Late Palpitations in Young Patients After Ablation for Tachyarrhythmias.

Background: Patients after ablation for tachyarrhythmias may continue to experience palpitations in the setting of sinus rhythm. The objective of our study was to investigate if patients who have undergone ablation for tachyarrhythmia have palpitations and other somatic complaints more frequently than healthy controls. Methods: Paediatric patients after ablation for tachyarrhythmia at BC Children's Hospital from 2009 to 2020 and healthy controls were invited to participate in a survey about palpitations. Demographics, palpitation symptoms, frequency, duration, and need for medical attention were collected and compared between patients and controls. Results: We received responses from 111 patients (response rate of 27.5%; mean age = 20.0 ± 4.6 years, 52% male) and 62 controls (age = 19.8 ± 5.7 years, 40% male). Sixty-two (56%) patients experienced palpitations beyond the initial 4 weeks after ablation, of whom 77% (n = 48/62) reported their palpitations feeling different. Tachyarrhythmia recurrence rate after ablation was 7.2%. There was no difference in the prevalence of palpitations experienced between patients and controls (P = 0.74). Patients after ablation sought medical attention more often for their palpitations (P = 0.003) and chest symptoms (P = 0.001) compared to controls. Conclusion: The prevalence of palpitations did not differ in ablation patients compared to healthy controls. Patients reported that their palpitations felt different after ablation and were more likely to seek medical attention for their palpitations. Paediatric patients with tachyarrhythmias may have heightened awareness due to their history. Clinicians can incorporate this into procedural counselling to reduce patient concern and need for medical attention.

Contexte: Après le traitement d'une tachyarythmie par ablation, les patients peuvent continuer de ressentir des palpitations en rythme sinusal. Notre étude avait pour objectif d'examiner si les patients ayant subi une ablation pour traiter une tachyarythmie présentaient plus fréquemment des palpitations et d'autres symptômes somatiques que des témoins en bonne santé. Méthodologie: Une invitation à répondre à un sondage portant sur les palpitations a été transmise aux patients ayant subi une ablation au cours de leur enfance pour traiter une tachyarythmie au BC Children's Hospital entre 2009 et 2020 ainsi qu'à des témoins en bonne santé. Des renseignements démographiques et des informations sur les symptômes de palpitation, leur fréquence, leur durée et le besoin de consulter un médecin ont été recueillis, puis des comparaisons ont été effectuées entre les patients et les témoins. Résultats: Nous avons reçu une réponse au sondage de la part de 111 patients (taux de réponse de 27,5 %; âge moyen = 20,0 ± 4,6 ans, dont 52 % de sexe masculin) et de la part de 62 témoins (âge = 19,8 ± 5,7 ans, dont 40 % de sexe masculin). Soixante-deux patients (56 %) ont eu des palpitations au-delà de la période initiale de quatre semaines suivant l'ablation, et 77 % (n = 48 sur 62) d'entre eux ont mentionné ressentir des palpitations de nature différente. Le taux de récurrence de la tachyarythmie après l'ablation s'élevait à 7,2 %. Aucune différence n'a été observée entre la prévalence des palpitations chez les patients et chez les témoins (p = 0,74). Comparativement aux témoins, les patients ayant subi une ablation ont consulté plus souvent un médecin en raison de leurs palpitations (p = 0,003) et de leurs symptômes thoraciques (p = 0,001). Conclusion: La prévalence des palpitations chez les patients ayant subi une ablation n'était pas différente de celle observée chez les témoins en bonne santé. Les patients ont rapporté ressentir des palpitations de nature différente après leur ablation, et ils étaient plus susceptibles que les témoins de consulter un médecin en raison de leurs palpitations. Il se pourrait que les patients atteints de tachyarythmie au cours de l'enfance se montrent plus vigilants en raison de leurs antécédents. Les cliniciens peuvent intégrer ces observations au processus de consultation afin de diminuer les inquiétudes des patients et le besoin de consulter un médecin.

Adaptive Goal Processes and Underlying Motives That Sustain Mental Wellbeing and New Year Exercise Resolutions.

