Long-term Challenges Research Articles

The promise of POSIT: Real-world application of the Paediatric Oncology System Integration Tool

Childhood cancer presents significant acute and long-term challenges for patients,families, communities, and health systems. Although meaningful strides have been made in research and treatment, severe outcome disparities prevail between low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs), with childhood cancer survival rates lower than 20% in LMICs, as compared with over 80% across many HICs. In recent years, greater emphasis has been placed on health system strengthening as a means to develop domestic policy and capacity for sustainable improvements in childhood cancer outcomes in LMICs. In pursuit of a systems approach to childhood cancer in LMICs, our research team developed the Paediatric Oncology System Integration Tool (POSIT)—the first comprehensive framework for the design and evaluation of childhood cancer systems. Since its development, POSIT has been applied in an exploration of key determinants of access to essential childhood cancer medicines across two separate multi-site studies. In this commentary, we explore the value of the POSIT framework and toolkit as a constructive systems-level guide for examining interactions between childhood cancer-specific programs and encompassing health system. socio-political, and economic contexts.

The Effects of Systemic Lupus-Related Cognitive Impairments on Activities of Daily Living and Life Role Participation: A Qualitative Framework Study.

Cognitive impairment (CI) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) negatively impacts health-related quality of life leading to activity limitations. This qualitative study aimed to (1) explore the effect of SLE-related CI on activities of daily living and life role participation and (2) describe factors influencing activity restriction and life role participation. Semistructured, in-depth interviews of lived experience of CI in SLE were conducted with 24 participants with SLE. Sociodemographic and clinical data, and objective and subjective cognitive function, were collected to characterize participants. A qualitative thematic content analysis was undertaken guided by a framework analytical approach. Participants reported problems in multiple cognitive domains, with multiple perceived causes. CI was felt to impact work, social, domestic, and family life, health, and independence. Five overarching themes were represented in the data: (1) characterization of SLE-reported CI, (2) perceived cause of CI, (3) perceived impact of CI on activities of daily living and life role participation, (4) adaptations for managing CI, and (5) influence of CI adaptations on activities of daily living and life role participation. This study provides a better understanding of the patient experience of CI in SLE, how it impacts their lives, and what coping strategies they employ. It highlights the long-term challenges those with CI in SLE undergo and provides evidence for the urgent need to implement multidisciplinary treatment options. When managing CI, it may be beneficial to evaluate and understand available psychosocial support resources to help identify and reinforce relevant adaptations to improve health-related quality of life.

A state detection method of offshore wind turbines’ gearbox bearing based on the transformer and GRU

Through the analysis of data from the SCADA system of a wind turbine unit in a specific offshore wind farm located in Zhanjiang, it was observed that the most prevalent type of fault is bearing alarms on the gearbox’s generator side. Considering the growing need for intelligent offshore wind turbine maintenance, this study employed GRA on SCADA data collected over a significant duration from a representative wind turbine unit. Relevant features were extracted, with temperature serving as the target parameter. To address the challenge of long-term dependencies in long-term time series forecasting tasks, this study uniquely combined the GRU with the advanced Transformer neural network which incorporates attention mechanisms, to predict the temperature trend of the gearbox’s generator-side bearing. Based on the prediction residuals obtained during normal operation and their subsequent analysis, the study devised an effective anomaly detection process to identify early abnormal states of the gearbox’s generator-side bearing. Comparative performance evaluations were conducted, comparing the combined model with its individual component models, as well as the traditional LightGBM, in terms of temperature time series prediction and their application in anomaly detection. The results unequivocally demonstrate that the combined model outperforms both the individual models and LightGBM in terms of time series prediction accuracy and anomaly detection effectiveness, indicating an enhanced ability to handle long-term memory challenges. Furthermore, the combined model exhibits great potential of practical application for the early warning of gearbox bearing anomalies during actual wind turbine daily operation and maintenance, providing a valuable solution for the offshore wind turbine industry.

