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In this work, electron beam irradiation technology was used to increase the dielectric and energy storage performance of polypropylene (PP) films. Electron beam irradiation makes no difference on the crystal morphology but decreased the crystallinity and crystal size of PP. Besides, irradiation improved the thermal stability and polarity of PP. The irradiated PP films behaved much higher dielectric constant than pure PP films. Actually, the dielectric constant of the irradiated PP with 30 kGy was 3.98, while the dielectric constant of pristine PP was only 2.8. Furthermore, the irradiated PP films still kept low dielectric loss and AC conductivity. Weibull distribution test results proved electron beam irradiation improved the breakdown strength of PP films. The discharged energy storage of PP films increased from 1.3 J/[cm.sup.3] of pristine PP film to 3.6 J/[cm.sup.3] of irradiated PP with 30 kGy film. Moreover, the PP film irradiated with 30 kGy displayed an excellent charge-discharge efficiency of more than 95%. This research provides an easy and practical approach to investigate dielectric PP material for energy storage. KEYWORDS dielectric properties, electron beam irradiation, energy storage, polypropylene, 1 | INTRODUCTION Capacitors play critical roles in various fields such as aerospace, military, telecommunications, electronics, and power in the form of electronic components. [1] The characteristics of capacitors depend [...]

Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is characterized by progressive lower limb weakness and spasticity, with unknown genetic cause in many cases.To identify novel genetic causes of HSP.Phenotypic characterization, genetic screening, transcriptome sequencing, and peroneal nerve biopsy were conducted in a Chinese HSP family.We found a homoplasmic MT‐TV (mitochondrial tRNAVal) mutation, m.1661A > G, present in all affected individuals across four generations of a family with complex HSP. Fourth‐generation affected individuals displayed earlier onset, likely due to presumptive anticipation, and greater symptom severity, potentially caused by decreased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number. Upregulation of mitochondrial autophagy genes in these patients suggested that MT‐TV mutations could lead to reduced mtDNA copy number. Neural biopsies revealed ultrastructural abnormalities in myelin and mitochondria.The rare MT‐TV m.1661A > G mutation is associated with HSP. Variations in mtDNA copy number may play a causal role in differences among clinical phenotypes. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the breadth of scientific literature on micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), a standardized procedure for detecting MNPs is still lacking so far, leading to incomparable results between published studies. This work innovatively proposed the combination of machine learning with advanced optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy to develop an efficient and reliable detection framework for MNPs. Spectra of MPs and non-MPs were first collected and inputted to build a classification model, based on which four important wavenumbers were selected. A simplified support vector machine (SVM) model was subsequently developed using the selected four wavenumbers. Good predictive ability was evidenced by a high accuracy of 0.9133. The developed method can improve speed as well as the reliability of results, having a great potential for routine analysis of MNPs, ultimately leading to the standardization of detection methods.

The joint transmit and receive beamforming algorithm has been envisioned to optimise the target's signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio by co‐designing the transmit and receive beamforming vectors simultaneously. However, the traditional design concepts for this algorithm only consider the monostatic radar system, which may not work as well for the multistatic radar system. The authors present a novel transmit and receive beamforming algorithm for the multistatic radar system that includes a common transmitter and multiple receivers. The transmit beamforming vector can directly influence the output signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio of each radar subsystem. To ensure the balanced performance of the subsystems, the authors propose a weighted sum of the signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio optimisation problem to co‐design the transmit and receive beamforming. The proposed problem is non‐convex, and the authors construct an iterative algorithm to solve it using semi‐definite relaxation and slack‐variable replacement techniques. By using pre‐determined weights, the output performance of each radar subsystem can be effectively regulated. The simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm can ensure better output signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio for the entire multistatic radar system than the conventional joint transmit and receive beamforming algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of a hemoadsorption (HA) cartridge, HA-380, in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and decreased postoperative complications. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted between March 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022. Patients with ATAAD undergoing emergent total arch replacement surgery were divided into the control (CON) and HA groups on the basis of the addition of the HA-380 cartridge in the CPB circuit. Results: Overall, 121 patients met the eligibility criteria; 2 patients in each group who died within the first postoperative week were excluded. Further, 57 and 60 patients in the CON and HA groups, respectively, were included in the pooled analysis. The major perioperative data, baseline values of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein, and therapeutic interventions were similar in the two groups (all, p > 0.05). The serum IL-6 levels increased more rapidly in the CON group than those in the HA group postoperatively (205.73 ± 174.72 vs. 146.13 ± 64.15 pg/mL, p = 0.020). The HA group had a lower incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome than the CON group (25.4 vs. 44.6%, p = 0.032 and 18.3 vs. 35.1%, p = 0.040, respectively). Logistic regression analyses showed that HA may be a protective factor against postoperative AKI. The incidence of bleeding, delirium, and stroke as well as the lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stay in both groups were similar (all, p > 0.05). Conclusions: The use of HA-380 in the CPB circuit may attenuate inflammatory response and reduce major complications following ATAAD surgery. HA may be associated with lower rate of postoperative AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-based dielectric materials have been used in film capacitors due to their rapid charge–discharge rate, lightness, and low cost. Nevertheless, the energy storage properties of these dielectric films were limited by their weak polarization ability and low discharge energy density. Herein, the solution casting method was used to prepare all-organic crosslinked composite films using linear methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate (MG) as the matrix and ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) as the organic filler. The crosslinked MG networks can enhance the breakdown strength, restrain dielectric loss, and keep high discharge efficiency. What's more, the presence of PVDF can compensate for the low electrical displacement, improve the permittivity, and overcome the brittleness of the crosslinked films. The optimal all-organic crosslinked dielectric film exhibited an ultrahigh breakdown strength of 800 MV m−1 and a high efficiency of 77.4%. The maximum energy density of the composite film reached up to 12.1 J cm−3, which was nearly 120% higher than the energy density of 5.6 J cm−3 of the pure MG film. The enhancement in energy storage properties is ascribed to the synergistic effects of chemical crosslinking and hydrogen bonding. This study offers a feasible method for all-organic polymer films to fabricate energy storage equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]