Self-adaptive integration of photothermal and radiative cooling for continuous energy harvesting from the sun and outer space

The sun (∼6,000 K) and outer space (∼3 K) are two significant renewable thermodynamic resources for human beings on Earth. The solar thermal conversion by photothermal (PT) and harvesting the coldness of outer space by radiative cooling (RC) have already attracted tremendous interest. However, most of the PT and RC approaches are static and monofunctional, which can only provide heating or cooling respectively under sunlight or darkness. Herein, a spectrally self-adaptive absorber/emitter (SSA/E) with strong solar absorption and switchable emissivity within the atmospheric window (i.e., 8 to 13 μm) was developed for the dynamic combination of PT and RC, corresponding to continuously efficient energy harvesting from the sun and rejecting energy to the universe. The as-fabricated SSA/E not only can be heated to ∼170 °C above ambient temperature under sunshine but also be cooled to 20 °C below ambient temperature, and thermal modeling captures the high energy harvesting efficiency of the SSA/E, enabling new technological capabilities.

Heating and cooling are two kinds of significant end uses of thermal energy in society, which exist in various conditions (e.g., space/water heating, space cooling, and industrial processes) and account for 51% of the total final energy consumption (1). For example, the heating and cooling of buildings are responsible for nearly 48% of the building energy consumption, increasing to be the largest individual energy expense (2). Therefore, heat and cool harvesting relying on clean techniques from renewable energy resources has drawn remarkable attention from fields of engineering to material science because it has considerable potential for global energy conservation and greenhouse emission reduction. Thermodynamically, any heat transportation and work-generation process requires a temperature gradient. The hot sun (∼6,000 K) and cold outer space (∼3 K) are the ultimate heat source and heat sink for the Earth. Theoretical analysis reveals that maximal output work can be extracted from nonreciprocal systems based on the temperature difference between the sun and Earth (∼300 K) with an ultimate solar energy harvesting efficiency limit of 93.3%, while a maximal work of 153.1 W·m⁻² can also be obtained on the basis of temperature difference between the Earth and outer space (3, 4). Thus, the sun and outer space are two significant renewable thermodynamic resources for the Earth, which can be effectively utilized for clean heat and cool collection.Photothermal (PT) is a widely used solar thermal collection method that employs solar absorbers to capture solar photons and convert them to heat. Thermal analysis reveals that a good candidate for a solar absorber should have high solar absorptivity and low thermal emissivity simultaneously for efficient solar thermal collection. Various materials, including multilayer metal/ceramic films (5, 6), photonic crystals (7, 8), and metamaterials (9, 10), have been developed for spectrally selective solar absorbers and have been used for real-world applications. Meanwhile, radiative cooling (RC) has re-elicited considerable interest in recent years because it can passively provide clean cooling without any extra energy input (11–14). The waste heat of terrestrial objects can be continuously pumped into the cold outer space, relying on the transparent atmospheric window (i.e., 8 to 13 μm). So, high emissivity within the atmospheric window of materials is necessary for efficient RC, and excellent solar reflection is also important for RC under sunshine. Thus, different materials with the tailored spectrum, such as photonic structures (15–17), structure materials (18), energy-saving paints (19–21), and even metamaterials (22–24), have been reported for passive cooling. On the potential application level, RC implementations also span a range of fields, including passive cooling of buildings (25–27), thermal management of textiles and color surfaces (28–30), atmospheric water harvesting (31), and thermoelectric generation (32, 33). Although the reported PT and RC can generate heat and cold with high efficiency through different spectrally selective materials, most of the approaches are static and monofunctional, which can only provide heating or cooling under sunlight or darkness. Therefore, the dynamical integration of PT and RC for continuously efficient heat and cool harvesting is a new topic for the energy exploitation of the sun and outer space. The tunable combination of PT and RC hybrid utilization has been recently proposed, but mechanical methods such as switching (e.g., flip action) a PT absorber and an RC emitter manually (34) or changing the optical properties of the materials through extra force stimuli (35) are preferred.Herein, a smart strategy for the dynamic combination of daytime PT and nighttime RC is proposed, corresponding to continuously efficient energy harvesting from the sun and rejecting energy to the universe. A spectrally self-adaptive absorber/emitter (SSA/E) with solar absorption of over 0.8 and emissivity modulation capability of regulating from broadband emissivity of 0.25 within the mid-infrared (MIR) region to the selective high emissivity of 0.75 within the atmospheric window is designed and fabricated for the proof of the concept. Outdoor thermal experimental results demonstrate that the SSA/E can be heated to ∼170 °C above ambient temperature in the daytime PT mode and passively cooled to ∼20 °C below ambient temperature in the nighttime RC mode. Moreover, the heat and cool energy gains of the SSA/E system are respectively predicted to be 78% and 103% larger than those of the reference system that combines static and monofunctional PT absorber and RC emitter.     