Abstract 15374: An Energy-Harvesting Leadless Pacemaker: Proof of Principle

Introduction: Leadless pacemakers (LPM) offer several benefits over transvenous pacemakers, including lower risks of infection and vascular complications. However, their limited battery life and long-term retrieval challenges restrict their use in younger patients. Aims: We aim to extend the battery life of LPM by harvesting energy from right ventricular (RV) pressure fluctuations through a housing made of biocompatible piezoelectric materials, which can transduce pressure into voltage and thus recharge the battery. Methods: Cylindrical prototypes (n = 3) of LPM housing were fabricated using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with a thickness of 100 μm and a polyetherimide insulator wrapped around an aluminum rod, representing the LPM (1A). Our prototypes were sealed with epoxy (1B) and their dimensions (radius 9.5 mm, length 26 mm) were comparable to that of the Micra LPM (Medtronic). Prototypes were placed in a pulsatile cardiac pressure simulator (1C) and subjected to RV systolic/diastolic pressures at 1 Hz. A pressure transducer and an oscilloscope simultaneously recorded the simulator’s pressure and prototype’s transduced voltage respectively (1D). Impedance matching was performed, and an optimal resistance of 39 MΩ (1E) was identified for energy harvesting. Results: At oscillating “RV” pressures of 40 and 0 mmHg, our prototype generated 4 V (1D), corresponding to 52.5 nW of harvested power on an impedance-matched circuit. Under an assumed pacing output of 1.0 V at 0.24 ms and a pacing impedance of 500 Ω, each pacing stimulus requires 480 nW. Thus, our prototype can harvest 10.9% of the energy required to power an LPM. Conclusion: A first-generation PVDF-based energy-harvesting LPM housing can harvest approximately 10% of the power needed for pacing from RV systolic/diastolic pressures, marginally prolonging battery life. Future work will focus on increasing energy harvesting through material selection, device structure, and circuit design.

Dual modality feeders: a group of human milk feeders with unique practices and needs.

Dual modality feeding (DMF) - feeding human milk interchangeably from the breast and from a bottle - comes with unique practical, emotional and relational challenges, as well as support needs. Yet, there is little research that explores the experiences of individuals who use DMF in the Canadian context. The aim of this study is to explore the practices, challenges, reasons and enablers of DMF. Repeat, semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted at 8 weeks and 22 weeks postpartum. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using a critical feminist lens. Nova Scotia, Canada. Ten DMF mothers. DMF practices were influenced by a mix of social and material circumstances, including breast-feeding challenges, the involvement of support persons, finances and access to lactation support. Individuals who predominantly fed at the breast expressed milk strategically to mitigate transitory breast-feeding challenges, for convenience under specific circumstances, and to share feeding responsibilities with other caregivers for personal and practical reasons. Individuals who mainly bottle-fed did so due to long-term breast-feeding challenges or a need to return to employment. Enablers of successful DMF were consistent between the two groups and included practical, personal and relational aspects. DMF is a unique practice compared to feeding human milk solely from the breast or bottle. Despite the potential growing prevalence of DMF, it is currently understudied and inadequately addressed in existing support programmes in Nova Scotia. Tailored programming and public messaging are needed to support DMF families.

Does multidimensional distance matter? Perceptions and acceptance of wind power

ABSTRACT In addressing long-term climate and energy challenges with wind energy, the acceptance of wind power is in a key role. Here, we systematically emphasize the several dimensions of distance, namely spatial, temporal, social, and experiential, and test the difference in attitudes toward near and distant wind turbines in these dimensions. We focus on both attitudes toward wind power and perceptions of its impacts using survey data with spatial information from southwestern Finland. Spatial distance associated significantly and positively with attitudes toward wind power. Regarding the social and temporal dimensions of distance, the direction of the association was against our hypothesis, meaning that the lower the distance was, the more positive were the attitudes. For experiential distance, no association was observed. The results recommend siting wind farms at a distance of over 10 km from population centers. Avoiding conflicts with vacation homes creates a new social challenge for wind power development.

