cell receptor chains that form the primary antigen receptors involved in the activation of cellular immunity. At present, little is known about the correlation between the evolution of mammalian TRC genes and ecological factors. In this study, four types canonical of TRC genes were identified from 37 mammalian species. Phylogenetic comparative methods (phyANOVA and PGLS) and selective pressure analyses among different groups of ecological factors (habitat, diet, and sociality) were carried out. The results showed that habitat was the major ecological factor shaping mammalian TRC repertoires. Specifically, trade-off between TRGC numbers and positive selection of TRAC and the balanced evolutionary rates between TRAC and TRDC genes were speculated as two main mechanisms in adaption to habitat and sociality. Overall, our study suggested divergent mechanisms for the evolution of TRCs, prompting mammalian immunity adaptions within diverse niches

Investigating the self-healing of dynamic covalent thermoset polyimine and its nanocomposites

Self-healable and recyclable materials and electronics can improve the reliability and repairability, and can reduce environmental pollution, therefore they promise very broad applications. In this study, we investigated the self-healing performance of dynamic covalent thermoset polyimine and its nanocomposites based on dynamic covalent chemistry. Heat press was applied to two laminating films of polyimine and its nanocomposites to induce self-healing. The effects of heat press time, temperature and load on the interfacial shear strength of re-healed films were investigated. The results showed that increasing the heat press time, temperature and load can significantly improve the interfacial shear strength and thus the self-healing effect. For polyimine nanocomposites, increasing the heat press time, temperature and load led to improved electrical conductivity of the re-healed films.</p

Reshapeable, rehealable and recyclable sensor fabricated by direct ink writing of conductive composites based on covalent adaptable network polymers

Covalent adaptable network (CAN) polymers doped with conductive nanoparticles are an ideal candidate to create reshapeable, rehealable, and fully recyclable electronics. On the other hand, 3D printing as a deterministic manufacturing method has a significant potential to fabricate electronics with low cost and high design freedom. In this paper, we incorporate a conductive composite consisting of polyimine CAN and multi-wall carbon nanotubes into direct-ink-writing 3D printing to create polymeric sensors with outstanding reshaping, repairing, and recycling capabilities. The developed printable ink exhibits good printability, conductivity, and recyclability. The conductivity of printed polyimine composites is investigated at different temperatures and deformation strain levels. Their shape-reforming and Joule heating-induced interfacial welding effects are demonstrated and characterized. Finally, a temperature sensor is 3D printed with defined patterns of conductive pathways, which can be easily mounted onto 3D surfaces, repaired after damage, and recycled using solvents. The sensing capability of printed sensors is maintained after the repairing and recycling. Overall, the 3D printed reshapeable, rehealable, and recyclable sensors possess complex geometry and extend service life, which assist in the development of polymer-based electronics toward broad and sustainable applications. &nbsp;</p

Energy and Operation Characteristics of Electric Excavator With Innovative Hydraulic-Electric Dual Power Drive Boom System

In the existing electric excavators, the energy efficiency of the hydraulic system is less than 30&#x0025; due to a large amount of throttling loss and waste of potential energy. In order to improve excavator energy efficiency, an electric excavator scheme using a hydraulic-electric dual-power drive boom system is proposed. A linear actuator, including electro-mechanical unit and hydraulic unit, was adopted in the boom system. The boom velocity is controlled by the electro-mechanical unit instead of hydraulic valve to reduce throttling loss. The non-rod chamber of the linear actuator is connected to a hydraulic accumulator to reutilize boom gravitational potential energy. In addition, when the boom and other devices are operated together, the throttling loss caused by load difference of multi-actuators can be reduced because the linear actuator can compensate for the pump pressure. The working principle, control strategy, and characteristics of the proposed electric excavator were analyzed through theory and experiments. The results show that the proposed system can reduce throttling loss and efficiently reutilize the boom gravitational potential energy. During boom lifting and lowering process, the reutilization rate of the boom gravitational potential energy is 67.6&#x0025;, and the energy consumption is reduced by 66.1&#x0025;. During land levelling process, the throttling loss of the electric excavator is reduced by 49.6&#x0025; and the energy consumption is reduced by 38.1&#x0025;. The research results will provide new methods for the electrification of construction machinery

