Fast Recovery Time Research Articles

Technical Review of Lithotripsy Devices for Percutaneous Management of Biliary Stones: A Guide for Interventional Radiologists

AbstractThis review provides a comprehensive overview of intracorporeal lithotripsy techniques, focusing on laser and electrohydraulic lithotripsy, for the management of biliary tract stones. Biliary stones pose a significant health concern, affecting a notable percentage of the adult population, with potentially life-threatening complications. Minimally invasive approaches, such as lithotripsy, offer advantages over traditional, open surgical methods, including reduced risk of complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. Laser lithotripsy employs light emission and amplification to fragment stones, while electrohydraulic lithotripsy generates shockwaves from a bipolar probe tip for fragmentation. Solid-state lasers like holmium and thulium fiber lasers are considered the gold standard, with recent advancements enhancing their efficiency and safety profiles. Safety precautions and patient preparation are essential for successful outcomes. Future directions for platform utilization may focus on optimizing parameters, exploring new therapeutic indications, and refining fiber designs. Overall, intracorporeal lithotripsy techniques represent valuable options for biliary stone management, improving patient care and quality of life through a minimally invasive approach.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT: ENHANCING RESILIENCE AND EFFICIENCY IN U.S. MEDICAL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in healthcare supply chain management. This paper analyzes the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the resilience and efficiency of healthcare supply chain management within the U.S. medical supply distribution system. The study analyzes current implementations and emerging technologies to show how AI-enabled solutions are transforming routine supply chain operations in healthcare settings. Key findings show that healthcare organizations that implement AI-powered supply chain systems observe improvements in forecasting accuracy up to 87% for predictive analytics models that can anticipate supply chain disruption. The research also shows how AI systems enable 40% faster recovery times during crises versus traditional methods, while automated decision support systems reduce response times to supply chain disruptions by almost 65%. The study however points out critical challenges such as data privacy concerns, high implementation costs, and a requirement for strong governance frameworks. Strategically, the paper offers recommendations to healthcare organizations on how to better collaborate with technologists, healthcare providers, and policymakers to enhance innovation while maintaining ethical standards. With the evolution of healthcare supply chains, this research underlines the importance of AI in designing a more resilient and efficient medical supply distribution system that is commensurate with the need to address challenges of implementation and ethical considerations in ensuring equitable healthcare delivery. KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare Supply Chain, Medical Supply Distribution, Predictive Analytics, Supply Chain Resilience

2D MoS2 for detection of COVID-19 biomarkers – a first-principles study

Abstract This study investigates specific compounds in the breath that can indicate COVID-19 and lung cancer. Heptanal (C7H14O), acetone (C3H6O), propanol-1 (CH3CH2CH2OH), butanal (C3H7CHO), isopropanol (CH3CHOHCH3), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), 2,4-octadiene (C8H14), and ethyl butyrate (C6H12O2) were studied. We analyze how these compounds interact using two-dimensional (2D) 2H and SV-MoS2 monolayers through first-principles calculations. Van der Waals forces bind all VOCs on the MoS2 surface in vacuum and humid conditions. The decrease in the band gap of the MoS2-VOC complex in these environments enhances sensitivity. The complexes of 2,4-octadiene, propanol-1, and ethyl butanoate are more conductive because their work function is lower, and their V(z) shift is more significant. The adsorption isotherm demonstrates the potential for surface reuse in sensing applications. The study confirms high sensitivity (>85%) and fast recovery time (up to 70 femtoseconds) for detecting in visible (VL) and ultraviolet (UV) regions. Mainly, 2,4-octadiene exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity. In conclusion, the 2H and SV MoS2 monolayers effectively detect COVID-19 and lung cancer markers in vacuum and humid conditions.

A flexible wearable sensor based on the multiple interaction and synergistic effect of the hydrogel components with anti-freezing, low swelling for human motion detection and underwater communication.