Achieving Sales Forecasting with Higher Accuracy and Efficiency: A New Model Based on Modified Transformer

With the exponential expansion of e-commerce, an immense volume of historical sales data has been generated and amassed. This influx of data has created an opportunity for more accurate sales forecasting. While various sales forecasting methods and models have been applied in practice, existing ones often struggle to fully harness sales data and manage significant fluctuations. As a result, they frequently fail to make accurate predictions, falling short of meeting enterprise needs. Therefore, it is imperative to explore new models to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of sales forecasting. In this paper, we introduce a model tailored for sales forecasting based on a Transformer with encoder–decoder architecture and multi-head attention mechanisms. We have made specific modifications to the standard Transformer model, such as removing the Softmax layer in the last layer and adapting input embedding, position encoding, and feedforward network components to align with the unique characteristics of sales forecast data and the specific requirements of sales forecasting. The multi-head attention mechanism in our proposed model can directly compute the dot product results in a single step, addressing long-term time-dependent computation challenges while maintaining lower time complexity and greater interpretability. This enhancement significantly contributes to improving the model’s accuracy and efficiency. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive formula representation of the model for the first time, facilitating better understanding and implementation. We conducted experiments using sales datasets that incorporate various factors influencing sales forecasts, such as seasons, holidays, and promotions. The results demonstrate that our proposed model significantly outperforms seven selected benchmark methods, reducing RMSLE, RMSWLE, NWRMSLE, and RMALE by approximately 48.2%, 48.5%, 45.2, and 63.0%, respectively. Additionally, ablation experiments on the multi-head attention and the number of encoder–decoders validate the rationality of our chosen model parameters.

Towards a sustainable future: overcoming the challenges of post-war ecosystem reconstruction in Ukraine

The article explores the challenges of post-war ecosystem restoration in Ukraine and proposes pathways and strategies towards sustainable and resilient environmental recovery. It analyzes the risks associated with the clean-up and rehabilitation of hazardous substances, unexploded ordnance, and remnants of war, highlighting the potential ecological and human risks involved. Socio-economic risks related to environmental restoration are also examined, emphasizing the need to balance economic development with environmental protection. Additionally, the article addresses the management risks associated with ecosystem restoration, emphasizing the importance of effective governance and coordination among various stakeholders. Long-term challenges that Ukraine needs to address in its journey towards ecological restoration are identified, including resource constraints and institutional capacity building. Finally, the article outlines pathways and strategies for Ukraine to achieve sustainable and resilient post-war environmental recovery, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation, community engagement, and the integration of scientific research and innovative technologies. By addressing these challenges and adopting sustainable practices, Ukraine can pave the way for a future of ecological restoration, environmental resilience, and long-term sustainability.

Post-covid-19 syndrome: Self-compassion and psychological flexibility moderate the relationship between physical symptom load and psychosocial impact

Living with persistent physical symptoms of an acute COVID-19 infection has a substantial impact on individuals' everyday lives. The identification of potential therapeutic targets for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) or “Long-COVID” that can be utilised to reduce the impact of symptoms, is necessary to support effective rehabilitation. Self-compassion and psychological flexibility are thought to be important constructs to consider when understanding how individuals approach the management of long-term health challenges. The present study investigated the extent to which self-compassion and psychological flexibility moderate the relationship between physical symptoms and their impact on daily life. One-hundred and five participants (91 females) who were living with PCS after an acute COVID-19 infection, completed measures to assess PCS physical symptom prevalence as well as measures to assess impact on daily life, self-compassion and psychological flexibility. Two parallel moderation analyses showed that self-compassion and psychological flexibility significantly moderated the relationships between physical symptom presentation and their psychosocial impact. This research highlights the buffering effects of self-compassion and psychological flexibility and the need to consider these psychological therapeutic targets, as part of PCS multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