Exercise resolutions are the most common goals people set each New Year. However, research has rarely examined adaptive goal processes and motives that may maintain wellbeing and resolution pursuit. We therefore investigated if (1) personal goal flexibility and tenacity maintain mental wellbeing and adherence to New Year exercise resolutions and if (2) underlying intrinsic and extrinsic motives maintain wellbeing and sustained exercise resolution adherence. A community sample (N = 297) completed an online longitudinal study. At baseline, participants listed their most important exercise-related New Year resolution. Participants then completed measures to assess goal flexibility and tenacity, resolution motives, and mental wellbeing at baseline. At three follow-up surveys over a two-month period, participants completed self-report measures of wellbeing and adherence to their exercise resolution. As predicted, goal flexibility and tenacity each independently predicted wellbeing across time. Counter to prediction, neither goal flexibility nor tenacity predicted sustained exercise adherence. Notably, underlying intrinsic motives (but not extrinsic motives) maintained mental wellbeing and exercise adherence across time. Our findings indicate that goal flexibility and tenacity are beneficial in maintaining mental wellbeing and that pursuing resolutions for internalised motives is beneficial for one's mental wellbeing and exercise adherence.

Predictors of electrocardiographic screening failure for the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in children: A prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (SICD) shows promise for select patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. However, patients need to pass an electrocardiographic (ECG) screening (ECG-S) test before they can receive an SICD. Predictors of ECG-S failure in children are unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and predictive factors for failure of ECG-S in children. METHODS: Patients 18 years and younger with a preexisting ICD underwent ECG-S for SICD. ECG and demographic data were analyzed for factors predictive of failure. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (mean age 14.2 ± 3.3 years; range 5-18 years) with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 24, 33%), long QT syndrome (n =18, 25%), other inherited arrhythmia syndromes (n = 20, 27%), congenital heart disease (n = 9, 12%), and miscellaneous conditions (n = 2) with an existing transvenous ICD underwent prospective ECG-S. Nineteen (26%) failed ECG-S. Failed patients had a longer corrected QT (QTc) interval (457 ms vs 425 ms; P = .03), a longer QRS duration (120 ms vs 98 ms; P = .04), and a lower ratio of R-wave to T-wave amplitudes (R:T ratio) in lead aVF (4 vs 5; P = .001). Multivariable logistic regression identified QTc interval (odds ratio [OR] 4.31; P = .04), QRS duration (OR 4.93; P = .03), R:T ratio in lead aVF (OR 3.13; P = .08) as predictors of failure. A risk score with 1 point each for QTc interval >440 ms, QRS duration >120 ms, and R:T ratio <6.5 in lead aVF was associated with probability of failure of 15.4% (1 point), 47.4% (2 points), and 88.6% (3 points), respectively. CONCLUSION: ECG-S failure for SICD occurred in 26% of children, which is higher than the reported incidence in adults. Factors predicting ECG-S failure included longer QTc interval, longer QRS duration, and lower R:T ratio in lead aVF.

Velcro-Inspired SiC Fuzzy Fibers for Aerospace Applications.

The most recent and innovative silicon carbide (SiC) fiber ceramic matrix composites, used for lightweight high-heat engine parts in aerospace applications, are woven, layered, and then surrounded by a SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC). To further improve both the mechanical properties and thermal and oxidative resistance abilities of this material, SiC nanotubes and nanowires (SiCNT/NWs) are grown on the surface of the SiC fiber via carbon nanotube conversion. This conversion utilizes the shape memory synthesis (SMS) method, starting with carbon nanotube (CNT) growth on the SiC fiber surface, to capitalize on the ease of dense surface morphology optimization and the ability to effectively engineer the CNT-SiC fiber interface to create a secure nanotube-fiber attachment. Then, by converting the CNTs to SiCNT/NWs, the relative morphology, advantageous mechanical properties, and secure connection of the initial CNT-SiC fiber architecture are retained, with the addition of high temperature and oxidation resistance. The resultant SiCNT/NW-SiC fiber can be used inside the SiC ceramic matrix composite for a high-heat turbo engine part with longer fatigue life and higher temperature resistance. The differing sides of the woven SiCNT/NWs act as the "hook and loop" mechanism of Velcro but in much smaller scale.

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Monolayer Rhenium Disulfide (ReS2).

