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Highly efficient RGO-Ag-TNTs ternary photocatalytic composites were synthesized. In this work, Ag+ ions were implanted into Ti foils to form Ag-doped TNTs, and then GO was reduced to RGO on the surface of Ag-doped TNTs. The properties of Ag-TNTs and RGO-Ag-TNTs were determined using XRD, FESEM, XPS and UV-Vis DRS. The photoelectrochemical performance of those composites was confirmed using current density, transient photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were also assessed using the decomposition of methyl orange. The Ag-TNTs sample with an implanted dose of 5 �� 1016 ions/cm2 exhibited the best photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance. The photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic capabilities of Ag-TNTs were improved further by the deposition of RGO. The outstanding properties of RGO-Ag-TNTs composites are ascribed to the synergism of modulated band structure of Ag-TNTs and the excellent electronic conductivity of the deposited RGO sheets.

Smart fabrics that can harvest ambient energy and provide diverse sensing functionality via triboelectric effects have evoked great interest for next-generation healthcare electronics. Herein, a novel borophene/ecoflex nanocomposite is developed as a promising triboelectric material with tailorability, durability, mechanical stability, and flexibility. The addition of borophene nanosheets enables the borophene/ecoflex nanocomposite to exhibit tunable surface triboelectricity investigated by Kelvin probe force microscopy. The borophene/ecoflex nanocomposite is further fabricated into a fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator (B-TENG) for mechanical energy harvesting, medical assistive system, and wound healing applications. The durability of B-TENG provides consistent output performance even after severe deformation treatments, such as folding, stretching, twisting, and washing procedures. Moreover, the B-TENG is integrated into a smart keyboard configuration combined with a robotic system to perform an upper-limb medical assistive interface. Furthermore, the B-TENG is also applied as an active gait phase sensing system for instantaneous lower-limb gait phase visualization. Most importantly, the B-TENG can be regarded as a self-powered in vitro electrical stimulation device to conduct continuous wound monitoring and therapy. The as-designed B-TENG not only demonstrates great potential for multifunctional self-powered healthcare sensors, but also for the promising advancements toward wearable medical assistive and therapeutic systems.

Organic light-emitting diode devices (OLEDs) industry is developing rapidly, however, OLEDs are very sensitive to oxygen and water, determining how to achieve better barrier effect is one of the main challenges of flexible OLEDs technology. Based on the filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) technology, a dense aluminum oxide (Al2O3) film with a thickness of about 100 nm was grown at room temperature for OLEDs encapsulation. The composition, structure, surface roughness, refractive index, light transmittance and other physical properties of the film were analyzed. The water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs) of the films were tested at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity (R.H.). Photoluminescence spectrum (PL) test was carried out to study the luminescence ability of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) before and after the deposition of Al2O3 film. The results show that the amorphous Al2O3 film with dense structure prepared by FCVA has high visible light transmittance. The Al2O3 film reduces the WVTRs of the polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) film by four orders of magnitude and maintains the light-emitting performance of the organic light-emitting layer. These results indicate that the FCVA technology is a feasible method for preparing barrier films of flexible OLEDs.

Rationale: Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is an inflammatory disease involving cerebrovascular and parenchymal, and solitary tumor-like mass lesion of PACNS (TLML-PACNS) is frequently misdiagnosed as neoplastic or other inflammatory diseases. However, seizure syndrome as a first manifestation of TLML-PACNS has rarely reported before. Patient concerns: Here, we report 2 cases of seizure syndrome, which was the first sign that presented prior to the diagnosis of TLML-PACNS by brain biopsy. Diagnoses: A mass lesion in the white and gray matters was detected by magnetic resonance imaging. The pathology for leptomeningeal lesion biopsy observed a transmural inflammation of the artery, with T lymphocyte infiltration. Patients were diagnosed with PACNS and epileptic seizure by biopsy and electroencephalogram. Interventions: Patients were treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy for 3 days, and subsequently oral prednisone was continued, in combination with immunosuppressant. Outcomes: Luckily, both two patients were improved after treatment, and only mild cognitive impairment remained without adverse event. Lessons: Patient with mass lesion in CNS, which is similar to tumor, presented with seizure, headache, or cerebrovascular events without any other risk factors for stroke or tumor, should be considered the feasible with the disease of TLML-PACNS.

This work examines the distributions of potentially toxic trace elements ( e.g. , Cu, Zn and As) and assesses the potential hazards of contaminants to environment. Trace elements are released from seawater desalination facility in the Penghu Islands, Taiwan. Temporal trends of trace element concentrations are investigated by comparing biannual concentrations for a 2-year period (2006–2007). Analytical results demonstrate that only As in seawater had an increasing trend after 2006. Further, a hazard index (HI) is applied to assess the potential hazard of contaminants to the environment. The HI (HI = C 95% /C allowable ) is defined as the ratio of the 95th percentile for a pollutant concentration (C 95% ) to an allowable concentration for each pollutant (C allowable ). The hazard index is used to establish a pollutant priority ranking and, then, serves as a useful screening tool for developing strategies for desalination pollution control. In this study, if the priority is to improve water quality, focus should be placed on Cu (HI = 0.32). On the other hand, if the priority is sediment quality, the As concentration (HI = 0.51) should be reduced. If the two HIs (seawater and sediment) are considered together, As (HI = 0.56) becomes the highest-ranking trace element, followed by Zn (HI = 0.54).