OPORTUNIDADES OFRECIDAS POR LA INTELIGENCIA ARTIFICIAL DENTRO DEL RECICLAJE DE BATERÍAS

The new global decarbonization and energy transition guidelines have caused the industrial sector to undergo a metamorphosis towards more sustainable alternatives. To this end, phenomena such as digital transformation and the implementation of new solutions at the forefront of technological advances are helping to accelerate these changes. Key sectors for the future of society and industry, such as batteries, are already employing different tools based on big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions to optimize both their design and production phases, with the aim of boosting a sector that is expected to reach a demand of almost 4.9 TWh by the end of this decade. However, these prospects also pose a major long-term challenge: the recycling of all these devices. Considering that this is an industry with increasingly stringent standards in terms of sustainability and circularity, this is where, once again, digital solutions such as those mentioned above can play a key role, both in terms of optimizing current recycling processes and developing new proposals and approaches. This paper aims to identify precisely that set of opportunities that artificial intelligence-based solutions can present to the battery recycling industry in its activities. Especially, in terms of development, evolution and optimization of the most promising technological routes (such as hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy or direct recycling), in order to respond to the challenges and needs of a strategic activity for the future of the battery value chain. Keywords: Batteries, Recycling, Recovery, Waste, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Hydrometallurgy, Pyrometallurgy, Direct Recycling.

Non-metropolitan settlement and integration outcomes of humanitarian migrants in Australia: Combining spatial, multidimensional and longitudinal perspectives

Dispersal policies that place humanitarian migrants outside non-metropolitan locations are increasingly common, but evidence of their impact on integration outcomes is mixed. By combining spatial, longitudinal and multidimensional perspectives into a unified analytical framework, this study examines the relationships between non-metropolitan settlement and a diverse range of objective and subjective integration outcomes. To accomplish this, we leverage five waves of panel data from Building a New Life in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Humanitarian Migrants (2013–2018). Our results indicate that non-metropolitan settlement is related to better access to employment and stable housing and a lower likelihood of being Not in Employment, Education, and Training (NEET), but a higher risk of experiencing discrimination. Over time, humanitarian migrants’ income and English-language proficiency trajectories are flatter in non-metropolitan than metropolitan regions, pointing to potential long-term challenges of rural settlement. Encouragingly, we find no statistically significant differences in physical and mental health, sense of belonging and life satisfaction. While the integration outcomes of humanitarian migrants in non-metropolitan Australia are mixed, their subjective well-being is not negatively impacted. This suggests that, despite challenges, there are opportunities for humanitarian-migrant settlement outside of major cities.

RestorNet: An efficient network for multiple degradation image restoration

Even though Single Degradation Image Restoration (SDIR) has made significant progress and achieved remarkable performance, Multiple Degradation Image Restoration (MDIR) remains a long-term and arduous challenge to achieve the similar levels of success. To further improve the performance and efficiency of MDIR, we propose a novel MDIR method named RestorNet, which comprises an unsupervised degradation encoder for the learning of multi-scale degradation representations and a Multi-scale Degradation-assisted Restoration Module (MDRM) for image reconstruction. Our RestorNet aims to remove noise, rain, and haze in a unified network from the following three aspects. Firstly, to better distinguish among different degradations and learn the corruption information more accurately, we introduce a degradation-specific contrastive loss based on contrastive learning. Next, we develop a multi-scale degradation representation learning method to improve preservation of the spatial structure and distribution of inputs, and to extract multi-scale information to satisfy the diverse requirements of restoring different degraded images. Finally, to make a more reasonable use of degradation representation, we present a novel semi-guided strategy for effective feature transformation, where the multi-scale degradation representations are only incorporated into the MDRM encoder. For image denoising, deraining, and dehazing, by integrating the approaches above, RestorNet not only outperforms the recent state-of-the-art MDIR algorithms with lower computational complexity, but also achieves impressive performance in SDIR. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our proposed method.