To meet the increasing demand for wearable sensor in special environment such as low temperature or underwater, a multifunctional ionic conducting hydrogel (Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel) with anti-freezing and low swelling for human motion detection and underwater communication was prepared using gelatin (Gel), [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (SBMA), acrylamide (AAm), acrylic acid (AAc), and AlCl3. Due to reversible hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and metal coordination crosslinking between the polymer networks, the resulting Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogels present low swelling property in water and exhibit large tensile properties (~1050 %), high tensile strength (~250 kPa) and excellent fatigue resistance. In addition, the hydration capacity of SBMA and AlCl3 endows the Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel fantastic anti-freezing (-31.58 °C) and water retention properties. Moreover, the electrostatic interaction between SBMA and AlCl3 due to the ion hopping mechanism endows the hydrogel with excellent ionic conductivity (6.38 mS/cm). The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel sensors present good biocompatibility and provide a wide operating range (0 %-1050 %), fast response time (229 ms) and recovery time (248 ms), high sensitivity (GF = 1.61) and excellent stability for detecting large and small body movements. The Gel/PSAA-Al3+ hydrogel shows potential applications as a wearable sensor for communication at low temperature or underwater.

Tailored Metal‐Oxygen Bonding in Amorphous Perovskite CoSnO3 for Broadband Ultrafast Laser State Active Manipulation

AbstractAmorphous perovskite CoSnO3 has attracted significant attention due to its unique properties and various modification methods. However, modifying metal‐oxygen bonds on the nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics remains uncharted. In this study, a dehydration method is employed to convert the metal‐hydroxyl bonds (M─OH) of hydroxide CoSn(OH)6 into metal‐oxygen bonds (M─O), successfully preparing amorphous CoSnO3 with oxygen vacancies. Subsequently, effective regulation of the metal‐oxygen bonds in amorphous CoSnO3 is achieved through an ion exchange strategy, yielding Fe‐doped CoSnO3 (Fe‐CoSnO3). Comprehensive characterization and analysis revealed that the regulation of metal‐oxygen bonds accelerated the electron transition rate, resulting in a fast recovery time of ≈245.1 fs for Fe‐CoSnO3, accompanied by a significant boost in broadband NLO properties. Notably, when Fe‐CoSnO3 is utilized as a saturable absorber (SA), it exhibited superior mode‐locking characteristics compared to CoSnO3 in the range of 1–2 µm. Specifically at the communication band of 1.5 µm, the dynamic switching between single‐wavelength and dual‐wavelength mode‐locking operations is achieved. With the ultrafast laser state manipulation, a digital encoding is also demonstrated. This work confirmed that the tailoring of metal‐oxygen bonds makes Fe‐CoSnO3 an excellent NLO material for ultrafast optical applications, and this tailoring strategy provides new insights for designing advanced NLO materials.

Electrochemical Sensor for Hydrogen Leakage Detection at Room Temperature.

The use of hydrogen as fuel presents many safety challenges due to its flammability and explosive nature, combined with its lack of color, taste, and odor. The purpose of this paper is to present an electrochemical sensor that can achieve rapid and accurate detection of hydrogen leakage. This paper presents both the component elements of the sensor, like sensing material, sensing element, and signal conditioning, as well as the electronic protection and signaling module of the critical concentrations of H2. The sensing material consists of a catalyst type Vulcan XC72 40% Pt, from FuelCellStore, (Bryan, TX, USA). The sensing element is based on a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) system that includes a cathode electrode, an ion-conducting membrane type Nafion 117, from FuelCellStore, (Bryan, TX, USA). and an anode electrode mounted in a coin cell type CR2016, from Xiamen Tob New Energy Technology Co., Ltd, (Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China). The electronic block for electrical signal conditioning, which is delivered by the sensing element, uses an INA111, from Burr-Brown by Texas Instruments Corporation, (Dallas, TX, USA). instrumentation operational amplifier. The main characteristics of the electrochemical sensor for hydrogen leakage detection are operation at room temperature so it does not require a heater, maximum amperometric response time of 1 s, fast recovery time of maximum 1 s, and extended range of hydrogen concentrations detection in a range of up to 20%.

Highly sensitive flexible humidity sensor with fast response and recovery time based on the composite of graphene oxide and WS2 for detection of human breath and fingertip proximity

Humidity sensors have been widely used for humidity monitoring in daily life, agriculture, etc. This paper reports flexible humidity sensors based on graphene oxide (GO)/WS2 hybrid nanostructures, which were made...

Sustainable Conversion of Corncob Biomass Waste into High Performance Carbon Materials for Detection of VOCs at Room Temperature.

