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Nanosizing confers unique functions in materials such as graphene and quantum dots. Here, we present two nanoscale-covalent organic frameworks (nano-COFs) that exhibit exceptionally high activity for photocatalytic hydrogen production that results from their size and morphology. Compared to bulk analogues, the downsizing of COFs crystals using surfactants provides greatly improved water dispersibility and light-harvesting properties. One of these nano-COFs shows a hydrogen evolution rate of 392.0 mmol g −1 h −1 (33.3 μmol h −1 ), which is one of the highest mass-normalized rates reported for a COF or any other organic photocatalysts. A reverse concentration-dependent photocatalytic phenomenon is observed, whereby a higher photocatalytic activity is found at a lower catalyst concentration. These materials also show a molecule-like excitonic nature, as studied by photoluminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy, which is again a function of their nanoscale dimensions. This charts a new path to highly efficient organic photocatalysts for solar fuel production. Nanosizing covalent organic frameworks using surfactants provides greatly improved water dispersibility and light-harvesting properties, leading to dramatically enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. Here the authors observe a reverse concentration-dependent photocatalytic phenomeno, whereby a higher photocatalytic activity is found at a lower catalyst concentration.

Despite achieving universal health coverage (UHC), socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare utilization persist in China, particularly in outpatient care, due to limited financial protection. To address this gap, the Chinese government introduced an outpatient pooling scheme under the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI), aimed at reducing cost-sharing burdens. This study evaluates the policy’s impact on socioeconomic disparities in outpatient care utilization from 2011 to 2020, providing critical insights into the role of insurance reforms in promoting health equity. Leveraging nationally representative longitudinal data from five waves (2011–2020) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we employed a quasi-experimental design to assess outpatient care utilization across multiple dimensions: visit probability, facility type (hospitals vs. primary care), expenditures, and out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to mitigate selection bias, creating balanced cohorts between policy-implementing and non-implementing regions. Socioeconomic inequality was quantified using concentration indices (CI), and decomposition analyses were conducted to isolate the policy’s contribution to temporal changes in inequality. The outpatient pooling scheme significantly reduced pro-rich inequality in outpatient visits, with the CI decreasing from 0.1142 in 2011 to 0.0972 in 2020, and the policy contributing 4.14% to this decline. However, disparities in facility utilization widened: the CI for hospital visits increased from 0.0069 to 0.0431, while primary care visits shifted from 0.0064 to -0.1091, indicating growing pro-poor inequality in primary care use. Despite persistent pro-rich inequalities in expenditures and OOP payments, their CI values declined substantially, with the policy playing a key role in driving this equitable trend. Notably, the policy’s counteractive effects mitigated the worsening disparities in facility utilization over time. The outpatient pooling scheme effectively reduced pro-rich inequalities in outpatient care access and expenditures, demonstrating its potential to enhance financial protection for low-income populations. However, the widening gaps in facility utilization highlight the need for complementary interventions, such as improving primary care quality and optimizing resource allocation, to address systemic inequalities. These findings underscore the importance of integrating financial reforms with structural improvements to achieve equitable healthcare delivery in China and other low- and middle-income countries.

China’s healthcare system faces significant challenges in resource distribution, with urban tertiary hospitals receiving disproportionate allocations. This imbalance has led to a substantial bypassing of county-level hospitals by rural patients seeking care at centralized urban facilities. This study examines the spatiotemporal effects of resource allocation in county-level hospitals on patient flow distribution between county and urban tertiary hospitals. We analyzed hospital-level data from 2013 to 2019, encompassing 41 tertiary and 189 county hospitals in Shanxi Province. Spatial autocorrelation was assessed using Moran’s I, while Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression models were employed to examine the relationship between resource allocation (including physicians, beds, medical equipment, and hospital assets) and patient volumes at both hospital levels. Our analysis reveals a positive correlation between increased resource allocation in county hospitals and their patient volumes, coupled with a corresponding decrease in urban tertiary hospital utilization. Temporal analysis shows intensifying benefits for county hospitals and more pronounced adverse effects on tertiary hospitals over time. Spatial patterns indicate stronger positive impacts in northern and southern Shanxi, where tertiary hospitals are less concentrated. Conversely, in areas with dense tertiary hospital presence, increased county hospital resources paradoxically lead to higher service volumes at tertiary institutions. Strategic enhancement of county hospital resources can effectively redistribute patient flows and alleviate overcrowding in tertiary hospitals, particularly in regions with limited tertiary facilities. However, healthcare resource reallocation strategies must account for regional disparities to avoid unintended consequences, such as increased patient migration from county to urban tertiary hospitals. These findings underscore the importance of context-specific resource allocation policies in China’s multi-tiered healthcare system.

