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BackgroundPerfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large group of emerging pollutants, are ubiquitous in the ecological environment. Their multiple organ toxic effects on human body are reported. Understanding the exposure level of PFAS in cord serum and associated influencing factors can provide scientific evidence for studying maternal and newborn health effects and risk regulation.ObjectiveTo explore the exposure levels of PFAS in cord serum and potential impact factors.MethodsThis study was based on the maternal and infant database and the cord serum sample bank of the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) established in 2009. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, living environment, and lifestyle of mothers during pregnancy. A total of 1097 cord serum samples were measured utilizing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify influencing factors related to PFAS exposure level in cord serum.ResultsA total of 38 types of PFAS were detected in the cord serum samples, including 20 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA), 14 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA), and 4 other types of PFAS. The detection rates of 14 PFAS compounds were above 50%. The detection rates of perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) were in the range of 99.18%-100.00%. The median concentrations of PFOA and 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (6∶2CI-PFESA) were higher than those of the other compounds, which were 3.76 µg·L−1 and 2.61 µg·L−1, respectively. The correlation coefficients among cord serum PFAS were in the wide range of 0.0911-0.8429 (P < 0.05). The associations between PFHxS and perfluoro-1-heptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) (r=0.8429, P < 0.05), PFOS and PFHpS (r=0.7012, P < 0.05), and PFUdA and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) (r=0.7875, P < 0.05) were positive. The proportions of PFCA and PFSA in the cord serum samples were 60.1% and 38.4%, respectively. PFOA and 6∶2 Cl-PFESA were the predominant compounds in the cord serum samples, whose proportions were 37.8% and 19.3%, respectively. The concentrations of specific types of cord serum PFAS had varied associations with the following demographic variables of pregnant women: age, parity, education level, gestational age, and occupation. The multiple linear regression analysis found that the concentrations of 8 PFAS (PFHxS, PFHpS, PFNA, PFOS, PFDA, PFUdA, PFDoA, and 6∶2 CI-PFESA) in umbilical cord serum were lower in pregnant women aged 25 years and older than in those under the age of 25 years; compared to pregnant women with education levels at or below junior middle school, those with education levels at or above high school had lower concentrations of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); the concentration of PFHpA in cord serum was negatively correlated with household annual income; multiparous women had higher concentrations of PFNA, PFUdA, and PFDoA than primiparous women; compared to mothers engaged in manual labor, the concentration of perfluoro-1-butanesulfonic acid (PFBS) in umbilical cord serum was lower in mothers engaged in mental labor, while the concentrations of PFBS and PFOA were lower and the concentrations of perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) and 8∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (8∶2CI-PFESA) were higher in mothers of other occupational types; the concentrations of umbilical cord serum PFOA, PFOS, PFUdA, and PFDoA were positively correlated with the gestational age of pregnant women, while N-methylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamido acetic acid (N-MeFOSAA) was negatively correlated with the gestational age of pregnant women; PFTrDA was negatively correlated with the birth weight of newborns; compared with those with insufficient gestational weight gain, those with adequate gestational weight gain had lower PFDoA, while those with excess gestational weight gain had higher N-MeFOSAA.ConclusionPFAS compounds exposure is common in the mothers and infants in the study area. PFOA and 6∶2 CI-PFESA are the two main compounds in cord serum. Cord serum PFAS are associated with several demographic characteristics of the pregnant women. Future research needs to pay more attention to PFAS alternatives and other emerging contaminants.

In arid regions, the optimal utilization of river channels to collect rainwater resources can effectively alleviate the problem of water scarcity. This paper employs visual MODFLOW software to simulate the infiltration volume of rainwater under different schemes, with the objective of identifying the optimal infiltration volume. The results indicate that the infiltration volume of rainwater is 0.6, 79.7, 36.5, 62, and 10,000 m3 under different design schemes. COMSOL software is employed to simulate the infiltration situation of rainwater under different schemes, and the scheme with the most favourable infiltration effect is identified. The simulation results indicate that scenarios 2, 4, and 5 demonstrate superior early-stage infiltration performance. Ultimately, the optimal infiltration scheme is selected by integrating the infiltration volume, infiltration effect, construction, economic, and ecological factors to achieve the objective of enhancing rainwater harvesting and utilization. This study offers effective and reasonable measures for addressing the challenge of water resources management in arid regions. It provides suitable reference schemes for river channel rainwater storage projects and offers innovative approaches to rainwater resource utilization, thereby contributing to the alleviation of water scarcity in arid areas.