The demand for reliable, cost-effective, room temperature gas sensors with high sensitivity, selectivity, and short response times is rising, particularly for environmental monitoring, biomedicine, and agriculture. In this study, corncob waste-derived activated carbon (ACC) was combined with CuO nanoparticles and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate ACC/PVA/CuO composites with CuO loadings of 5, 10, and 15 wt.%. The CuO nanoparticles (average size: 21.79 ± 9.88 nm) were successfully incorporated into the ACC matrix, as confirmed by TEM, XRD, and N2 adsorption-desorption analyses. Increasing CuO content reduced the specific surface area due to pore blockage but enhanced the composites' ethanol sensing performance. The ACC/PVA/CuO (15 wt.%) sensor exhibited the highest response and fastest recovery times (125 s and 130 s, respectively, at 100 ppm ethanol), outperforming other composites and pristine ACC. This improvement was attributed to surface defects and increased active sites promoting vapor adsorption and diffusion. These results demonstrate the potential of ACC/PVA/CuO as an effective ethanol sensor at room temperature.

Effectiveness of Surgical Interventions in Chronic Venous Insufficiency: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a disease that can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Although modern surgical therapies such as endovenous thermal ablation (ETA), iliac vein stenting, and others have been introduced, the effectiveness and safety of each procedure needs to be further evaluated. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of modern surgical interventions in the management of CVI, focusing on clinical outcomes such as ulcer healing, pain reduction, and improvement in patient quality of life. This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines by screening literature from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library between 2014 and 2024. Of the 17,500 articles identified, 10 studies were included through a rigorous selection process. Analysis was performed based on study design, population, intervention type, clinical outcomes, and safety profile. Endovenous thermal ablation showed an anatomical success rate of more than 96% with long-term clinical benefits. Iliac vein stenting significantly improved symptoms of deep vein obstruction (VAS: 9 to 2.5) with a primary patency rate of 92%. Methods such as mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) and cyanoacrylate embolization (CAE) offer minimally invasive approaches with low complication rates and fast recovery times. The combination of early ablation and compression therapy accelerates healing of chronic venous ulcers (median healing time: 56 vs. 82 days). Modern surgical interventions are proven effective and safe in the management of CVI, with thermal ablation as the gold standard and iliac vein stenting as the superior option for deep vein obstruction. This evidence-based approach provides important guidance for personalizing CVI therapy in the future. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term sustainability and to optimize evidence-based clinical guidelines.

Role of oxygen vacancies in improving the NO gas sensing behavior of DC magnetron sputtered sub-stoichiometric WO3 thin films

Abstract WO3 thin films have been deposited on alumina substrates at different O2/Ar gas ratios and thicknesses by reactive DC magnetron sputtering for NO gas sensing. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms the presence of oxygen vacancies in all monoclinic-phase WO3 thin films. A systematic decrease in the band gap was found with an increase in the oxygen vacancies leading to a significant upward shift in the Fermi level. Here, the influence of stoichiometry of WO3 thin film on the NO gas sensing performance is presented. It was found that the fabricated device using sub-stoichiometric WO3-x showed enhanced performance in terms of high stability, high selectivity, and fast response/recovery time with a sensor response of 147 for 50 ppm NO concentration at 275 oC, with a fast response time (~ 19 s) and recovery time (~ 17 s). The NO gas sensing of WO3 thin films has been tested at different operating temperatures (175–350 oC) and gas concentrations (1–50 ppm), witnessing a variation in sensor response. The NO gas sensing mechanism on the surface of WO3 has also been discussed.

Au-Decorated Ti3C2 MXene Sensor for Enhanced Detection of Gaseous Toxins (CO, COCl2, H2S, NH3, NO2): A DFT Study.

The rising level of toxic gases in the environment poses a high demand for efficient gas sensing materials. MXenes, an emerging class of two-dimensional (2D) materials, have gained significant interest in this area for having an active-site rich structure, tunable surface properties, and remarkable stability. Herein, an extensive density functional theory (DFT) study is conducted to investigate the sensing properties of pristine and Au-functionalized Ti3C2 MXene for five toxic gas molecules: CO, COCl2, H2S, NH3, and NO2. Pristine Ti3C2 displays high affinity for CO, H2S, and NH3, as assessed by density of states and a large binding energy, resulting in the chemisorption of these gas molecules providing a relatively large recovery time. In contrast, Au-functionalized Ti3C2 is able to sense all five toxins which are physisorbed on it, as indicated by lower adsorption energy and faster recovery time. As an example, the adsorption energy computed for CO is -0.14 eV and the resulting recovery time 0.21 ns. These results reveal that Au-functionalized Ti3C2 can serve as a highly efficient material for toxic gas sensing, particularly CO.