Synchronous monitoring electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) have received significant attention in brain science research for their provision of more information on neuro-loop interactions. There is a need for an integrated hybrid EEG-fNIRS patch to synchronously monitor surface EEG and deep brain fNIRS signals. Here, we developed a hybrid EEG-fNIRS patch capable of acquiring high-quality, co-located EEG and fNIRS signals. This patch is wearable and provides easy cognition and emotion detection, while reducing the spatial interference and signal crosstalk by integration, which leads to high spatial–temporal correspondence and signal quality. The modular design of the EEG-fNIRS acquisition unit and optimized mechanical design enables the patch to obtain EEG and fNIRS signals at the same location and eliminates spatial interference. The EEG pre-amplifier on the electrode side effectively improves the acquisition of weak EEG signals and significantly reduces input noise to 0.9 μVrms, amplitude distortion to less than 2%, and frequency distortion to less than 1%. Detrending, motion correction algorithms, and band-pass filtering were used to remove physiological noise, baseline drift, and motion artifacts from the fNIRS signal. A high fNIRS source switching frequency configuration above 100 Hz improves crosstalk suppression between fNIRS and EEG signals. The Stroop task was carried out to verify its performance; the patch can acquire event-related potentials and hemodynamic information associated with cognition in the prefrontal area.

Micro-electromechenical Systems (MEMS) gyroscope is widely used in many occasions to measure the angular speed of the moving objects and attracts the attentions of many research institutions all over the world. This kind of sensor possesses the advantages of high degree of integration, low cost and consumption of power. This paper first introduces the research development of silicon MEMS gyroscope since eighties of last century; the researches of many institutions such as Draper Laboratory and UC Berkeley are mentioned and different design principles, control methods and structures are presented. This review then presents the key theories and technologies of the sensor and some research results of them. In additional, some recent new applications of MEMS gyroscope are also been introduced in this paper such as wearable motion capture system and micro inertial measurement unit. Finally, according to the review, some views of silicon MEMS gyroscope and its future prospects are put forwarded.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves dysregulation of programmed cell death (PCD) pathways, such as apoptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis. Current therapeutic options are limited, prompting interest in multi-target regulators such as metabolites derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) botanical drugs. This systematic review critically evaluates recent studies on TCM-derived metabolites that modulate PCD in AD models. We identify key limitations: many metabolites are pan-assay interference metabolites (PAINS) with questionable pharmacological relevance; preclinical models inadequately recapitulate sporadic AD; and translational challenges persist in bioavailability and brain targeting. Future research requires orthogonal validation, improved delivery systems, and stage-specific strategies. This review provides a critical foundation for the development of TCM-inspired therapies for AD.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe clinical disease marked by dysregulated inflammation response and has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Macrophages, which play diverse roles in the inflammatory response, are becoming therapeutic targets in ALI. In this study we investigated the effects of dehydrocostus lactone (DHL), a natural sesquiterpene, on macrophage activation and LPS-induced ALI. The macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and primary lung macrophages were incubated with DHL (0, 3, 5, 10 and 30 μmol/L) for 0.5 h and then challenged with LPS (100 ng/mL) for up to 8 hours. C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) to induce acute lung injury (ALI) and then treated with a range of DHL doses intraperitoneally (5 to 20 mg/kg). The results showed that DHL inhibited LPS-induced production of proinflammatory mediators such as iNOS, NO, and cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-12 p35 by suppressing the activity of NF-κB via p38 MAPK/MK2 and Akt signaling pathway in macrophages. The in vivo results revealed that DHL significantly attenuated LPS-induced pathological injury and reduced cytokines expression in the lung. NF-κB, p38 MAPK/MK2 and Akt signaling molecules were also involved in the anti-inflammatory effect. Collectively, our findings suggested that DHL is a promising agent for alleviating LPS-induced ALI.

