Structural Color Controllable Humidity Response Chiral Nematic Cellulose Nanocrystalline Film

Through self-assembly, environmentally friendly cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can form films with a photonic crystal structure whose pitch size can be adjusted in a variety of ways at the fabrication stage. Moreover, the films exhibit response performance to multiple stimuli, which offers extensive applications. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and CNCs combine to form a smaller chiral nematic domain that develops a solid film with a uniform spiral structure when slowly dried. By changing the composition of CNCs and PEG, flexible and flat photonic composite films with uniform structural colors from blue to red are prepared. Benefiting from the change in pitch size by insertion and detachment of water molecules into the chiral nematic structure, CNCs films and CNC-PEG composite films exhibit a reversible structural color change in response to different humidity. In addition, the chiral nematic films formed by the combination of glycerol and CNCs have a reversible stimulation response to hydrochloric acid gas. Similarly, adjusting the ratio of glycerol can control the pitch size of the films and, thus, the reflective color. In summary, the pitch size of the photonic crystal structure of the films can be precisely tuned by regulating the additive ratio, and the two prepared films have reversible responses to humidity and hydrochloric acid gas, respectively. The CNC-based films show promise in the application of colorimetric biosensors

Chrome-free tanning agent based on epoxy-modified dialdehyde starch towards sustainable leather making

As a biomass tanning agent, epoxy-modified dialdehyde starch can significantly improve the comprehensive properties of finished leather, and is expected to be a novel sustainable chrome-free tanning agent replace traditional tanning agent.</jats:p

Multi-Target and Multi-Session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients With Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness: A Controlled Study

Objectives: To investigate the effect of multi-session transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the prefrontal area, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and bilateral fronto-temporo-parietal cortices (FTPCs) in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOC) and to examine the altered cortical interconnections using non-linear electroencephalography (EEG).Methods: In this open-label controlled study, conventional treatments were implemented in both the control and tDCS groups, together with 80 tDCS sessions only in the tDCS group. The order of tDCS targets was as follows: prefrontal area, left FTPC, right FTPC, and left DLPFC. The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and non-linear EEG index were evaluated before and after the treatment. Additionally, the modified Glasgow Outcome Scale (mGOS) was used as a follow-up evaluation at 12 months after the disease onset.Results: The CRS-R improved significantly in both groups after the treatment. However, the CRS-R and mGOS were more significantly improved in the tDCS group than in the control group. Among the cross approximate entropy (C-ApEn) indices, the local CA-PA and CA-FA under the affected painful stimulus condition and all local and remote indices of the unaffected side under the unaffected painful stimulus condition were significantly higher in the tDCS group than in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that group and type were the main relevant factors based on mGOS improvement. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that group, CA-FA, and CU-MTU were the main relevant factors based on CRS-R improvement under the affected painful stimulus conditions, whereas only CU-MTU and CU-FPU were relevant under the unaffected painful stimulus condition.Conclusion: Multi-target and multi-session tDCS could improve the cortical connections between the primary sensorimotor and frontal cortices of the affected hemisphere and the prefrontal-parietal and temporo-parietal associative cortical networks of the unaffected hemisphere. Thus, this tDCS protocol may be used as an add-on treatment for prolonged DOC.</jats:p

A multi‐objective optimization model for RSU deployment in intelligent expressways based on traffic adaptability

Abstract The intelligent expressway exemplifies a prominent application of intelligent transportation systems. Roadside units (RSUs), strategically deployed alongside roadways, serve as pivotal infrastructure in facilitating interactions within intelligent expressways. A well‐planned RSU deployment strategy is crucial for enhancing service quality, it necessitates balancing performance improvements with significant financial costs due to the limited transmission range and high deployment expenses of RSUs. To tackle these challenges, an adaptive approach for RSU deployment is proposed, which takes into account economic feasibility, service requirements, and dynamic traffic demands. A traffic adaptability‐based RSU deployment (TARD) model, which integrates factors such as deployment cost, the effectiveness of information coverage, road network topology, and traffic flow characteristics have been devised. The TARD aims to minimize deployment expenses while maximizing the benefits of information coverage and alignment with road traffic demands. The Non‐dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA‐II) is employed to solve this optimization model. To validate its efficacy, simulations are conducted on the G2 expressway in Shandong Province, China, demonstrating the superior performance of the TARD compared to three other deployment strategies. Ablation experiments further underscore the critical role of tunnel deployments and comprehensive coverage along long sections in bolstering network connectivity and elevating service quality