Background: Pesticides may impact children’s neurodevelopment. As children’s metabolic function and neural plasticity change throughout their growth and development, the effects of pesticide exposure may also vary. Objectives: We aimed to identify the trajectories of combined pesticide exposure during childhood, and to examine the associations of the exposure trajectories with children’s neurobehavior at the age of 10. Methods: We involved repeated measurements of three pesticide metabolites [Pentachlorophenol (PCP), 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), and Carbofuran phenol (CFP)], in urine samples collected from children in a cohort study at ages 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 years. The group-based multi-trajectory model (GBMT) and latent class analysis (LCA) were separately utilized to describe the distinct trajectories and patterns of pesticide mixture exposure during childhood. Meanwhile, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) list were applied to assess behavioral disorders in children. The associations between exposure trajectories and behavioral problem scores were then examined. Results: The GBMT model delineated three distinct trajectories of combined pesticide exposure among children: consistently low, higher levels in early childhood transitioning to lower levels during pre-school age, and lower levels in early childhood followed by higher levels in the middle childhood. The LCA model identified three similar longitudinal exposure patterns. Further, the children in the second trajectory group identified by GBMT, characterized by higher early childhood exposure levels, exhibited significantly elevated hyperactivity/inattention scores of the SDQ compared to the other two groups (β = 0.46, 95 %CI: 0.11, 0.81; β = 0.44, 95 %CI: 0.02, 0.86). Conclusions: Our study revealed that exposure to pesticides during early childhood (especially before the age of two), rather than other age periods, was linked to hyperactivity/inattention problems in children aged 10 years. We also provided a novel perspective on characterizing the fluctuation in repeated measurements of multiple environmental chemicals and identifying the potential critical windows.

Background: Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) were reported to be endocrine disruptors and cause adverse health effects in human. However, epidemiological evidence about the effect of prenatal NNIs exposure on birth outcome and hormones remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of prenatal NNIs exposure on neonatal birth size and endocrine hormones, and assess the potential mediating role of hormones. Methods: The study included 860 mother–child pairs from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study. 12 parent NNIs (p-NNIs) and 6 metabolites of NNIs (m-NNIs) were measured in maternal urine samples collected on their delivery days, and 5 thyroid hormones and 2 sex hormones were analyzed in cord serum. The concentrations of p-NNIs and its specific metabolite(s) were summed to characterize the role of each class of NNIs. Generalized linear model and weighted quantile sum regression were used to examine the impact of prenatal NNIs exposure on birth size and endocrine hormones, and potential mediating roles of hormones were further explored using mediation analysis. Results: Higher detection frequencies of m-NNIs were observed than those in p-NNIs. A decrease in neonatal head circumference for gestation age z-score was associated with a 10-fold increase in 5-OH-IMI (β = -0.15, 95 %CI: −0.26, −0.03), ∑DIN (β = -0.22, 95 %CI: −0.40, −0.03), ∑IMI (β = -0.20, 95 %CI: −0.35, −0.06) and ∑NNIs (β = -0.23, 95 %CI: −0.42, −0.04). ∑IMI and ∑DIN were the major contributors to the significantly negative mixture effect and no sex-specific effect was observed. Negative associations were observed between ∑DIN and TT3 (β = -0.013, 95 %CI: −0.025, −0.002), ∑IMI and T (β = -0.035, 95 %CI: −0.065, −0.004), respectively. Furthermore, TT3 and T demonstrated 6.7 % and 6.1 % mediating effects on the negative association of prenatal ∑DIN and ∑IMI exposure with head circumference. Conclusions: Our findings suggested the potential endocrine disruptive properties of NNIs and their impacts on head circumference. Endocrine hormones may partly mediate these associations.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been suspected as potential environmental obesogens, with several mechanisms being proposed, including the role of metabolomics. However, current epidemiological studies have yielded inconclusive findings. Objectives: We aimed to estimate the associations of prenatal exposure to PFAS with offspring adiposity measures, and to explore the potential metabolic pathways underlying these associations. Methods: A total of 464 mother–child pairs from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) were included in this study. Cord serum concentrations of 12 PFAS and urine metabolite profiles at age 10 were obtained from the SMBCS database. Adiposity-related anthropometric measurements and body composition estimates of children aged 10 were used to assess offspring obesity. Multiple linear regression models and quantile g-computation were conducted to estimate the associations of prenatal exposure to individual and multiple PFAS with obesity at 10 years old. Metabolomics analysis was performed to characterize the biological pathways associated with PFAS exposure or obesity, subsequently identifying the overlapping metabolic pathways underlying the PFAS-obesity relationship. Results: Prenatal exposure to several PFAS was significantly associated with elevated obesity-related markers in 10-year-old children. After stratification by sex, the effects were more pronounced in girls. Quantile g-computation results indicated that exposure to higher levels of PFAS mixtures during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of obesity in girls, with PFNA emerging as the predominant driving compound. Untargeted metabolomics results showed that several amino acid metabolic pathways were characterized as the overlapping pathways underlying the above associations. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggested the potential obesogenic effects of prenatal exposure to PFAS and offered insight into the possible metabolic mechanisms underlying PFAS-related offspring obesity.