Medium-deep borehole heat exchanger (BHE) systems represent an emerging form of ground source heat pump technology. Their heat transfer process is significantly influenced by geothermal gradient and soil stratification, typically simulated using segmented finite line source (SFLS) models. However, this approach involves computationally intensive procedures that hinder practical engineering implementation. Building upon an SFLS model adapted for complex geological conditions, this study proposes a comprehensive simplified algorithm: (1) For soil stratification: A geothermally-weighted thermal conductivity method converts layered heterogeneous media into an equivalent homogeneous medium; (2) For geothermal gradient: A temperature correction method establishes fluid temperatures under geothermal gradient by superimposing correction terms onto uniform-temperature model results (g-function model). Validated through two engineering case studies, this integrated algorithm provides a straightforward technical tool for heat transfer calculations in BHE systems.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are typically synthesized using solvothermal conditions (>120 °C, >72 hours) in harmful organic solvents. Here we report a strategy to rapidly (<60 minutes) synthesize imine-linked COFs in aqueous acetic acid using sonochemistry and thus avoid most of the disadvantages of solvothermal methods. Using the sonochemical method, we synthesized to our knowledge previously unreported COFs. The crystallinity and porosity of these COFs is comparable to or better than those of the same materials made by established solvothermal routes. The sonochemical method even works in sustainable solvents, such as food-grade vinegar. The generality of the method is shown in the preparation of a 2D COF with pendant functionalization and of a COF with 3D connectivity. Finally, a COF synthesized sonochemically acts as an excellent photocatalyst for the sacrificial hydrogen evolution from water, showing a more sustained catalytic performance compared with that of its solvothermal analogue. The speed, ease and generality of this sonochemical method together with improved material quality makes the use of sound an enabling methodology for the rapid discovery of functional COFs.A sonochemical route rapidly synthesizes covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in aqueous solutions of acetic acid. This method has operational advantages compared with conventional solvothermal routes and yields COFs of higher crystallinity and porosity, and hence improved materials properties.

Conflicting evidence still exists regarding Vitamin B12’s involvement in coronary heart disease (CHD). There is no precedent for previous studies to include both Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, as well as Vitamin E in the consideration of CHD associating factors. Our data derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which covers the period 2003–2020. 33,640 samples were included in this cross-sectional study. We used an unadjusted covariates and three adjusted covariates. The intake percentage of Vitamins E, B6, and B12 was categorized into continuous and categorical variables using multivariate logistic regression analysis and subgroup logistic regression. To estimate these trends, we applied the percentage categories of Vitamin E, B6, and B12 intake as continuous variables. We recorded Vitamin E, B6, B12, age, race, BMI, gender, household annual income, education level, hypertension status, diabetes status, smoking status, and drinking status for included samples. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that Vitamin E and B6 were negatively associated with CHD and exerted protective effects, while Vitamin B12 had little correlation with CHD. Based on the quartiles of Vitamin E and Vitamin B6 percentage, the strongest protective effect was observed in the third quartile (Q3). Analyses of subgroups showed the effects of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E on CHD were more noticeable in women, the participant’s BMI was in the 25–30 range, and participants who smoked. We identified the possible protective effect of Vitamin E and Vitamin B6 against CHD, especially in female, obese, and smoking populations, whereas income and education were also viewed as influencing factors that could be taken into account.