New member of micro power sources for extreme environmental explorations: X-ray-voltaic batteries

It has been a long-term challenge for radiation-voltaics to meet the power requirements of the fast-developed exploration activities in extreme environments such as deep sea, polar regions, and outer space. In this work, we demonstrated novel X-ray radiation-voltaic (X-ray-voltaic) batteries adopting SiC conversion units, which could improve the output power up to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of state-of-the-art betavoltaics. A comprehensive model integrating the radioactive sources and semiconductor units was built to guide the design of X-ray voltaics. SiC devices with the optimal structure were fabricated and confirmed experimentally the accuracy of the device model. According to the model, the SiC X-ray-voltaics with 55Fe radioactive sources can achieve a highest output power of 19.10 μW/cm2 and a highest power efficiency (ηtotal) of 7.71%. The unique advantages of SiC X-ray-voltaic batteries including the excellent irradiation hardness, the superlong lifetime, and the outstanding prospects as power sources were discussed in details. This work reveals the promising potentials of the X-ray-voltaics for extreme environmental explorations and will inspire the further development of the high-performance isotope batteries.

Implication of gender mainstreaming on policy-making for sustainable fisheries development in China

Currently, gender mainstreaming is widely recognized by the international community as an essential component of social development. Increasing attention is also being directed toward its significant role in the field of marine and fisheries, especially because gender equality-responsive fisheries development is believed to be a significant impulse for the continued advancement of this field. An analysis of the role of gender mainstreaming in fisheries development reveals that the long-term challenges faced by Chinese women in fisheries are closely tied to the absence of the gender perspective in existing fishery policies. In recent years, international organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, along with various regions and countries, have accumulated extensive experience and achieved notable progress in promoting gender mainstreaming in fisheries. Furthermore, they have established successful models for the scientific implementation of gender mainstreaming from the top down and with diverse perspectives, thus providing valuable insights for China to incorporate gender mainstreaming in policymaking. As China endeavors to foster high-quality marine and fisheries development while positioning itself as a responsible fishery power, it is imperative for the country to proactively address gender issues within the fisheries sector. Drawing on international best practices and considering China’s national conditions, this paper proposes the integration of a gender perspective into China’s fisheries policy by raising policymakers’ gender awareness, conducting dynamic monitoring and evaluation of the status of women in the fisheries sector, encouraging the active involvement of women and fisheries organizations in policymaking, and promoting research on gender issues in fisheries, all of which can bridge the gap in gender responsiveness within China’s fisheries policy system.

The toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx mixed-status immigrant families in a restrictive immigration policy climate in the Southeast

Immigration-related policies rooted in structural racism negatively affect the wellbeing of Latinx immigrant families with undocumented family members, and these harms may be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To explore these intersecting challenges and identify opportunities for intervention, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with frontline workers serving Latinx immigrants during the pandemic. Through these interviews, we sought to understand frontline workers' perceptions of the role of immigrant-related policies on the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mixed-status Latinx immigrant families in Georgia. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, with Spanish-language interviews translated to English. Transcripts were double-coded and codes were analyzed following a grounded-theory informed analysis from which we identified three themes: 1) “Forgotten from the system”: Impacts of existing exclusionary policies and structural barriers on undocumented immigrants were magnified during the pandemic, 2) “Continual Stress”: The compounding psychosocial impacts of the policy environment and COVID-19, and 3) Advocating for the rights and wellbeing of immigrant families in a shifting policy landscape. These themes reflected the multiple interlocking systems that exclude undocumented and mixed-status families from social services and healthcare, create fear and stress, and harm the wellbeing of families. They also reveal community assets to respond to emergent and long-term challenges faced by families, though gaps remain due to existent state and federal policies. Findings from frontline workers demonstrate the need to address inequitable interlocking systems with policy reform, including to housing, healthcare, and transportation to include undocumented immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Future research on inclusionary policy recommendations made by frontline workers to improve wellbeing of mixed-status families is needed.