The fabric‐based pneumatic exosuit is now a hot research topic because it is lighter and softer than traditional exoskeletons. Existing research focuses more on the mechanical properties of the exosuit (e.g., torque and speed), but less on its wearability (e.g., appearance and comfort). This work presents a new design concept for fabric‐based pneumatic exosuits: volume transfer, which means transferring the volume of pneumatic actuators beyond the garment's profile to the inside. This allows for a concealed appearance and a larger stress area while maintaining adequate torques. In order to verify this concept, a fabric‐based pneumatic exosuit is developed for knee extension assistance. Its profile is only 26 mm and its stress area wraps around almost half of the leg. A mathematical model and simulation is used to determine the parameters of the exosuit, avoiding multiple iterations of the prototype. Experiment results show that the exosuit can generate a torque of 7.6 Nm at a pressure of 90 kPa and produce a significant reduction in the electromyography activity of the knee extensor muscles. It is believed that volume transfer can be utilized prevalently in future fabric‐based pneumatic exosuit designs to achieve a significant improvement in wearability.

Abstract It is an increasingly mature application solution that triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) supplies power to electronic devices through its power management system (PMS). However, the previous PMS is able to manage a limited voltage magnitude and the energy storage elements are limited to capacitors. This work proposes an ultrahigh voltage PMS (UV‐PMS) to realize the charging of commercial lithium cells (LCs) by TENG. The design of UV‐PMS enables energy management of TENGs with ultrahigh open‐circuit voltages up to 3500 V and boosts the peak charging current from 30.9 µA to 2.77 mA, an increase of 89.64 times. With the introduction of UV‐PMS, the effective charging capacity of LC charged by a TENG at a working frequency of 1.5 Hz for 1 h comes to 429.7 µAh, making a 75.3 times enhancement compared to charging by TENG directly. The maximum charging power comes to 1.56 mW. The energy storage efficiency is above 97% and the overall charge efficiency can be maintained at 81.2%. This work provides a reliable strategy for TENG to store energy in LC, and has promising applications in energy storage, LC's life, and self‐powered systems.

Abstract Stable solid electrolytes are essential to high-safety and high-energy-density lithium batteries, especially for applications with high-voltage cathodes. In such conditions, solid electrolytes may experience severe oxidation, decomposition, and deactivation during charging at high voltages, leading to inadequate cycling performance and even cell failure. Here, we address the high-voltage limitation of halide solid electrolytes by introducing local lattice distortion to confine the distribution of Cl−, which effectively curbs kinetics of their oxidation. The confinement is realized by substituting In with multiple elements in Li3InCl6 to give a high-entropy Li2.75Y0.16Er0.16Yb0.16In0.25Zr0.25Cl6. Meanwhile, the lattice distortion promotes longer Li-Cl bonds, facilitating favorable activation of Li+. Our results show that this high-entropy halide electrolyte boosts the cycle stability of all-solid-state battery by 250% improvement over 500 cycles. In particular, the cell provides a higher discharge capacity of 185 mAh g−1 by increasing the charge cut-off voltage to 4.6 V at a small current rate of 0.2 C, which is more challenging to electrolytes|cathode stability. These findings deepen our understanding of high-entropy materials, advancing their use in energy-related applications.