Predictors of post coronary artery bypass grafting atrial fibrillation

Objective: To investigate the incidence and relative risk factors of post coronary artery bypass grafting(post-CABG) atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: 312 patients with CABG were reviewed and divided into an AF group and a non-AF group. Statistical analysis was used to compare the data between the two groups and screen for risk factors of post-CABG AF. Results: 103/312(33.01%) patients developed post-CABG AF. Univariate analysis showed that patients in AF group compared with those in non-AF group were more likely to have advanced age (≥ 70 years), early postoperative withdrawal of β-blockers, hypertension, left atrial enlargement ( ≥40 mm), a history of AF, prolonged p-wave duration ( ≥ 120 ms) and increased number of grafts (≥3). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (≥70 years), early postoperative withdrawal of β-blockers, hypertension, left atrial enlargement (≥40 mm) and a history of AF were highly related to post-CABG AF. Conclusion: The incidence of AF in patients following CABG was 33.01% in this study. Advanced age, early postoperative withdrawal of β-blockers,hypertension, left atrial enlargement and a history of AF were independent risk factors of post-CABG AF.     

Association of body mass index with risk of prediabetes in Chinese adults: A population‐based cohort study

Aims/IntroductionOverweight and obesity in adults are strongly associated with an increased risk of prediabetes, and this study set out to gain a better understanding of the optimal body mass index (BMI) range for assessing the risk of prediabetes in the Chinese population.Materials and MethodsThe cohort study included 100,309 Chinese adults who underwent health screening. Participants were divided into six groups based on the cut‐off point for BMI recommended by the World Health Organization (underweight: <18.5 kg/m², normal‐weight: 18.5–24.9 kg/m², pre‐obese: 25.0–29.9 kg/m², obese class I: 30.0–34.9 kg/m², obese class II: 35.0–39.9 kg/m², and obese class III ≥40 kg/m²). The association of BMI with prediabetes and the shape of the correlation were modeled using multivariate Cox regression and restricted cubic spline regression, respectively.ResultsIn the multivariate Cox regression model, with normal weight as the control group, underweight people had a lower risk of developing prediabetes, whereas obese and pre‐obese people had a higher risk of prediabetes. Additionally, in the restricted cubic spline model, we found that the association of BMI with prediabetes follows a positive dose–response relationship, but does not conform to the pattern of obesity paradox. Among the general population in China, a BMI of 23.03 kg/m² might be a potential intervention threshold for prediabetes.ConclusionsThe national cohort study found that the association of BMI with prediabetes follows a positive dose–response relationship, rather than a pattern of obesity paradox. For Chinese people with normal weight, more attention should be paid to glucose metabolism when BMI exceeds 23.03 kg/m².     

Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of Bagasse Xylan/Resveratrol Graft-Esterified Composite Nanoderivative

Biomass materials are high-quality raw materials for the preparation of natural, green and highly active functional materials due to their rich active groups, wide sources and low toxicity. Bagasse xylan (BX) and resveratrol (Res) were used as raw materials to introduce ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) via grafting reaction to obtain the intermediate product BX/Res-g-EGDMA. The intermediate was esterified with 3-carboxyphenylboronic acid (3-CBA) to obtain the target product 3-CBA-BX/Res-g-EGDMA. The BX/Res-composite-modified nanoderivative with antitumor activity was synthesized with the nanoprecipitation method. The effects of the reaction conditions on the grafting rate (G) of BX/Res-g-EGDMA and the degree of substitution (DS) of 3-CBA-BX/Res-g-EGDMA were investigated using single-factor experiments. The results showed that under the optimized process conditions, G and DS reached 142.44% and 0.485, respectively. The product was characterized with FTIR, XRD, TG-FTC, ¹H NMR and SEM, and its anticancer activity was simulated and tested. The results showed that 3-CBA-BX/Res-g-EGDMA had a spherical structure with an average particle size of about 100 nm and that its crystalline structure and thermal stability were different from those of the raw materials. In addition, 3-CBA-BX/Res-g-EGDMA showed the best docking activity with 2HE7 with a binding free energy of −6.3 kJ/mol. The inhibition rate of 3-CBA-BX/Res-g-EGDMA on MGC80-3 (gastric cancer cells) reached 36.71 ± 4.93%, which was 18 times higher than that of BX. Therefore, this material could be a potential candidate for biomedical applications.     

