Feasibility characteristics of wrist-worn fitness trackers in health status monitoring for post-COVID patients in remote and rural areas.

INTRODUCTION: Common, consumer-grade biosensors mounted on fitness trackers and smartwatches can measure an array of biometrics that have potential utility in post-discharge medical monitoring, especially in remote/rural communities. The feasibility characteristics for wrist-worn biosensors are poorly described for post-COVID conditions and rural populations. METHODS: We prospectively recruited patients in rural communities who were enrolled in an at-home rehabilitation program for post-COVID conditions. They were asked to wear a FitBit Charge 2 device and biosensor parameters were analyzed [e.g. heart rate, sleep, and activity]. Electronic patient reported outcome measures [E-PROMS] for mental [bi-weekly] and physical [daily] symptoms were collected using SMS text or email [per patient preference]. Exit surveys and interviews evaluated the patient experience. RESULTS: Ten patients were observed for an average of 58 days and half [N = 5] were monitored for 8 weeks or more. Five patients [50%] had been hospitalized with COVID [mean stay = 41 days] and 4 [36%] had required mechanical ventilation. As baseline, patients had moderate to severe levels of anxiety, depression, and stress; fatigue and shortness of breath were the most prevalent physical symptoms. Four patients [40%] already owned a smartwatch. In total, 575 patient days of patient monitoring occurred across 10 patients. Biosensor data was usable for 91.3% of study hours and surveys were completed 82.1% and 78.7% of the time for physical and mental symptoms, respectively. Positive correlations were observed between stress and resting heart rate [r = 0.360, p<0.01], stress and daily steps [r = 0.335, p<0.01], and anxiety and daily steps [r = 0.289, p<0.01]. There was a trend toward negative correlation between sleep time and physical symptom burden [r = -0.211, p = 0.05]. Patients reported an overall positive experience and identified the potential for wearable devices to improve medical safety and access to care. Concerns around data privacy/security were infrequent. CONCLUSIONS: We report excellent feasibility characteristics for wrist-worn biosensors and e-PROMS as a possible substrate for multi-modal disease tracking in post-COVID conditions. Adapting consumer-grade wearables for medical use and scalable remote patient monitoring holds great potential.

Characterisation of formulated high-density poly(ethylene) by magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance.

High-density poly(ethylene) (HDPE) is an important class of polymer used extensively in plastic packaging as well as numerous other applications. HDPE has a structure that consists of crystalline (monoclinic and orthorhombic) and amorphous domains. Here, we exploit a range of approaches focusing on magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) aimed at comparing the effect of the HDPE sample formulation (cutting, shaving and cryomilling), from the commercially available manufactured pellets, into these domains and their quantification. 13C cross polarisation (CP) experiments reveal that these formulated HDPEs are qualitatively different and 13C CP build-up curves and 13C direct excitation experiments enable the content of each domain to be obtained, pointing to an increase of monoclinic domain at the expense of the orthorhombic one upon increased processing. The crystallinity contents obtained compared, in some cases, favourably with those obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data. These results provide evidence that the manner of preparation of HDPE pellets modifies the concentration of the various domains and suggest that care should be taken during processing.

Low-Dimensional Organic Tin Bromide Perovskites and Their Photoinduced Structural Transformation.

Hybrid organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites possess exceptional structural tunability, with three- (3D), two- (2D), one- (1D), and zero-dimensional (0D) structures on the molecular level all possible. While remarkable progress has been realized in perovskite research in recent years, the focus has been mainly on 3D and 2D structures, with 1D and 0D structures significantly underexplored. The synthesis and characterization of a series of low-dimensional organic tin bromide perovskites with 1D and 0D structures is reported. Using the same organic and inorganic components, but at different ratios and reaction conditions, both 1D (C4 N2 H14 )SnBr4 and 0D (C4 N2 H14 Br)4 SnBr6 can be prepared in high yields. Moreover, photoinduced structural transformation from 1D to 0D was investigated experimentally and theoretically in which photodissociation of 1D metal halide chains followed by structural reorganization leads to the formation of a more thermodynamically stable 0D structure.