Background: Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) influences neurodevelopment. Thyroid homeostasis disruption is thought to be a possible underlying mechanism. However, current epidemiological evidence remains inconclusive. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of prenatal PFAS exposure on the intelligence quotient (IQ) of school-aged children and assess the potential mediating role of fetal thyroid function. Methods: The study included 327 7-year-old children from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS). Cord serum samples were analyzed for 12 PFAS concentrations and 5 thyroid hormone (TH) levels. IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Chinese Revised (WISC-CR). Generalized linear models (GLM) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) were used to evaluate the individual and combined effects of prenatal PFAS exposure on IQ. Additionally, the impact on fetal thyroid function was examined using a GLM, and a mediation analysis was conducted to explore the potential mediating roles of this function. Results: The molar sum concentration of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (ΣPFCA) in cord serum was significantly negatively associated with the performance IQ (PIQ) of 7-year-old children (β = -6.21, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: −12.21, −0.21), with more pronounced associations observed among girls (β = -9.57, 95 % CI: −18.33, −0.81) than in boys. Negative, albeit non-significant, cumulative effects were noted when considering PFAS mixture exposure. Prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid was positively associated with the total thyroxine/triiodothyronine ratio. However, no evidence supported the mediating role of thyroid function in the link between PFAS exposure and IQ. Conclusions: Increased prenatal exposure to PFASs negatively affected the IQ of school-aged children, whereas fetal thyroid function did not serve as a mediator in this relationship.

Summary: Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have prospered a rechargeable world, predominantly relying on various metal oxide cathode materials for their abilities to reversibly de-/intercalate lithium-ion, while also serving as lithium sources for batteries. Despite the success of metal oxide, issues including low energy density have raised doubts about their suitability for next-generation lithium batteries. This has sparked interest in metal chlorides, a neglected cathode material family. Metal chlorides show promise with factors like energy density, diffusion coefficient, and compressibility. Unfortunately, challenges like high solubility hamper their utilization. In this review, we highlight the opportunities for metal chlorides in the post-lithium-ion era. Subsequently, we summarize their dissolution challenges. Furthermore, we discuss recent advancements, encompassing liquid-state electrolyte engineering, solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) cooperation, and LiCl-based cathodes. Finally, we provide an outlook on future research directions of metal chlorides, emphasizing electrode fabrication, electrolyte design, the application of SSEs, and the exploration of conversion reactions.

BackgroundParabens, a widely used class of preservatives, are suspected to be potential obesogens as emerging endocrine disrupting chemicals with reproductive and developmental toxicity. ObjectiveTo analyze five urinary parabens (PBs) and estimate the associations of exposure to PBs with adiposity measures in 10-year-old school-age children. MethodsA total of 471 school-age children aged 10 years from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect socio-demographic information, physical activity, and dietary intake. Weight, height, and waist circumference of children were measured, and age- and sex-adjusted body mass index (BMI-Z score) was calculated. Spot urine samples were collected during the follow-up visits. Urinary concentrations of five PBs including methyl-paraben (MeP), ethyl-paraben (EtP), propyl-paraben (PrP), butyl-paraben (BuP), and benzyl-paraben (BzP) were detected by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Generalized linear models (GLMs) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to estimate associations of individual/overall urinary PBs concentrations with BMI Z-score and waist circumference. ResultsThe positive rates of selected five urinary PBs were in the range from 78.98% to 98.94%. The urinary PBs concentrations (geometric mean) were in the range of 0.31-5.43 μg·L−1. The children's BMI Z-score and waist circumference (mean ± standard deviation) were (0.56±1.40) and (67.62±10.07) cm respectively. The GLMs results showed that the urinary BzP concentration was negatively associated with waist circumference (b=−0.08, 95%CI: −0.14, −0.02; P=0.01). In sex-stratified analysis, the urinary concentration of BzP was negatively associated with BMI-Z score (b=−0.59, 95%CI: −0.88, −0.30; P

