Vertically Oriented and Interpenetrating CuSe Nanosheet Films with Open Channels for Flexible All-Solid-State Supercapacitors

As a p-type multifunctional semiconductor, CuSe nanostructures show great promise in optoelectronic, sensing, and photocatalytic fields. Although great progress has been achieved, controllable synthesis of CuSe nanosheets (NSs) with a desirable spacial orientation and open frameworks remains a challenge, and their use in supercapacitors (SCs) has not been explored. Herein, a highly vertically oriented and interpenetrating CuSe NS film with open channels is deposited on an Au-coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Such CuSe NS films exhibit high specific capacitance (209 F g–1) and can be used as a carbon black- and binder-free electrode to construct flexible, symmetric all-solid-state SCs, using polyvinyl alcohol–LiCl gel as the solid electrolyte. A device fabricated with such CuSe NS films exhibits high volumetric specific capacitance (30.17 mF cm–3), good cycling stability, excellent flexibility, and desirable mechanical stability. The excellent performance of such devices results from the vertically oriented and interpenetrating configuration of CuSe NS building blocks, which can increase the available surface and facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte ions. Moreover, as a prototype for application, three such solid devices in series can be used to light up a red light-emitting diode

Effects of basic medical insurance integration on subjective wellbeing of residents in China: empirical evidence from a quasi-experiment

IntroductionEnhancing the wellbeing of residents through universal health coverage (UHC) is a long-term policy goal for China. In 2016, China integrated the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) and the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) into the Urban and Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URRBMI) to address the problem of fragmentation.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate whether the integration of basic medical insurance had an impact on the subjective wellbeing of Chinese residents.MethodsUsing the China Household Finance Survey data of 2015 and 2019, we empirically estimated the influence of the integration of basic medical insurance on Chinese residents through the difference-in-difference method based on propensity score matching (PSM-DID).ResultsOur findings indicate that the integration of basic medical insurance improved the subjective wellbeing of the insured population. Additionally, through heterogeneity testing, we validated that the integration increased the subjective wellbeing of residents from less developed regions in West China and rural areas, as well as those with older adult dependents. However, the subjective wellbeing of low-income groups, who were expected to benefit more from the URRBMI, did not improve significantly, at least in the short term.ConclusionAccording to our research, the integration of basic medical insurance in China supports the country's objective of achieving equality and providing universal benefits for its residents. The introduction of the URRBMI has had a positive impact on the subjective wellbeing of insured individuals. This is particularly beneficial for disadvantaged groups in less developed regions, as well as for residents with older adult dependents. However, the subjective wellbeing of the middle-income group has improved significantly, whereas that of the low-income group, despite being the intended beneficiaries of the integration, did not show significant improvement.RecommendationsFrom a funding perspective, we recommend establishing a dynamic adjustment funding system that links residents' medical insurance funding standards with their disposable income. Regarding the utilization of the URRBMI, the benefit packages should be expanded, particularly by covering more outpatient services through risk pooling. We call for further research with additional data and continued efforts on improving wellbeing of residents, particularly for disadvantaged populations

Quantifying the Resilience of Emergency Response Networks to Infrastructure Interruptions through an Enhanced Metanetwork-Based Framework

Building effective and resilient emergency response networks (ERNs) is essential for the rapid recovery of interrupted infrastructure during extreme events. Aiming at providing critical benchmarking and implementable strategies for improving ERN resilience, this study proposed a novel framework to systematically quantify ERN resilience through an enhanced metanetwork analysis (MNA)–based approach. This framework first applied the MNA approach to conceptualize the complex emergency response as three-stage “agent-task-resource-knowledge” (A-T-R-K) metanetworks, representing connections among stakeholders, response tasks, emergency resources, and professional knowledge. Then, suitable metanetwork measures (i.e., natural connectivity, average speed, overall task completion, and the integrative metric of task resource and knowledge needs and task resource and knowledge waste) generated accordingly were used to quantify ERN resilience capacities—robustness, rapidity, resourcefulness, and redundancy. This proposed framework was validated through a case study of the emergency response to the Manchester Arena attack in the United Kingdom. The dynamic change of ERN resilience over time as well as possible causes within the case scenario were analyzed. Additionally, resilience improvement strategies and the advantages of the MNA approach are discussed. Overall, this enhanced MNA-based framework promotes an understanding of emergency response performance through systematically conceptualizing the complex ERN structure and dynamically quantifying ERN resilience capacities. Lessons learned from historical disasters provide decision-makers with implementable support to advance their collaboration and knowledge sharing and optimize resources and tasks for enhancing resilience in future infrastructure operation and emergency response activities

Construction of an example system for AC/DC hybrid power grid with high-proportion renewable energy

Large-scale wind and solar power generations have got rapid development in recent years in China and abroad. They always connect to load centres through high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission or ultra HVDC (UHVDC) transmission lines. Such systems are so large and it is necessary to make appropriate equivalence according to the purpose of different research. At present, the analysis model of this kind of real system is few, and simplified single-machine infinite-bus system or IEEE example system is adopted most of the time, which may affect the accuracy of analysis results. Here, the UHVDC project from a practical renewable energy base to load centres in China is chosen as an example, the actual structure and parameters are used to establish a typical example system for AC/DC hybrid power grid with high-proportion renewable energy. The new-generation synchronous condenser with large capacity and the supporting synchronous generators are all considered. First, the installed power generation, power grid structure, and load configuration of example system are introduced. Then the load flow distribution and transient stability characteristics are analysed by using DIgSILENT PowerFactory software. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed example system is shown by simulation results

