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Physicochemical properties of bacterial cellulose/phototherapeutic polypyrrole/antibacterial chitosan composite membranes and their evaluation as chronic wound dressings
No full textBacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural fiber membrane and has been applied in many biomedical applications. Herein, it was used as the main scaffold to prepare wound dressings for treating diabetic skin wounds. Polypyrrole (PPy) was first synthesized by in situ oxidative polymerization within BC membrane and applied as a photothermal agent, followed by coating with chitosan (CS) to improve the biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. SEM pictures revealed sub-micron PPy particles ranging from 100 to 200 nm were formed and attached to the BC fibrils, whereas CS formed a thin, porous layer on the surface. FTIR analysis showed that there was hydrogen bonding between BC, PPy and CS components. The crystalline structure of BC was maintained yet with decreased crystallinity by addition of PPy and CS. The water absorption capability and water vapor transmission rate decreased by PPy incorporation owing to its hydrophobic nature, but they were regained by addition of hydrophilic CS. The prepared BC/PPy/CS membrane was biocompatible toward L929 cells and maintained hemocompatibility. Additionally, both PPy and CS contributed to the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, while they demonstrated a potential for synergistic antibacterial effects when combined. Finally, the near-infrared (NIR)-driven photothermal-hyperthermic effects by PPy on lesions upregulated heat-shock protein (HSP) expression and anti-inflammatory properties by CS boosted restoration of diabetic wounds in vivo without the addition of any antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. The results thus support using the BC/PPy/CS membrane for diabetic wound regeneration.補正完畢NL
Application of Deep Dilated Convolutional Neural Network for Non-Flat Rough Surface
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Open AccessArticle
Application of Deep Dilated Convolutional Neural Network for Non-Flat Rough Surface
by Chien-Ching Chiu 1,*ORCID,Yang-Han Lee 1,Wei Chien 2,Po-Hsiang Chen 1ORCID andEng Hock Lim 3
1
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tamkang University, Tamsui 251301, Taiwan
2
Department of Electrical Engineering, Tatung University, Zhongshan 104327, Taiwan
3
Department of Electrical and Electronic, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang 43200, Malaysia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Electronics 2025, 14(6), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14061236
Submission received: 27 February 2025 / Revised: 18 March 2025 / Accepted: 19 March 2025 / Published: 20 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Machine Learning Technologies and Their Applications in Intelligent Imaging and Image Processing)
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Abstract
In this paper, we propose a novel deep dilated convolutional neural network (DDCNN) architecture to reconstruct periodic rough surfaces, including their periodic length, dielectric constant, and shape. Historically, rough surface problems were addressed through optimization algorithms. However, these algorithms are computationally intensive, making the process very time-consuming. To resolve this issue, we provide measured scattered fields as training data for the DDCNN to reconstruct the periodic length, dielectric constant, and shape. The numerical results demonstrate that DDCNN can accurately reconstruct rough surface images under high noise levels. In addition, we also discuss the impacts of the periodic length and dielectric constant of the rough surface on the shape reconstruction. Notably, our method achieves excellent reconstruction results compared to DCNN even when the period and dielectric coefficient are unknown. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the trained network model completes the reconstruction process in less than one second, realizing efficient real-time imaging.補正完畢US
Environment-Dependent Structural Evolution and Electrocatalytic Performance in N2 Reduction of Mo-Based ZIF-8
No full textIn this study, we used in situ transmission electron microscopy to probe the structural evolution of Mo-based zeolite imidazole framework-8 (Mo-ZIF-8) under various gaseous environments. Upon pyrolyzing Mo-ZIF-8 under oxidative, inactive, and reductive environments, the formation of Mo-related materials, including Mo2C, Mo nanoparticles, Mo nanoclusters, and Mo single atoms (Mo-SAs), is well-controlled to be anchored on the porous N-doped carbon (PNC), and the evolution mechanisms are clearly provided. Furthermore, we discussed the performance of the Mo-related materials/PNC for the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Mo-SA/PNC achieves a maximum NH3 yield rate of 15.34 μg h–1 mg–1 and a Faradic efficiency of 24.03% for NRR at a potential of −0.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Our findings suggest guidelines for the rational design of the derivatives of metal-based metal–organic frameworks and their feasible application.補正完畢US
Sulfur-induced Electronic Optimization of Mo5N6 for Hydrogen Evolution through Topochemical Substitution
No full textNitrogen-rich transition metal nitrides (e.g., Mo5N6) have emerged as promising catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) owing to their unique electronic properties and structural stability. However, the higher valence of metal atoms with strong hydrogen adsorption blocks the subsequent desorption process, leading to unsatisfactory HER activity. In this study, we devise a topochemical route for the synthesis of sulfur-doped Mo5N6 through the controlled ammoniation of MoS2. Experiments and density functional theory simulations reveal that the sulfur dopants reform the localized configurations of Mo5N6, thereby inducing the electron redistribution and optimizing the hydrogen adsorption energy on the basal plane. Consequently, extraordinary HER performance with an overpotential of 56 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 37.9 mV dec-1 are achieved, outperforming most reported Mo nitride-based electrocatalysts. This work provides a feasible strategy to explore efficient electrocatalysts by electronic structure refinement using heteroatom dopants.補正完畢NL