Critical influence of cytokines and immune cells in autoimmune gastritis

Gastric cancer (GC) is a type of the most common cancers. Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) and infection with Helicobacter pylori (HP) are the risk factors of triggering GC. With the emphasis on the treatment of HP, the incidence and prevalence of HP infection in population is decreasing. However, AIG lacks accurate diagnosis and treatment methods, which occupies high cancer risk factors. AIG is controlled by the immune environment of the stomach, including immune cells, inflammatory cells, and infiltrating intercellular material. Various immune cells or cytokines play a central role in the process of regulating gastric parietal cells. Abnormal expression levels of cytokines involved in immunity are bound to face the risk of tumorigenesis. Therefore, it is particularly important for preventing or treating AIG and avoiding the risk of gastric cancer to clarify the confirmed action mode of immune cells and cytokines in the gastric system. Herein, we briefly reviewed the role of the immune environment under AIG, focussing on describing these double-edged effects between immune cells and cytokines, and pointing out potential research challenges

Promoting the Construction of Xiongan New Area Through Energy Revolution: General Idea and Implementation Route

Based on the strategic background, positioning, and objectives of the planning and construction of the Xiongan New Area, an analysis model framework is established for the requirements for energy revolution during the planning and construction of this area. We conclude that energy revolution can actively promote the construction of the Xiongan New Area. Specifically, energy technology revolution can aid the Xiongan New Area to become a global energy innovation center; the energy operation mode of this area can be reformed through energy system revolution; the planning and construction requirements of the Xiongan New Area can be satisfied through energy consumption revolution; and a safe and efficient energy supply system can be ensured through energy supply revolution. Furthermore, an urban energy supply system that is green, safe, efficient, smart-friendly, and future-leading can be created in the Xiongan New Area through the energy revolution, particularly through key projects regarding energy integrated operation systems, energy Internet, green and smart transportation systems, ultra-low-energy buildings, and energy saving and emission reduction

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles are associated with kidney injury in patients with urosepsis

Background: There is increasing evidence that platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) may be involved in the mechanisms of inflammatory storm and organ damage in sepsis. However, there are no available studies on PEVs and renal injury in patients with urosepsis. Methods: We analyzed the concentration and ratio of PEVs in plasma by flow cytometry and measured plasma IL-1β/IL-6/TNF-α/NGAL levels by ELISA. Correlation analysis was also used to examine the concentration of PEVs in relation to levels of inflammatory factors and indicators of kidney damage, as well as the severity of the disease. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic curves were produced for PEVs concentrations as a diagnosis of S-AKI/AKI. Results: We found significantly higher levels of IL-1β/IL-6/TNF-α/NGAL in patients with urogenital sepsis. Furthermore, the concentrations of PEVs in plasma were significantly elevated in patients with urosepsis, especially in patients with Gram-negative bacterial infections, which were significantly and positively correlated with IL-1β/IL-6/TNF-α/NGAL levels. The area under the curve for PEVs diagnosing S-AKI and AKI was 0.746 [0.484, 1.000] and 0.943 [0.874, 1.000] respectively. Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggested that PEVs may mediate the release of inflammatory mediators in patients with urosepsis and participate in the mechanism of acute kidney injury, as well as having potential as diagnostic indicators of S-AKI and AKI and as early warning indicators of the severity of patients with urosepsis

Raw-Cotton-Derived N‑Doped Carbon Fiber Aerogel as an Efficient Electrode for Electrochemical Capacitors

The carbon fiber aerogel with a high surface area, as a promising ideal electrode for electrochemical capacitors (ECs), has attracted tremendous attention because it can offer a fast charge–discharge rate and an exceptional rate capability. However, there is still a big challenge to acquire highly porous fiber aerogel with elastic properties and good flexibility. Herein, N-doped porous carbon fiber aerogel (N-CFA) has been successfully fabricated using raw cotton as a fibrous template to obtain shaped aerogels. ZIF-8, in situ fabricated on the surface of cotton, played the role of an active agent and nitrogen source to create a rich porous structure with a certain nitrogen content. Benefiting from the macromonolith morphology with good flexibility, favorable mechanical durability, nitrogen doping, anda high specific surface area, the N-CFA exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with a high capacity of 365 F g^–1 at a current of 0.5 A g^–1 and a remarkable rate capability of 65.8% from 0.5 to 100 A g^–1 as a binder-free electrode in ECs. Additionally, N-CFA also displays a high capacitance retention of 93.6% after 10000 consecutive cycles at 5 A g^–1. The strategy may offer a low-cost and scalable method to produce high-performance N-doped carbon aerogels for electrodes from biomass