Comparative analysis of sleep parameters and structures derived from wearable flexible electrode sleep patches and polysomnography in young adults.

Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for clinical sleep monitoring, but its cost, discomfort, and limited suitability for continuous use present challenges. The flexible electrode sleep patch (FESP) emerges as an economically viable and patient-friendly solution, offering lightweight, simple operation, and self-applicable. Nevertheless, its utilization in young individuals remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to compare sleep data obtained by FESP and PSG in healthy young individuals and analyze agreement for sleep parameters and structure classification. Overnight monitoring with FESP and PSG recordings in 48 participants (mean age: 23 yr) was done. Correlation analysis, Bland-Altman plots, and Cohen's kappa coefficient assessed consistency. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values compared classification against PSG. FESP showed strong correlation and consistency with PSG for sleep monitoring. Bland-Altman plots indicated small errors and high consistency. Kappa values (0.70-0.84) suggested substantial agreement for sleep stage classification. Pearson correlation coefficient values for sleep stages (0.75-0.88) and sleep parameters (0.80-0.96) confirm that FESP has a strong application. Intraclass correlation coefficient yielded values between 0.65 and 0.97. In addition, FESP demonstrated an impressive accuracy range of 84.12-93.47% for sleep stage classification. The FESP also features a wearable self-test program with an error rate of no more than 8% for both deep sleep and wake. In young adults, FESP demonstrated reliable monitoring capabilities comparable to PSG. With its low cost and user-friendly design, FESP is a potential alternative for portable sleep assessment in clinical and research applications. Further studies involving larger populations are needed to validate its diagnostic potential.NEW & NOTEWORTHY By comparison with PSG, this study confirmed the reliability of an efficient, objective, low-cost, and noninvasive portable automatic sleep-monitoring device FESP, which provides effective information for long-term family sleep disorder diagnosis and sleep quality monitoring.

Dual-Carbon Phase-Encapsulated Prelithiated SiOx Microrod Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Among silicon-based anode family for Li-ion battery technology, SiOx, a nonstoichiometric silicon suboxide holds the potential for significant near-term commercial impact. In this context, this study mainly focuses on demonstrating an innovative SiOx@C anode design that adopts a pre-lithiation strategy based on in situ pyrolysis of Li-salt of silsesquioxane trisilanolate without the need for lithium metal or active lithium compounds and creates dual carbon encapsulation of SiOC nanodomains by simply one-step thermal treatment. This ingenious design ensures the pre-lithiation process and pre-lithiation material with high-environmental stability. Moreover, phenyl-rich organosiloxane clusters and polyacrylonitrile polymers are expected to serve as internal and external carbon source, respectively. The formation of an interpenetrating and continuous carbon matrix network would not only synergistically offer an improved electrochemical accessibility of active sites but also alleviate the volume expansion effect during cycling. As a result, this new type of anode delivered a high reversible capacity, remarkable cycle stability as well as excellent high-rate capability. In particular, the L2-SiOx@C material has a high initial coulomb efficienc of 80.4% and, after 500 cycles, a capacity retention as high as 97.5% at 0.5 A g-1 with a reversible specific capacity of 654.5 mA h g-1.

Phenyl-Extended Resorcin[4]arenes: Synthesis and Highly Efficient Iodine Adsorption.

The continuous exploration of new analogs of calixarenes and pillararenes unlocks infinite opportunities in supramolecular chemistry and materials. In this work, we introduce a new class of macrocycle, phenyl-extended resorcin[4]arenes (ExR4), a unique and innovative design that incorporates unsubstituted phenylene moieties into the resorcin[4]arene scaffold. Single-crystal analysis reveals a chair-like conformation for per-methylated ExR4 (Me-ExR4) and a twisted "figure-of-eight" shaped conformation for per-hydroxylated ExR4 (OH-ExR4). Notably, OH-ExR4 demonstrates exceptional adsorption capability toward I3- ions in an aqueous solution, with a rapid kinetic rate of 1.18×10-2 g·mg-1·min-1. Furthermore, OH-ExR4 shows excellent recyclability and potential as a stationary phase in column setups. The discovery of ExR4 opens up new avenues for constructing new macrocycles and inspires further research in functional adsorption materials for water pollutant removal.

Terahertz phase modulator based on a metal-VO2 reconfigurable metasurface.

Actively controlling the phase of a terahertz (THz) wave is of great significance for beaming, tunable focusing, and holography. We present a THz phase modulator based on an electrically triggered vanadium dioxide (V O 2) reconfigurable metasurface. The unit cell of the device consists of two split-ring resonators embedded with a V O 2 ribbon. By electrically triggering the insulator-to-metal transition of V O 2, the resonance mode and resonance intensity of the unit cell can be dynamically controlled. The simulation results show that the structure can achieve a phase shift of about 360° in the range of 1.03-1.13 THz, and the reflection amplitude can reach 80%. The device has potential applications in THz imaging, radar, broadband wireless communications, and array phase control.