化疗解救上腔静脉压迫综合症的近期疗效观察

目的回顾性分析化疗治疗上腔静脉压迫综合症的近期疗效.方法32例上腔静脉压迫综合症在吸氧、抗炎、利尿、激素治疗的基础上,采用化疗解救,以CHOP方案治疗18例,紫杉醇 卡铂方案治疗11例,足叶乙甙 卡铂治疗3例.结果32例中淋巴瘤18例,占56.2%,肺癌14例,占43.8%,化疗后1周评价疗效有效率达93.8%(30/32),仅2例(6.2%)无效.结论对于上腔静脉压迫综合症无论是肺癌还是淋巴瘤,在基础治疗上首选化疗进行解救值得临床推广.     

龈沟液的量与牙周组织炎症的关系

对100例牙周炎及40例牙龈炎患者的龈沟液量进行测定，并以64例正常人为对照，结果正常人男女性别间及上下颌、左右侧牙齿的龈沟液量无显著差异，但龈沟液量与牙周组织的炎症密切相关，并且其流量与炎症状况及骨破坏程度有关，提示龈沟液流量可作为检测牙周组织炎症活动期的客观指标。     

IABP救治心脏手术后低心排血量的疗效观察

目的：评价主动脉内球囊反捕（ＩＡＢＰ）在心脏手术后不许治低心排血量（低心排）的效果。方法：２８例术后应用中等剂量心脏活性药物支持不能改善的低心排患,均立即使用ＫＡＡＴⅡＰｌｕｓ ＩＡＢＰ（４０ｍｌ）。监 桡动脉和主动脉压力波形,持续监测左心功能,记录尿量,观察末梢循环状况。结果：全组患ＩＡＢＰ辅助时间为（４８±３２）ｈ,早期生存率为７５．０％。所有患在应用ＩＡＢＰ后,桡动脉压力（基础收缩压）     

趋化因子BLC表达载体构建及在肿瘤细胞中的表达

目的 建立真核表达重组体pcDNA-BLC的稳定转染细胞株,为研究趋化因子BLC的抗肿瘤免疫作用机制奠定基础。方法 以小鼠脾脏组织总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR扩增BLC全长cDNA,并将扩增的cDNA片段插入pcDNA3．1( )真核表达质粒,构建重组质粒pcDNA-BLC,重组子经限制性内切酶酶切分析及测序鉴定后,用脂质体转染技术导入Colon26细胞,经G418筛选建立稳定转染细胞株。用免疫印迹法(Western Blot)鉴定转染细胞表达的蛋白质,证实BLC存在。用趋化实验证实转染细胞株表达的BLC有生物学活性。结果 真核表达重组体pcDNA-BLC构建成功,pcDNA-BLC稳定转染细胞株表达有生物学活性的BLC。结论 成功建立了BLC的稳定转染细胞株,为研究BLC的抗肿瘤免疫作用机制继而发展肿瘤疫苗奠定了基础。     

乐舒痰对小儿急性下呼吸道感染的祛痰作用

目的观察乐舒痰对小儿急性下呼吸道感染的祛痰效果以及量化咳嗽、峰流值(PEF)作为疗效观察指标的可行性.方法将106例急性下呼吸道感染的患儿随机分为治疗组55例和对照组51例,并设计了量化咳嗽和PEF等观察指标.结果两组患儿的综合疗效无明显差异(P＞0.05),但乐舒痰组患儿的咳嗽、肺部干性罗音及PEF恢复正常的时间明显短于对照组((P＜0.05).同时还显示,量化咳嗽和PEF能更早地反映上述统计学上的差异.结论①乐舒痰是一种安全有效的祛痰剂;②量化咳嗽和PEF是开展祛痰药物对小儿祛痰作用研究的两个客观而实用的指标.     

健康新生儿口腔正常微生物的早期定植研究

目的　观察新生儿口腔微生物的早期定植情况 ,确定健康新生儿口腔正常微生物群的组成以及新生儿口腔中的优势细菌。方法　对 2 2名健康新生儿口腔进行棉拭子取样 ,在需氧、兼性厌氧、厌氧条件下培养 ,培养均采用成品培养基和培养盒 ,培养结果作微生物的形态学及生化鉴定。结果　 90 .9%的刚出生健康新生儿口腔中无菌 ;4 5 .5 %的新生儿出生第 2天即可检出 Streptococcus salivarius(S.salivarius) ,2 7.3%可检出 Streptococ-cus mitis(S.mitis) ,到出生后第 2 8天这两种菌的检出率分别达 86 .4 %和 81.8% ;Candida albicans(C.albicans)在1月龄新生儿口腔中检出率为 2 2 .7% ;母乳喂养与人工喂养的新生儿口腔正常微生物群之间无明显差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论　在早期定植于健康新生儿口腔生态区的正常微生物中 ,S.salivarius和 S.mitis为其优势细菌 ,C.albi-cans为优势真菌。不同喂养方式对新生儿口腔优势菌群的组成和数量无明显影响。