Self-assembled organic monolayer functionalized MIL-88B for selective acetone detection at room temperature

Acetone detection is crucial for diagnosing diseases such as diabetes and lung cancer. Therefore, it is essential to design a room-temperature acetone gas sensor with fast response and recovery times, high sensitivity, high selectivity, and a low detection limit. However, current acetone gas sensors face challenges in achieving high-selectivity detection at room temperature. This study primarily utilizes self-assembled organic monolayer functionalized MIL-88B to prepare selectivity acetone sensors. The results show that the detection sensitivity of the improved sensor to acetone is significantly improved. Compared with the MIL-88B sensor (0.1 ppm), the response value of the MIL-88B@3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) sensor is increased by about 61.9%. The response to 10 ppm acetone is 83, and the selectivity is greatly improved at room temperature. This can be attributed to the chemical interactions between acetone molecules and APTMS on the sensor surface, which improves the sensor's specific recognition ability for acetone. Additionally, the sensor exhibits better stability and shorter response and recovery times. Consequently, the APTMS functionalization of MIL-88B presents an effective method for preparing room-temperature acetone sensors, combining high sensitivity and selectivity, and offering potential for non-invasive disease diagnosis.

The Role of Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound in Management of Malignant Double Obstruction (Biliary and Gastric Outlet): A Comprehensive Review with Clinical Scenarios.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided interventions have revolutionized the management of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) and gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), providing minimally invasive alternatives with improved outcomes. These procedures have significantly reduced the need for high-risk surgical interventions or percutaneous alternatives and have provided effective palliative care for patients with advanced gastrointestinal and bilio-pancreatic malignancies. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) techniques, including hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS), choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), and antegrade stenting (EUS-AS), offer high technical and clinical success rates, with a good safety profile particularly when Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not feasible. EUS-HGS, which allows biliary drainage by trans-gastric route, is primarily used for proximal stenosis or in case of surgically altered anatomy; EUS-CDS with Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent (LAMS) for distal MBO (dMBO), EUS-AS as an alternative of EUS-HGS in the bridge-to-surgery scenario or when retrograde access is not possible and EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) with LAMS in case of dMBO with cystic duct patent without dilation of common bile duct (CDB). EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) has already established its role as an effective alternative to surgical GE and enteral self-expandable metal stent, providing relief from GOO with fewer complications and faster recovery times. However, we do not yet have strong evidence on how to combine the different EUS-guided drainage techniques with EUS-GE in the setting of double obstruction. This comprehensive review aims to synthesize growing evidence on this topic by randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series not only to summarize the efficacy, safety, and technical aspects of these procedures but also to propose a treatment algorithm based essentially on the anatomy and stage of the neoplasm to guide clinical decision-making, incorporating the principles of personalized medicine. This review also highlights the transformative impact of EUS-guided interventions on the treatment landscape for MBO and GOO. These techniques offer safer and more effective options than traditional approaches, with the potential for widespread clinical adoption. Further research is needed to refine these procedures, expand their applications, and improve patient care and quality of life.

Improving Room Temperature Formaldehyde Sensitivity with Samarium-Doped Titanium Dioxide

Abstract Samarium (Sm)-doped titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films were synthesized using the spray pyrolysis technique at 400°C, with Sm doping concentrations of 0, 2, 4, and 6 Wt.% to enhance structural, optical, morphological, and gas-sensing properties. The films, deposited on ultrasonically cleaned glass substrates, were characterized using X-ray diffraction , scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Structural analysis revealed improved crystallinity and uniform surface morphology with Sm doping, while AFM indicated increased surface roughness, promoting gas adsorption. UV-Vis analysis showed a reduced energy bandgap, enhancing visible light absorption and gas-sensing performance. Gas sensing evaluations demonstrated high sensitivity to formaldehyde, with notable selectivity over ethanol, toluene, and xylene at room conditions. The 6 Wt.% Sm-doped TiO₂ film exhibited the highest response (17.4), with a detection limit of 5 ppm, and fast response (23 s) and recovery (27 s) times. These properties underline the potential of Sm-doped TiO₂ films for efficient room-temperature gas sensors. Their enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and stability suggest promising applications in environmental monitoring and air quality management, particularly for formaldehyde detection and volatile organic compound discrimination.

Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide Saturable Absorbers: Advancements in Erbium-Doped Fiber Lasers for Mode-Locking and Q-Switching

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have emerged as robust materials in the development of SAs for erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs). Their exceptional optical properties, such as broadband absorption and fast recovery times, make them ideal candidates for achieving ultrashort pulse operation in EDFLs. With its higher oxygen content, GO offers greater nonlinearity and a tunable absorption spectrum, while rGO, yielded through chemical reduction, exhibits enhanced electrical conductivity and higher saturable absorption. These properties facilitate the generation of ultrashort pulses in EDFLs, which are highly desired for various medical imaging, telecommunications, and material processing applications. This review paper comprehensively analyzes the advancements in GO and rGO SAs in the context of EDFLs for mode-locking and Q-switching applications. The performance of EDFLs utilizing GO and rGO SAs is critically evaluated, focusing on key parameters, such as modulation depth, pulse duration, repetition rate, average power, pulse energy, peak power, and signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, this review delves into the various synthesis methods of GO and rGO thin film, highlighting their impact on the optical properties and performance of SAs. The discussion on techniques to integrate the SAs into laser cavities includes direct deposition of nanoparticles/thin-film-based SAs, tapered-fiber-based SAs, and D-shaped SAs. Furthermore, the paper explores the challenges encountered during the fabrication of ideal GO and rGO SAs, with issues related to uniformity, stability, and tunability, along with proposed solutions to address these challenges. The insights provided offer valuable guidance for future research aimed at enhancing the performance of EDFLs using GO/rGO SAs.

Nasal Irrigation With Saline Solution for Pediatric Acute Upper Respiratory Infections: A Systematic Review.

Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are defined as infectious diseases confined anatomically to the upper respiratory tract, with a duration of up to 28 days. Treatment for URTIs in pediatrics typically involves antipyretics and decongestants and, at times, antibiotics, despite most infections being viral. Nasal irrigation with saline solution is frequently used as an adjunct treatment for URTI symptoms. Currently, there is no consensus on whether nasal irrigation with saline offers significant benefits in reducing the severity of URTI symptoms. This systematic review aims to assess the scientific evidence supporting nasal irrigation with saline as a recommendation to alleviate symptom severity in pediatric URTI cases. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Scopus databases, covering the period from January 2010 to May 2024 in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. MeSH terms used were: (((pediatrics) OR (children) OR (infant) OR (adolescent) OR (child)) AND ((isotonic saline solution) OR (nasal douching) OR (nasal saline irrigation) OR (nasal lavage fluid)) AND ((respiratory disease) OR (upper respiratory tract infection))). Only randomized controlled trials were included, and we assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROBIS 2.0). The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) was applied to determine the level of evidence and strength of recommendation. The initial search yielded 158 articles, of which only four met the criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. All studies evaluated whether saline nasal irrigation, with or without additional treatments, contributes to symptom improvement in pediatric URTIs. Notably, some studies reported symptom relief and even faster recovery times with its use. Based on our analysis, nasal irrigation with saline solution may reduce symptom severity in children with URTIs, with a level of evidence of 2 and a recommendation strength of B. Further research with more robust methodologies is needed to confirm these findings.

SnO2 quantum dots dispersed TGCN nanosheets for improved ethanol sensing under ambient conditions

Abstract This study investigates ethanol sensing properties of a hybrid sensing material prepared by mechano-mixing of tin oxide (SnO2) quantum dots (SQDs) and template-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) i.e. TGCN nanosheets (TNSs). Hybrid sensors comprising of various weight ratios of TNSs and SQDs ranging from 1:5 to 1:50 (T-SX where X denotes the proportion of SQDs) were prepared and tested for ethanol vapor sensing under ambient conditions. Structural, thermal, optical, and morphological properties of the hybrid samples were analyzed comprehensively using techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman microscopy. The results indicate that the SQDs crystallize in rutile crystal structure with an average diameter of ∼ 2.7 nm and are dispersed on the TNSs. The best response and recovery time were observed for T-S20 with a fast response time of 12 ± 3 s and recovery time of 20 ± 3 s under ambient conditions. The hybrid sensor showed a 48% faster response time, and 57% faster recovery time as compared to pure quantum dots. This improvement is attributed to dispersed SQDs on TNSs, optimum bond strength between SQDs and TNSs, surface plasmon states of SQDs, higher surface area of TNSs, catalytic activity of N-atoms and finally the heterojunction formed between SnO2 quantum dots and TNSs which attracts bipolar hyroxyl group of ethanol vapors under ambient conditions and aids in their faster detection.

