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Aims: Insulin resistance (IR) is an important risk factor for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, and our previous findings have demonstrated that visceral fat area to skeletal muscle mass ratio (VSR) is significantly and positively associated with the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between VSR and multiorgan IR, provide a new approach to improve body composition, and set the basis for VSR to increase the incidence of cardiometabolic diseases. Materials and Methods: The study included 398 patients who underwent anthropometric and biochemical measurements, and body composition assessment. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between VSR and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) as well as multiorgan IR, including homeostasis model assessment adiponectin (HOMA‐AD), adipose tissue insulin resistance (ADIPO‐IR), and hepatic insulin sensitivity (HISI). The new model that incorporated into the present study is made up of easily measured biochemical indicators and is used to predict IR. Logistic regression was used to analyze the odds ratio (OR) of VSR on the risk of multiorgan IR. The predictive value of VSR for HOMA‐IR and new model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: VSR was significantly associated with HOMA‐IR, HOMA‐AD, ADIPO‐IR, 1/HISI, and new model (p < 0.001). With the increase of VSR, the OR increased significantly for HOMA‐IR and new model (p < 0.001). Then, multiorgan IR indicators were quantified, compared to the lowest quartile group, and increased VSR exacerbated the risk of IR in the highest quartile (ptrend < 0.001). The area under the curve for predicting IR using VSR for HOMA‐IR and new model was 0.88 for men, 0.85 for women and 0.73 for men, 0.76 for women, respectively. Conclusions: There was significant correlation between VSR and multiorgan IR, and the risk of multiorgan IR increased with increasing VSR. Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR2100044305. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how firms sought to effectively match their internal competence with external resources from the supply chain network to improve operational resilience (OR) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Drawing upon matching theory, this study provides an internal–external matching perspective based on flexibility–stability features of OR to explain the operational mechanisms underlying the different matchings between internal flexibility (i.e., product diversity)/stability (i.e., operational efficiency) and external flexibility (i.e., structural holes)/stability (i.e., network centrality). We find that more heterogeneous matchings between internal (external) flexibility and external (internal) stability have a complementary effect that enhances OR, whereas more homogeneous matchings between internal flexibility (or stability) and external flexibility (or stability) have a substitutive effect that reduces OR. This study provides valuable contributions to research focusing on the supply chain, organizational resilience, and operations management. Highlights: Firms need to match their internal competence with supply chain network resources in the correct way to improve their operational resilience in the COVID‐19 pandemic.Matchings between internal flexibility and external stability, and between internal stability and external flexibility can enhance firms' operational resilience in the COVID‐19 pandemic.Firms with high product diversity and occupying the central position in the supply chain network, and with high operational efficiency and more structural holes in the supply chain network can better resist the shock of the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Visceral adiposity and skeletal muscle loss may be positively correlated with cardiometabolic outcomes. This study aimed to explore the associations between the visceral fat area to skeletal muscle mass ratio (VSR) and the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in a Chinese natural population. Materials and Methods: A total of 5158 participants were included in this study. Body composition, anthropometrical, and biochemical measurements were performed. Body composition was assessed via the direct segmental multi‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis method. The associations between VSR and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia were analysed. Results: With the increase of VSR by one quartile, the odds ratio (OR) increased significantly for all five cardiometabolic diseases in both genders (ptrend < 0.001). With regard to the highest versus the lowest quartile of VSR, the ORs for cardiometabolic diseases were significantly higher in women than in men. Restricted cubic splines showed that there were significant non‐linear relationships between VSR and the risk of MAFLD, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension in both genders (p for non‐linearity <0.05). The risk was relatively flat until VSR reached 3.078 cm2/kg in men and 4.750 cm2/kg in women and started to increase rapidly afterwards. In men, however, the risk slowed down after the VSR value reached around 4 cm2/kg. Conclusions: VSR was positively associated with cardiometabolic diseases regardless of gender. As VSR increased, the risk of cardiometabolic diseases was significantly higher in women than in men. Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn (Registration number: ChiCTR2100044305). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longstanding challenge in fabricating high‐dielectric polymer composite is how to rationalize structure design to improve dielectric constant while minimizing dielectric loss. In this work, we provide a critical material design concept for high‐performance flexible dielectric nanocomposite (PCGA) based on backfilling polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix into the pre‐constructed chitosan‐reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogel with 3D conductive network. Herein, the 3D conductive network enables PCGA to achieve the percolation threshold with a small amount of rGO, which improving the dielectric constant. Simultaneously, the chitosan insulating barrier layer prevents the generation of leakage current between conductive fillers interfaces, which suppressing the losses of the PCGA, thus ensuring the balance between dielectric constant and loss. The results demonstrated that the PCGA (0.06 g rGO) exhibited a dielectric constant as high as 297.3 and a loss tangent as low as 1.91. Subsequently, the as‐obtained PCGA composites as a dielectric interlayer was employed for preparing capacitive sensor. The results demonstrated that the sensor possesses a desirable integration of high sensitivity (5.8% kPa−1 in the pressure range 0–7 kPa) and wide work range (0–140 kPa) due to the synergistic effect of the excellent mechanical performance along with high‐dielectric constant and suppressed loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, many interesting biomaterials with unforeseen properties have attracted considerable attention due to its unique micro‐nano structure. In this work, a bio‐inspired design was proposed to develop the epoxidized natural rubber latex (ENRL)@polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) three‐dimensional (3D) porous material. Herein, the obtained epoxidized natural rubber/polyvinyl alcohol (ENR@PVA) exhibits a "grapevine‐grape" like networks with robust PVA as "grapevine" and soft latex particles as "grape". Owing to the synergistic effect of those hierarchical micro‐nano structures and abundant hydrophilic oxygen‐containing groups, the ENR@PVA exhibits superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic functionality. Accordingly, benefiting from the superwettability features, the ENR@PVA shows superior separation (oil rejections are all above 99.5%) and anti‐fouling performances. More importantly, the integration of excellent flexibility and mechanical robustness guarantees a superior mechanical stability for sustainable reusability and oil recovery in the practical applications. Therefore, the research findings might promote the development of the 3D porous material and its future application for high performance oily wastewater remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of isosorbide from cellulose by a catalytic one‐pot method under hydrothermal conditions is studied. Phosphate tantalum (TaOPO4) was prepared and used as support for the preparation of Ni/TaOPO4 via impregnation of Ni. The catalyst was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, H2‐TPR, NH3‐TPD, pyridine FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analysis. Results showed that the 5Ni/TaOPO4 (5 % loading of Ni) with a Brønsted/Lewis site (B/L) ratio of 0.153 showed the best catalytic performance and the total yields of sorbitol and isosorbide from cellulose reached 43 % under the conditions of 200 °C and 3 MPa H2 for 24 h. Both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites played crucial roles for the decomposition and dehydration reactions. The synergy of surface acid sites and reduction sites enhanced the cascade dehydration and hydrogenation reactions during the conversion of cellulose to isosorbide. This research is expected to broach a solution for the development of novel solid acid catalysts for the conversion of sugars into platform compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of acrolein by the dehydration of glycerin (GTA) was compared with formaldehyde/acetaldehyde aldolization (FAA) and propylene oxidation (PO) by using the Aspen Plus 11.1 process design software. The fixed assets cost of the FAA, PO, and GTA process were estimated as 61.95, 41.73, and 39.09 million CNY, respectively, for a 40‐kt a−1 plant, and the total manufacturing costs were estimated as 10637, 8873, and 8974 CNY t−1, respectively. The PO process is the most economical under current market and technology conditions. Nevertheless, the renewable process outshone traditional processes if the propylene price was greater than or equal to 8200 CNY t−1 at a glycerin price of 3800 CNY t−1, as long as the yield of acrolein from GTA was greater than or equal to 93 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of BT–cCNT/PDMS and BT–aCNT/PDMS composites were developed by incorporating barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles together with carboxylic functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cCNT) and amino functionalization multiwalled carbon nanotubes (aCNT) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Benefitting from the abundant active groups, CNTs and BTs can be in situ "bridged" by hydrogen bond in all of the BT–cCNT/PDMS and BT–aCNT/PDMS composites. Here, we studied the effect of hydrogen bonds (type and amount) between BTs and CNTs at the interface and dielectric properties of the composites. The results indicated that the BT–cCNT/PDMS