The direct synthesis of monolayer and multilayer ReS2 by chemical vapor deposition at a low temperature of 450 °C is reported. Detailed characterization of this material is performed using various spectroscopy and microscopy methods. Furthermore initial field-effect transistor characteristics are evaluated, which highlight the potential in being used as an n-type semiconductor.

3D macroporous solids from chemically cross-linked carbon nanotubes.

Suzuki reaction for covalently interconnected 3D carbon nanotube (CNT) architectures is reported. The synthesis of 3D macroscopic solids made of CNTs covalently connected via Suzuki cross-coupling, a well-known carbon-carbon covalent bond forming reaction in organic chemistry, is scalable. The resulting solid has a highly porous, interconnected structure of chemically cross-linked CNTs. Its use for the removal of oil from contaminated water is demonstrated.

Spiers Memorial Lecture. Advances of carbon nanomaterials.

During the last two decades the exciting properties of carbon nanomaterials, i.e. fullerene, carbon nanotubes and graphene, have drawn pronounced attention. This brief review will discuss the recent advances in the science and applications of nanocarbons, mainly of nanotubes and graphene, and the opportunities and challenges that exist in future technologies based on these emerging materials. The review will discuss the growth and selection, chemical modifications, substitutional doping, and engineering three-dimensional structures, and demonstrations of possible applications. This is a perspective on how the advent of nanocarbons will enable the development of the next generation of carbon materials and technologies relevant for a broad range of applications.

Synthesis and photocurrent of amorphous boron nanowires.

Although theoretically feasible, synthesis of boron nanostructures is challenging due to the highly reactive nature, high melting and boiling points of boron. We have developed a thermal vapor transfer approach to synthesizing amorphous boron nanowire using a solid boron source. The amorphous nature and chemical composition of boron nanowires were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Optical properties and photoconduction of boron nanowires have not yet been reported. In our investigation, the amorphous boron nanowire showed much better optical and electrical properties than previously reported photo-response of crystalline boron nanobelts. When excited by a blue LED, the photo/dark current ratio (I/I0) is 1.5 and time constants in the order of tens of seconds. I/I0 is 1.17 using a green light.

Field emission with ultralow turn on voltage from metal decorated carbon nanotubes.

A simple and scalable method of decorating 3D-carbon nanotube (CNT) forest with metal particles has been developed. The results observed in aluminum (Al) decorated CNTs and copper (Cu) decorated CNTs on silicon (Si) and Inconel are compared with undecorated samples. A significant improvement in the field emission characteristics of the cold cathode was observed with ultralow turn on voltage (Eto ∼ 0.1 V/µm) due to decoration of CNTs with metal nanoparticles. Contact resistance between the CNTs and the substrate has also been reduced to a large extent, allowing us to get stable emission for longer duration without any current degradation, thereby providing a possibility of their use in vacuum microelectronic devices.

Anisotropically functionalized carbon nanotube array based hygroscopic scaffolds.

Creating ordered microstructures with hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties that enable the collection and storage of small water droplets from the atmosphere, mimicking structures that exist in insects, such as the Stenocara beetle, which live in environments with limited amounts of water. Inspired by this approach, vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube forests (NTFs) are asymmetrically end-functionalized to create hygroscopic scaffolds for water harvesting and storage from atmospheric air. One side of the NTF is made hydrophilic, which captures water from the atmosphere, and the other side is made superhydrophobic, which prevents water from escaping and the forest from collapsing. To understand how water penetrates into the NTF, the fundamentals of water/NTF surface interaction are discussed.

Carbon nanotube core graphitic shell hybrid fibers.

A carbon nanotube yarn core graphitic shell hybrid fiber was fabricated via facile heat treatment of epoxy-based negative photoresist (SU-8) on carbon nanotube yarn. The effective encapsulation of carbon nanotube yarn in carbon fiber and a glassy carbon outer shell determines their physical properties. The higher electrical conductivity (than carbon fiber) of the carbon nanotube yarn overcomes the drawbacks of carbon fiber/glassy carbon, and the better properties (than carbon nanotubes) of the carbon fiber/glassy carbon make up for the lower thermal and mechanical properties of the carbon nanotube yarn via synergistic hybridization without any chemical doping and additional processes.