MOF Assisted Ion-Conductive Nanocomposite Hydrogel Based Robust Strain Sensor

Soft, flexible, and stretchable materials with exceptional toughness and adhesion properties hold great potential for robust strain sensor development across various applications. An ion-conductive hydrogel, consisting of polyacrylamide (PAM) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), LiCl incorporates via imidazole-based metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles to introduce multifunctionality and enhance mechanical properties, including stretchability, toughness, energy dissipation, and hysteresis loop, for use as wearable strain sensors. The zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) reinforced nanocomposite hydrogels exhibit high fracture elongation up to 800%, fracture strength up to 110 kPa, fracture toughness up to 0.45 MJm-3, and minimal hysteresis as low as 2.6%. Additionally, the hydrogels adhere well to various surfaces, including steel, glass, silicone rubbers, aluminum, and nitrile rubbers, and demonstrate resilience in freezing temperatures down to -20°C. The synergy of electrostatic interactions between the AM-HEA polymer chain and nanoporous ZIF-8 enhances the mechanical properties, while the abundant hydrogen bonds originating from the polarized surface of ZIF-8 also introduce multifunctionality to the nanocomposite hydrogel. These properties enable the hydrogels to act as strain sensors with a high sensitivity gauge factor of ~3.00, along with fast response and recovery times of 280 ms and 330 ms respectively. The versatile multifunctionality of the ZIF-8 reinforced nanocomposite ionic hydrogels prepared herein could offer a novel approach to designing and fabricating advanced all-round strain sensors for promising applications in biomedical fields, particularly in health assessment and human motion monitoring.

Greatly enhanced humidity sensing performance with ultra-low hysteresis error in giant permittivity TiO2 ceramics co–doped with Sc3+ and Ta5+ ions

This study investigates the dielectric and humidity sensing properties of ScyTa0.025Ti0.975-yO2 (y%ScTTO) ceramics with varying Sc3+ concentrations (1 %, 2.5 %, and 5 %). The ceramics were synthesized using a solidstate reaction method. Xray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of the main rutile TiO2 phase without any impurity phases. The ceramics exhibited a highdensity microstructure with a relative density exceeding 92 %. The mean grain size increased with higher Sc3+ doping concentrations. Elemental mapping showed homogeneous dispersion in the 1 %ScTTO and 2.5 %ScTTO samples, while the 5 %ScTTO sample exhibited segregation of a Scrich phase along the grain boundaries. All samples demonstrated a giant dielectric constant of 103–105, which decreased as the Sc3+ concentration increased. Notably, the 1 %ScTTO and 2.5 %ScTTO samples displayed significant humidity sensitivity. The capacitance of these samples increased by 100 % and 1700 %, respectively, as the relative humidity increased from 30 % to 90 %. Remarkably, the 2.5 %ScTTO sample exhibited minimal hysteresis error, measured at 1.09 % at 1 kHz. Furthermore, these samples showed very fast response and recovery times, ∼1 and 0.15 min, respectively. The humidity sensing properties at 1 kHz and 25 °C remained stable under a DC bias of up to 12 V but showed a significant increase when the temperature was raised to 50–75 °C (without DC bias). The enhanced humidity sensing performance and giant dielectric response were attributed to the formation of defects and the grain boundary effect.

Ultrasensitive, Fast-Response, and Stretchable Temperature Microsensor Based on a Stable Encapsulated Organohydrogel Film for Wearable Applications.

Ionic conductive hydrogel-based temperature sensors have emerged as promising candidates due to their good stretchability and biocompatibility. However, the unsatisfactory sensitivity, sluggish response/recovery speed, and poor environmental stability limit their applications for accurate long-term health monitoring and robot perception, especially in extreme environments. To address these concerns, here, the stretchable temperature sensors based on a double-side elastomer-encapsulated thin-film organohydrogel (DETO) architecture are proposed with impressive performance. It is found that the water-polyol binary solvent, organohydrogel film, and sandwiched device structure play important roles in the temperature sensing performance. By modifying the composition of binary solvent and thicknesses of organohydrogel and elastomer films, the DETO microsensors realize a thickness of only 380 μm, unprecedented temperature sensitivity (37.96%/°C), fast response time (6.01 s) and recovery time (10.53 s), wide detection range (25-95.7 °C), and good stretchability (40% strain), which are superior to those of conventional hydrogel-based sensors. Furthermore, the device displays good environmental stability with negligible dehydration and prolonged operation duration. With these attributes, the wearable sensor is exploited for the real-time monitoring of various physiological signals such as human skin temperature and respiration patterns as well as temperature perception for robots.