Strengthening health system resilience at the European level

Abstract The resilience testing project builds on the work carried out by the ‘Expert Panel on effective ways of investing in health’ in its ‘opinion on the organisation of resilient health and social care following the COVID-19 pandemic’, adopted on 25 November 2020 as well as the December 2020 report by the EU Expert Group on Health Systems Performance Assessment (HSPA) titled ‘Assessing the resilience of health systems in Europe: an overview of the theory, current practice and strategies for improvement’. Resilience testing may contribute to the European Semester, which addresses health system effectiveness, accessibility and resilience. The encompassing resilience assessment framework (‘the testing framework’) will serve to detect critical health system weaknesses against specific shocks as well as long-term structural challenges. This will help to develop recommendations for remedial action. The heath system resilience testing methodology will support the implementation of the Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health which envisages stress tests and simulation exercises to help the development of health system functions and preparation of prevention, preparedness and response plans. It could also support the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in their assessment activities of the prevention, preparedness and response plans. By establishing a resilience testing methodology, Member States will be able to regularly and independently review their preparedness for health crisis and check their healthcare systems’ resilience against specific high-pressure scenarios and long-term structural challenges. This action will generate insight and evidence through resilience tests and will reinforce the ability of Member States and regions to become more resilient to future shocks.

6.I. Workshop: Assessing health system resilience to future shocks: a new tool for policy making

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of health system resilience, the ability of a health system to prepare for, manage and learn from a shock. Other recent adverse events, such as economic crises, conflict, migration and extreme weather have demonstrated how a wide range of shocks can challenge health systems. Health systems vary in their ability to respond to shocks and other challenges, mitigate adverse impacts, and learn from previous experience. While emergency preparedness and planning is a well established component of health system governance in many countries, no methodology currently exists to systematically test the resilience of a health system to a broad range of shocks. In this workshop, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (OBS) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) share learnings from an ongoing project with the European Commission (EC) to help EU Member States assess and understand the resilience of their health system to a wide range of future shocks. The resilience testing methodology draws on two conceptual frameworks: the Health System Performance Assessment Framework for Universal Health Coverage (HSPA Framework for UHC) and the Shock Cycle. A specific shock scenario is chosen from a broad range of possible shocks to hypothetically challenge a given health system to its limits. This highlights key structural strengths and weaknesses of the health system. The country-led process culminates in a resilience test workshop that brings together policy makers, civil servants and other relevant experts. The test day is supported by an expert facilitator and research team, who provide background knowledge and structure the test day. Results of the resilience test include an understanding of the health system strengths and vulnerabilities specific to the shock. The test day may also anticipate spill-overs effects to other health system functions, and contribute towards a participatory approach to improve preparedness going forward. The objectives of the workshop are to: - present the new methodology for resilience testing; - showcase country examples that have piloted the methodology; - engage workshop participants in discussion towards a common approach to health system resilience strengthening. The workshop consists of presentations (40 minutes) and audience interaction (20 minutes). The presentations will cover the methodology, pilot countries’ experience, and an EU view of the resilience testing process. The audience interaction will consist of moderated discussion with an element of a digital feedback and Q&A (if settings allow). Discussion will reflect on usability, potential adaptations to suit various national settings, and operationalisation for policy makers so that countries can prepare more systematically for future shocks and long-term challenges. Key messages • Resilience testing is a novel and systematic method to engage policy makers, understand health system vulnerabilities and identify weaknesses requiring action. • Country-led pilots show that shock scenarios can be employed to reveal structural vulnerabilities, which can be addressed to enhance health system resilience.