A cognitive-emotional model of NSSI: using emotion regulation and cognitive processes to explain why people self-injure.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a complex behaviour, routinely engaged for emotion regulatory purposes. As such, a number of theoretical accounts regarding the aetiology and maintenance of NSSI are grounded in models of emotion regulation; the role that cognition plays in the behaviour is less well known. In this paper, we summarise four models of emotion regulation that have repeatedly been related to NSSI and identify the core components across them. We then draw on social cognitive theory to unite models of cognition and models of emotion in developing a new cognitive-emotional model of NSSI. Our model articulates how emotion regulation and cognition can work in concert to govern NSSI, and offers several new research questions that can be addressed within this framework.

A Preliminary Application of Social Cognitive Theory to Nonsuicidal Self-Injury.

Researchers have established a relationship between exposure to nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and increased probability of engaging in the behavior, but few have endeavored to explain the mechanisms underlying the relationship. We drew on Social Cognitive Theory to argue that core cognitions, including NSSI outcome expectancies and self-efficacy expectancies, moderate this relationship. We also explored whether knowledge about NSSI and attitudes toward the behavior played a role in this relationship. A sample of 389 university students (73.1 % female, M age = 20.90, SD = 2.36), completed online questionnaires assessing the constructs of interest. Our findings support the application of Social Cognitive Theory to better understanding NSSI, with clear links between expectancies, self-efficacy and NSSI. Further, these cognitions moderated a number of exposure-NSSI relationships. Implications of these findings for theory, research and intervention are discussed.

Synthesis and characterization of ionic liquids containing copper, manganese, or zinc coordination cations.

Copper-, manganese-, and zinc-based ionic liquids (Cu{NH(2)CH(2)CH(2)OH}(6)[CH(3)(CH(2))(3)CH(C(2)H(5))CO(2)](2) (2), Cu{NH(CH(2)CH(2)OH)(2)}(6)[CH(3)(CH(2))(3)CH(C(2)H(5))CO(2)](2) (3A), Cu{NH(CH(2)CH(2)OH)(2)}(6)[CF(3)SO(3)](2) (3B), Cu{NH(CH(2)CH(2)OH)(2)}(6)[(CF(3)SO(2))(2)N](2) (3C), Mn{NH(CH(2)CH(2)OH)(2)}(6)[CF(3)SO(3)](2) (4), and Zn{NH(2)CH(2)CH(2)OH}(6)[CF(3)SO(3)](2) (5)) are synthesized in a single-step reaction. Infrared data suggest that ethanolamine preferentially coordinates to the metal center through the amine group in 2 and the hydroxyl group in 5. In addition, diethanolamine coordinates through the amine group in 3A, 3C, and 4 and the hydroxyl group in 3B. The compounds are viscous (>1000 cP) at room temperature, but two (3C and 4) display specific conductivities that are reasonably high for ionic liquids (>20 mS cm(-1)). All of the compounds display a glass transition (T(g)) below -50 °C. The cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of 2, 3A, 3B, and 3C display a single quasi-reversible wave associated with Cu(II)/Cu(I) reduction and re-oxidation while 5 shows a wave attributed to Zn(II)/Zn(0) reduction and stripping (re-oxidation). Compound 4 is the first in this new family of transition metal-based ionic liquids (MetILs) to display reversible Mn(II)/Mn(III) oxidation and re-reduction at 50 mV s(-1) using a glassy carbon working electrode.

Synthesis of an ionic liquid with an iron coordination cation.

An iron-based ionic liquid, Fe((OHCH(2)CH(2))(2)NH)(6)(CF(3)SO(3))(3), is synthesized in a single-step complexation reaction. Infrared and Raman data suggest NH(CH(2)CH(2)OH)(2) primarily coordinates to Fe(iii) through alcohol groups. The compound has T(g) and T(d) values of -64 degrees C and 260 degrees C, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry reveals quasi-reversible Fe(iii)/Fe(ii) reduction waves.