composite exhibited higher dielectric constant and comparable dielectric loss than the BT–aCNT/PDMS composite, especially when weightCNT < 1 wt%. Also, the dielectric properties of BT–cCNT/PDMS composite show stronger temperature dependence than BT–aCNT/PDMS composite. Finally, the tailorable performance of the polymer‐based dielectric composites can be obtained by regulating the interface with the help of hydrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient transfer has always been a difficult problem, usually requiring multiple caregivers to work together, which is time consuming and can easily cause secondary injuries to the patient. In addition, with the crisis of COVID-19, the issue of patient transfer is even more critical, as caregivers are at a high risk of infection, causing significant damage to healthcare resources. In this paper, a patient transfer assist system named E-pat-plus (Easy Patient Transfer plus) has been proposed; it can assist caregivers in transferring patients, reduce direct contact between them, and avoid secondary injuries. In the mechanical structure of this apparatus, a novel five-gear assembly module and a synchronous belt pulley set are proposed; they are the key points to the basic functional realization of the device and can reduce the cost of the prototype. Furthermore, a fuzzy (proportion-integration-differentiation) PID-based cross-coupling control strategy is applied to the apparatus to ensure the stability and safety of the operation. Finally, some preliminary experiments, including current experiments and error experiments, are carried out to verify the reliability of the device and lay the foundation for clinical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐cost Fe2O3 modified activated carbon catalysts have been prepared by a facile incipient‐wetness impregnation method and used for the low‐temperature simultaneous catalytic reduction of SO2 and NO by CO. The effect of CO, NO, and SO2 was studied experimentally by transient response method. Removal efficiencies of 95 % for NO and 100 % for SO2 were obtained, respectively, for the optimum catalyst, in which the amount of Fe2O3 was 10 wt%. It was found that the catalyst was robust enough under SO2 and NO circumstances; moreover, the prevulcanization of Fe atoms was found to be essential for high efficiency. The reaction mechanism of the simultaneous desulphurization and denitrification reactions of Fe2O3/AC was proposed to follow both redox and COS mechanisms. These results make activated carbon supported Fe2O3 highly promising for the simultaneous abatement of SO2 and NO emissions generated during the combustion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lower limb rehabilitation robot is an application of robotic technology for stroke people with lower limb disabilities. A new applicable and effective sitting/lying lower limb rehabilitation robot (LLR-Ro) is proposed, which has the mechanical limit protection, the electrical limit protection, and the software protection to prevent the patient from the secondary damage. Meanwhile, as a new type of the rehabilitation robots, its hip joint rotation ranges are different in the patient sitting training posture and lying training posture. The mechanical leg of the robot has a variable workspace to work in both training postures. So, if the traditional mechanical limit and the electrical limit cannot be used in the hip joint mechanism design, a follow-up limit is first proposed to improve the compatibility of human-machine motion. Besides, to eliminate the accident interaction force between the patient and LLR-Ro in the process of the passive training, an amendment impedance control strategy based on the position control is proposed to improve the compliance of the LLR-Ro. A simulation experiment and an experiment with a participant show that the passive training of LLR-Ro has compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The high‐performance flexible pressure sensors demonstrate significant potential in wearable electronics, robotics, human‐machine interfaces, and healthcare. However, the preparation of bionic flexible sensors with high sensitivity and low detection limit is still a big challenge. This study proposes a bionic flexible sensor based on the hierarchical microstructure of eggshells, which improves sensing performance and reduces detection limits by constructing a bionic body with good microstructure. The developed sensor incorporates hierarchical microstructures and interlocked architectures, which complement each other to improve the sensor's sensing performance. The enhancement effect of microstructure on sensor sensitivity was studied by comparative experiments. Experimental results show that the eggshell‐inspired bionic flexible sensor in this study has a high sensitivity of 15.01 kPa−1 and a low detection limit (~4 Pa). In addition, the bionic sensor has a rapid response time (~180 ms) and excellent durability (~1000 cycles), making it a reliable platform for human body detection, dynamic load, and sound monitoring. This study provides great potential for innovative applications of bionic flexible sensors in electronic skin and sound monitoring. Hierarchical and interlocked microstructure enables the low detection limit. A wide range of applications in weak physiological signals. Effectively detect and distinguish different sounds. A sustainable strategy to convert wasted resources into functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]