The role of victim sensitivity between anti-welfare dependence attitude and mental health of older adults in China

The ideals of the anti-welfare tendency may confront the realization of deficient, dependent, and delicate bodies, adding to a sense of bodily betrayal, which encumbers independence and sets older adults toward despair. The resulting collision may lead older adults who have perceived the law of the jungle to go to two extremes: either fall into social depression, or enhance their positive attitude, and be spurred to cultivate a positive mentality. Therefore, this study focuses on assessing the potential interaction between the law of the jungle and the anti-welfare attitude in shaping mental health. Based on the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data in 2017, this study adopts the multivariate regression method to comprehensively address the theory-of-pragmatic-prospection-based relationship between the law of the jungle, anti-welfare tendency, and mental health of older adults, including concurrently coherent conceptualization and examination of core psychological perception indicators of the law of the jungle, such as victim sensitivity. The findings suggest that the anti-welfare dependence attitude positively correlates with mental health (coefficient = 0.618, p < 0.001). Victim sensitivity strengthens the above relationship (coefficient = 0.129, p < 0.001). Self-reliance has become part of the invisible armor that modern seniors equip themselves with against the risks of the law of the jungle. And precisely because the perception of the law of the jungle reinforces the fear that one’s own capacity is not sufficient to deal with emergencies, older adults are more likely to conform to the official discourse of productive aging and become more self-reliant. Although from the perspective of individual psychological mechanisms, the combination of the anti-welfare attitude and the law of the jungle has strengthened the mental health of older adults, there are still long-term hidden challenges: if the state is absent for a long time, when the external risk world is no longer within the control of the private welfare of older adults, will they be overwhelmed by pressures, enter a threshold, move to the other side of the resilience fracture, and fall into social depression? This study will leave it to future research to test these alternative explanations.

Gaining strength-ductility combination in Al matrix composites with in-situ synthesized three-dimensional nanocarbon network

As a promising architecture reinforcement, the three-dimensional (3D) configuration of nanocarbon holds great prospects in achieving a strength-ductility combination for metal matrix composite (MMCs). However, due to the native deficiency of Al in catalyzing the growth of nanocarbon, constructing a nanocarbon network has been the long-term challenge for Al matrix composites (AMCs). Herein, we develop a new strategy for synthesizing AMCs reinforced by three-dimensional nanocarbon (3D-C) via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) integrated with hot pressing (HP) as well as hot extrusion, demonstrating exceptional mechanical properties. The detailed characterization reveals that the in-situ generation of nanocarbon layers on the surface of Al powders is attributed to the initiation of isolated carbon islands, followed by merging and self-assembly, which is governed by the PECVD-assisted catalysis growth-regime. The subsequent welding of nanocarbon layers during the HP promotes the formation of interlocking 3D-C networks in Al matrix, enhancing the sintered densification of the composite. Such unique nanocarbon distribution configuration not only effectively constrains the coarsening and deformation of Al grains, but also notably accumulates dislocation under high stress conditions. Moreover, 3D-C with a strong interfacial bonding contributes to the toughness through the microcracks, bridging cracks as well deflecting cracks, which accounts for the high toughness of the composite. This work provides new insights into the 3D distribution configuration of reinforcements in AMCs to achieve the optimized mechanical performance of composites.

Multivariate hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks with tunable permanent porosity for a mustard gas simulant capture.

Precise synthesis of topologically predictable and discrete molecular crystals with permanent porosities remains a long-term challenge. Here, we report the first successful synthesis of a series of isoreticular multivariate hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (MTV-HOFs) from pyrene-based derivatives bearing -H, -CH3, -NH2 and -F groups achieved by a shape-fitted, π-π stacking self-assembly strategy. These MTV-HOFs are single-crystalline materials composed of tectons with as many as 4 different functionalities, verified by single-crystal diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, and Raman spectra. These MTV-HOFs exhibit tunable hydrophobicity with water uptake starting from 50 to 80% relative humidity, by adjusting the combinations and ratios of functional groups. As a proof of application, the resulting MTV-HOFs were shown to be capable of capturing a mustard gas simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) from moisture. The location of different functional groups within the pores of MTV-HOFs leads to a synergistic effect, which resulted in a superior CEES/H2O selectivity (up to 94%) to that of the HOFs with only pure component and enhanced breakthrough performance (up to 4000 min/g) when compared to benchmark MOF materials. The synthesis of MTV-HOFs provides a platform for the development of porous molecular materials for numerous applications.