Background: Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to low birth weight but higher childhood weight and obesity. However, little is known regarding the associations between PFAS exposure and dynamic body mass index (BMI) trajectories, particularly from birth through preadolescence. Objective: To evaluate the associations of cord serum PFAS concentrations with BMI trajectories from birth to age 10 years and longitudinal BMI in different periods. Methods: Based on 887 mother–child pairs in the longitudinal prospective birth cohort, we measured 12 PFAS congeners in cord serum and calculated BMI with anthropometric indicators at 9 follow-up time points from birth to age 10 years. The BMI trajectories were identified using group-based trajectory model (GBTM). To estimate the associations of cord serum PFAS levels with BMI trajectories and longitudinal changes in BMI, logistic regression models, linear mixed models, Bayesian kernel machine regression, and quantile-based g-computation models (QGC) were used. Results: The median concentrations of 10 PFAS congeners included in statistical analysis ranged from 0.047 to 3.623 μg/L. Two BMI trajectory classes were identified by GBTM, characterized by high group and low group. In logistic regression models, five PFAS congeners (PFBA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFDoDA) were associated with the higher probability of being in high BMI trajectory group (odds ratio, OR: 1.21 to 1.74, p

Background: Urinary para-nitrophenol (PNP), an exposure biomarker of ethyl parathion (EP) and methyl parathion (MP) pesticides, was still pervasively detected in the general population even after global restriction for years. And the concern whether there is an association of PNP level with child development of the nervous system is increasing. The current study aimed to evaluate the maternal urinary PNP concentrations during late pregnancy and the associations of PNP levels with cognitive and motor function of their children at the age of 2 years. Methods: 323 mother-child pairs from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study were included in the current study. Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure concentrations of PNP, the specific metabolite of EP and MP, in maternal urine samples during pregnancy. Developmental quotients (DQs) scores measured with Gesell Developmental Scales were employed to evaluate cognitive and motor function of children aged 2 years. Generalized linear models were performed to analyze the associations of PNP concentrations in pregnant women’s urine samples with cognitive and motor function of their children. Results: Maternal PNP was detected in all urine samples with a median of 4.11 μg/L and a range from 0.57 μg/L to 109.13 μg/L, respectively. Maternal urinary PNP concentrations showed a negative trend with DQ of motor area [regression coefficient (β) = − 1.35; 95 % confidence interval (95 %CI): − 2.37, − 0.33; P

The measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) is the preferred method for assessing the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Traditional HRV detection requires an electrocardiogram (ECG) or photoelectric sensor. In this paper, we propose a new method for HRV measurement using a rear smartphone camera as a sensor. Video signals from the fingertips of 24 college students were acquired using the rear camera of an HTC M8d smartphone. ECG signals were simultaneously recorded as reference. The video signals were converted into single-frame image sequences over time. Each image frame was transformed into point data through superpositioning of pixel color attribute values and averaging according to space. The point data were sorted by time to obtain a photoplethysmogram (PPG). Finally, the Hilbert transform was used to extract the pulse-to-pulse interval and the R-to-R interval for the PPG and ECG, respectively. Sixteen HRV parameters (mean HR, max HR, min HR, SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, pNN50, VLF, LF, HF, TP, LFnu, HFnu, LF/HF, SD1, and SD2) were analyzed. All 16 HRV parameters were highly correlated (all rs > 0.95, ps

Based on the coupling effect of contact electrification and electrostatic induction, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as an emerging energy technology can effectively harvest mechanical energy from the ambient environment. However, due to its inherent property of large impedance, the TENG shows high voltage, low current and limited output power, which cannot satisfy the stable power supply requirements of conventional electronics. As the interface unit between the TENG and load devices, the power management circuit can perform significant functions of voltage and impedance conversion for efficient energy supply and storage. Here, a review of the recent progress of switching power management for TENGs is introduced. Firstly, the fundamentals of the TENG are briefly introduced. Secondly, according to the switch types, the existing power management methods are summarized and divided into four categories: travel switch, voltage trigger switch, transistor switch of discrete components and integrated circuit switch. The switch structure and power management principle of each type are reviewed in detail. Finally, the advantages and drawbacks of various switching power management circuits for TENGs are systematically summarized, and the challenges and development of further research are prospected.