Prolonged lifespan of initial-anode-free lithium-metal battery by pre-lithiation in Li-rich Li2Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 spinel cathode
No full textAnode-free lithium metal batteries (AF-LMBs) can deliver the maximum energy density. However, achieving AF-LMBs with a long lifespan remains challenging because of the poor reversibility of Li+ plating/stripping on the anode. Here, coupled with a fluorine-containing electrolyte, we introduce a cathode pre-lithiation strategy to extend the lifespan of AF-LMBs. The AF-LMB is constructed with Li-rich Li2Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 cathodes as a Li-ion extender; the Li2Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 can deliver a large amount of Li+ in the initial charging process to offset the continuous Li+ consumption, which benefits the cycling performance without sacrificing energy density. Moreover, the cathode pre-lithiation design has been practically and precisely regulated using engineering methods (Li-metal contact and pre-lithiation Li-biphenyl immersion). Benefiting from the highly reversible Li metal on the Cu anode and Li2Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode, the further fabricated anode-free pouch cells achieve 350 W h kg−1 energy density and 97% capacity retention after 50 cycles.補正完畢GB
Au@NiSx Yolk@Shell Nanostructures as Dual‐Functional Electrocatalysts for Concomitant Production of Value‐Added Tartronic Acid and Hydrogen Fuel
No full textEfficient glycerol electrooxidation reaction (GEOR) over gold@nickel sulfide (Au@NiSx) yolk@shell nanostructures is demonstrated, achieving ≈50.4% glycerol conversion at 10 h, 92.6% selectivity toward three-carbon products, and 90.7% total Faradaic efficiency. By regulating the electrode potential, tartronic acid (TART), one of the highest value-added intermediates, can be produced with a selectivity as high as 43.1% and a yield of 45.6 µmol cm−2 h−1. A combination of ex situ microstructural analysis, operando Raman, and operando X-ray absorption measurements reveals a dynamic surface reconstruction course from Au@NiSx to Au@NiSx/NiOOH during the glycerol oxidation process. The unique reconstructed architectures featuring conductive interior NiSx components and active surface high-valence Ni3+ species account for the superior GEOR performance. Further integration of GEOR with hydrogen evolution reaction is realized by employing Au@NiSx as both anode and cathode electrocatalysts in a two-electrode configuration. Concomitantly production of TART and hydrogen fuel is accomplished. This study demonstrates that Au@NiSx not only can convert glycerol to TART with remarkable efficiency and selectivity, but also can produce hydrogen at a moderate level. The findings from this study can facilitate the development of dual-functional electrocatalysts capable of producing high-value products at both the cathode and anode sides.補正完畢US
Comparative Analysis of Real Estate and Stock Markets as Inflation Hedges: Insights from East Asia and the United States
No full textThis study examines how real estate and stock markets can protect against inflation in East Asian countries compared to the United States. The study finds that stocks have a stronger relationship with inflation than housing in East Asian countries. In Hong Kong and Singapore, stock markets are influenced by unexpected sentiment, while in South Korea and Taiwan, they are aligned with expected inflation. In the real estate market, there is a long-term connection between housing prices and inflation in the United States, Hong Kong, and Singapore, but it is weak in the short term. However, the study finds that there is no clear link in Taiwan. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationships between financial assets, especially as central banks address inflation and financial markets differently based on each country’s context. Investors in East Asia should be aware of these dynamics when managing inflation risks.補正完畢TW
Smart shopping meets sharing: Three-way interactions in omnichannel retailing.
No full textSmart shopping behavior has become increasingly prominent in omnichannel retail environments, where consumers strategically navigate across digital and physical channels to optimize value. Although prior research has examined the antecedents of smart shopping, its behavioral consequences—particularly regarding deal-content sharing—remain underexplored. This study conceptualizes deal-content sharing as a form of online consumer engagement and investigates how smart shopping influences such behavior under different psychological and behavioral conditions. Drawing on data from 433 Taiwanese caregivers with recent experience of purchasing children's formula milk, we tested a model with two sets of three-way interactions. The findings reveal that, from the consumer perspective, smart shoppers with high self-confidence and strong deal-seeking propensity were significantly more likely to share deal content. From the retailer perspective, those with cross-channel buying habits and high price sensitivity also showed elevated sharing behavior. The study demonstrates that smart shopping translates into socially expressive engagement when aligned with specific consumer traits. It contributes, theoretically, to omnichannel retail and consumer engagement literature by identifying boundary conditions that intensify sharing behavior and, practically, by offering guidance for designing targeted engagement strategies that amplify word-of-mouth through personalized smart shopping experiences.補正完畢NL
以諾斯底哲學閱讀愛倫坡的《厄舍府的沒落》
No full textCritics have noticed in the House of Usher, a disintegrating Gothic-style house in
Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” a force of evil that brings decadence and
dissipation to the house and those who live in it. Some critics carry out this analysis in
terms of psychoanalysis. In this, the dark, mist-wreathed House of Usher is compared
to “a kind of dream or psychological journey” (Peeples). Some do so with a positive
view of the dim interior of the House of Usher: in this, death and destruction are
related to the idea of God’s will of destruction (Drain). In the essay I examine the dark
psyche of the protagonist—his suicidal inclinations—structured as a reclusive world
of self-destruction. For further discussion on destruction, I read the House of Usher in
terms of Eureka and Gnostic philosophy補正完畢TW
