In this paper, a series of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composite nanofibers is prepared by a facile and environmentally friendly electrospinning method and calcined under different temperatures. The LVP nanofiber calcined under 900 ℃ exhibits the best electrochemical performance. The bicontinuous morphologies of LVP/CNF are the fibers shrunk and the LVP crystals simultaneously grown. At the range of 3.0–4.3 V, LVP/CNF obtained under 900 ℃ delivers the initial capacity of 135 mAh/g, close to the theoretical capacity of LVP. Even at high current density, the sample of LVP/CNF still presents good electrochemical performance.

Knowledge of the presence of heavy metals in soils of agricultural areas is important to prevent their accumulation in cultivated plants. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the total concentrations and fractions of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cr and Co in the tobacco-growing area of Pinar del Río, Cuba and their relationship with the physicochemical properties of soil. For the study, 59 samples of three types of soils were collected at 20 cm depth. The pseudo-total concentrations of metals in the soils are low and lower than the prevention values registered for Cuban soils. In general, the heavy metals studied present a high affinity for the most stable fractions of the soil, which means a low risk of transfer to the tobacco crop or accumulation in groundwater. The pseudo-total concentrations of heavy metals were low, below the alert values established for soils in the region. The heavy metals studied were mainly associated with the residual fraction, the second fraction with the highest association with metals was that linked to manganese and iron oxides. The principal component analysis showed that their main source is pedogenetic and that these elements are closely related to cation exchange capacity and calcium content.

Objective: To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the brain in patients younger than 65 years who were studied by transcranial Doppler (TCD) with microbubble contrast, with a history of cryptogenic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and suspected patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Materials and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients of both sexes, younger than 65 years of age.

Results: Our sample (n = 47.47% male and 53% female, mean age is 42 years) presented high-intensity transient signals (HITS) positive in 61.7% and HITS-negative in 38.3%. In HITS-positive patients, lesions at the level of the subcortical U-brains, single or multiple with bilaterally symmetrical distribution, predominated. In patients with moderate HITS, lesions in the vascular territory of the posterior circulation predominated.

Conclusion: In patients younger than 65 years with cryptogenic stroke and subcortical, single or multiple U-shaped lesions with bilateral and symmetrical distribution, a PFO should be considered as a possible cause of these lesions.

We reviewed the research on super-hydrophobic materials. Firstly, we introduced the basic principles of super-hydrophobic materials, including the Young equation, Wenzel model, and Cassie model. Then, we summarized the main preparation methods and research results of super-hydrophobic materials, such as the template method, soft etching method, electrospinning method, and sol-gel method. Among them, the electrospinning method that has developed in recent years is a new technology for preparing micro/nanofibers. Finally, the applications of super-hydrophobic materials in the field of coatings, fabric and filter material, anti-fogging, and antibacterial were introduced, and the problems existing in the preparation of super-hydrophobic materials were pointed out, such as unavailable industrialized production, high cost, and poor durability of the materials. Therefore, it is necessary to make a further study on the application of the materials in the selection, preparation, and post-treatment.

The Cu_2–xSe nanoparticles were synthesized by high temperature pyrolysis, modified with aminated polyethylene glycol in aqueous solution and loaded with compound 2,2′–azobis[2–(2–imidazolin–2–yl)propane] dihydrochloride (AIPH). The obtained nanomaterials can induce photothermal effect and use heat to promote the generation of toxic AIPH radicals under the irradiation of near-infrared laser (808 nm), which can effectively kill cancer cells. A series of in vitro experiments can preliminarily prove that Cu_2–xSe–AIPH nanomaterials have strong photothermal conversion ability, good biocompatibility and anticancer properties.

The ways of developing functional textiles based on nanomaterials were introduced, and the latest research achievements of nanomaterials in such aspects as flame retardancy, antibacterial, super-hydrophobic, self-cleaning, UV resistance, and anti-static textiles were reviewed. The main technical obstacles to the large-scale application of nanomaterials in functional textiles were pointed out, the possible solutions were discussed, and the development of functional textiles by nanomaterials has been prospected.