SOC-dependent high-rate dischargeability of AB_5-type metal hydride anode: Mechanism linking phase transition to electrochemical H-desorption kinetics

The current application of nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries places a particular emphasis on the high-rate dischargeability (HRD) at varying state-of-charges (SOCs). However, most research on the HRD of AB5-type MH anodes only considers the fully charged case but overlooks the significant impact of SOC. In this work, at first, the great SOC effect on the HRD or pulse power of AB_5-type MH anode is presented. Then, by crosschecking the SOC dependence of both ‘in situ’ polarization and ‘ex situ’ kinetic parameters, a definite SOC-dependent H-desorption kinetics for AB_5-type MH anode is acquired. Finally, a novel mechanism linking phase transition to H-desorption kinetics for AB_5-type MH anode is proposed. The HRD or pulse power of AB5-type MH anode significantly improves when SOC decreases from 100% to an appropriate range (90-60%) and suddenly deteriorates when SOC drops below ∼20%. The former improvement relates to the formation of saturated solid solution that simultaneously facilitates both charge-transfer reaction and hydrogen diffusion. The latter deterioration is due to the complete depletion of hydride causing an insufficient supply of hydrogen atoms

SOC-dependent high-rate dischargeability of AB_5-type metal hydride anode: Mechanism linking phase transition to electrochemical H-desorption kinetics

The current application of nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries places a particular emphasis on the high-rate dischargeability (HRD) at varying state-of-charges (SOCs). However, most research on the HRD of AB5-type MH anodes only considers the fully charged case but overlooks the significant impact of SOC. In this work, at first, the great SOC effect on the HRD or pulse power of AB_5-type MH anode is presented. Then, by crosschecking the SOC dependence of both ‘in situ’ polarization and ‘ex situ’ kinetic parameters, a definite SOC-dependent H-desorption kinetics for AB_5-type MH anode is acquired. Finally, a novel mechanism linking phase transition to H-desorption kinetics for AB_5-type MH anode is proposed. The HRD or pulse power of AB5-type MH anode significantly improves when SOC decreases from 100% to an appropriate range (90-60%) and suddenly deteriorates when SOC drops below ∼20%. The former improvement relates to the formation of saturated solid solution that simultaneously facilitates both charge-transfer reaction and hydrogen diffusion. The latter deterioration is due to the complete depletion of hydride causing an insufficient supply of hydrogen atoms

Vertically Oriented and Interpenetrating CuSe Nanosheet Films with Open Channels for Flexible All-Solid-State Supercapacitors

As a p-type multifunctional semiconductor, CuSe nanostructures show great promise in optoelectronic, sensing, and photocatalytic fields. Although great progress has been achieved, controllable synthesis of CuSe nanosheets (NSs) with a desirable spacial orientation and open frameworks remains a challenge, and their use in supercapacitors (SCs) has not been explored. Herein, a highly vertically oriented and interpenetrating CuSe NS film with open channels is deposited on an Au-coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Such CuSe NS films exhibit high specific capacitance (209 F g–1) and can be used as a carbon black- and binder-free electrode to construct flexible, symmetric all-solid-state SCs, using polyvinyl alcohol–LiCl gel as the solid electrolyte. A device fabricated with such CuSe NS films exhibits high volumetric specific capacitance (30.17 mF cm–3), good cycling stability, excellent flexibility, and desirable mechanical stability. The excellent performance of such devices results from the vertically oriented and interpenetrating configuration of CuSe NS building blocks, which can increase the available surface and facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte ions. Moreover, as a prototype for application, three such solid devices in series can be used to light up a red light-emitting diode.</p

Toxoplasma gondii prevalent in China induce weaker apoptosis of neural stem cells C17.2 via endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signaling pathways

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular pathogen, has a strong affinity for the nervous system. TgCtwh3, a representative Chinese 1 Toxoplasma strain prevalent in China, has the polymorphic features of the effectors ROP16I/III with type I and GRA15II with type II Toxoplasma strains. The interaction of this atypical strain with host cells remains extremely elusive. Methods Using a transwell system, neural stem cells C17.2 were co-cultured with the tachyzoites of TgCtwh3 or standard type I RH strain. The apoptosis levels of C17.2 cells and the expression levels of related proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated pathway were detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Results The apoptosis level of C17.2 cells co-cultured with TgCtwh3 had a significant increase compared to the negative control group; however, the apoptosis level in the TgCtwh3 group was significantly lower than that in the RH co-culture group. Western blotting analyses reveal that, after the C17.2 cells were co-cultured with TgCtwh3 and RH tachyzoites, the expression levels of caspase-12, CHOP and p-JNK in the cells increased significantly when compared to the control groups. After the pretreatment of Z-ATAD-FMK, an inhibitor of caspase-12, the apoptosis level of the C17.2 cells co-cultured with TgCtwh3 or RH tachyzoites had an apparent decline, and correspondingly, the expression levels of those related proteins were notably decreased. Conclusions Our findings suggest that TgCtwh3 may induce the apoptosis of the C17.2 cells by up-regulation of caspase-12, CHOP, and p-JNK, which are associated with ERS signaling pathways. This work contributes to better understanding the possible mechanism of brain pathology induced by T. gondii Chinese 1 isolates prevalent in China, and also reveals the potential value of ERS inhibitors to treat such related diseases in the future