The prevalence and risk factors of work related musculoskeletal disorders among electronics manufacturing workers: a cross-sectional analytical study in China.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the electronics manufacturing industry and to investigate the relations between work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and work-related variables. METHODS: An interview-based questionnaire survey was carried out in thirty electronics manufacturing factories in China in 2018. The prevalence of WMSDs was estimated using the modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the effects of risk factors on WMSDs on multiple body parts. RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of WMSDs among participants was 40.6%, and the common body sites affected were the neck (26.8%), shoulder (22.8%), upper back (14.9%), and lower back (14.8%). The results of logistic regression showed that female adults, > 5 job tenure and work-related factors (including awkward posture, lifting or carrying weights, excessive repetition, prolonged sitting, monotonous work and working under conditions of cold or temperature variations) led to a higher risk of WMSDs on most body parts. Upper back, wrist/hand and elbow pain levels were significantly higher for workers with vibration. However, more frequently, physical exercise was a protective factor against WMSDs on most body parts except the upper back, leg and knee. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among the electronics manufacturing industry in China. Different personal and work factors are related to the occurrence of WMSD on different body parts. Preventive measures should be implemented based on the characteristics of WMSD in the electronic manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the training and intervention guidance of ergonomic hazards in the workplace need to be strengthened by understanding the impact of bad posture, avoiding long-term sitting posture and increasing physical activities.

Life satisfaction and its influencing factors for bedridden patients with stroke.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the life satisfaction of bedridden patients with stroke and explore its relationship with demographic, social, and medical factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in two steps. The Longshi scale was used to select the study population and assess patients' ability to perform activities of daily living. Subsequently, a multidimensional questionnaire was used to obtain the participants' information and evaluate their level of life satisfaction. The chi-squared test and binary logistic regression methods were employed to analyze the factors influencing the life satisfaction of bedridden patients with stroke. RESULTS: A total of 3,639 bedridden patients with stroke were included in this study, of them, only 27.2% reported satisfaction with their current lives. Factors associated with higher life satisfaction include female sex, older age, and primary school education or lower (P<0.05). Patients who had experienced a single stroke episode had chronic diseases, and rated their health as good were more satisfied with their lives than those who did not. The results of the binary logistic regression confirmed that age, education, religion, household income, cohabitation, social participation, number of chronic diseases, self-rated health status, and disability level significantly influenced the life satisfaction of bedridden patients with stroke (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the overall life satisfaction of bedridden patients with stroke was low, with several factors influencing their life satisfaction. Therefore, effective measures should be implemented to improve life satisfaction and quality of life.

Association Between Falling and Activities of Daily Living Measured by the Longshi Scale in Patients Poststroke: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Activities of daily living comprise an important risk factor for falls among patients who have suffered a stroke. PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of falls in patients with stroke, categorized by their Longshi grades (bedridden, domestic, community), and to explore their risk factors for falls. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Patients completed a survey during face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Of the 869 participants, 15.7% experienced a fall. Those in the domestic Longshi group had the highest rate of falls. Approximately 30% experienced either a moderate or severe injury as a result of falling. In addition, being older than 70 years was significantly correlated with fall risk. Intermediate Longshi grades, from moderately dependent to slightly dependent, were also positively correlated with falls. CONCLUSION: Patients with stroke in the domestic Longshi group have a higher rate of falls. The risk of falling increased significantly in those with intermediate Longshi grades.

The association between adverse ergonomic factors and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among medical staff in China: a cross-sectional study.

We investigated the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) among medical staff and evaluated the associations of different levels of adverse ergonomic factors with WMSs. A total of 6099 Chinese medical staff were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire to assess the prevalence and risk factors of WMSs from June 2018 to December 2020. A prevalence rate of 57.5% was observed for WMSs among overall medical staffs, which mainly affected the neck (41.7%) and shoulder (33.5%). 'Keeping sitting for long hours very frequently' (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.53) was positively associated with WMSs in doctors, while 'keeping sitting for long hours occasionally' (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.97) was identified as a protective factor of WMSs in nurses. The associations of adverse ergonomic factors, organisational factors, and environmental factors with WMSs were different among medical staff in different positions.Practitioner summary: We conducted a multi-city study concerning the risk factors of WMSs by carrying out a face-to-face one-to-multiple questionnaire survey among medical staff in China. As a risk factor of WMSs in medical staff, adverse ergonomic factors should be paid more attention by the standard setting department and policy makers.Abbreviations: WMSDs: work-related musculoskeletal disorders; WMSs: work-related musculoskeletal symptoms; MSDs: musculoskeletal disorders; NMQ: Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaires; DMQ: Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaires; NIOSH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; ORs: odds ratios.

Macrocycle-Based Crystalline Supramolecular Assemblies Built with Intermolecular Charge-Transfer Interactions.

Synthetic macrocycles have served as principal tools for supramolecular chemistry, have greatly extended the scope of organic charge transfer (CT) complexes, and have proved to be of great practical value in the solid state during the past few years. In this Minireview, we summarize the research progress on the macrocycle-based crystalline supramolecular assemblies primarily driven by intermolecular CT interactions (a.k.a. macrocycle-based crystalline CT assemblies, MCCAs for short), which are classified by their donor-acceptor (D-A) constituent elements, including simplex macrocyclic hosts, heterogeneous macrocyclic hosts, and host-guest D-A pairs. Particular attention will be focused on their diverse functions and applications, as well as the underlying CT mechanisms from the perspective of crystal engineering. Finally, the remaining challenges and prospects are outlined.

Exercise training ameliorates early diabetic kidney injury by regulating the H2 S/SIRT1/p53 pathway.

Exercise training exerts protective effects against diabetic nephropathy. This study aimed to investigate whether exercise training could attenuate diabetic renal injury via regulating endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) production. First, C57BL/6 mice were allocated into the control, diabetes, exercise, and diabetes + exercise groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Treadmill exercise continued for four weeks. Second, mice was allocated into the control, diabetes, H2 S and diabetes + H2 S groups. H2 S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) was intraperitoneally injected once daily for four weeks. STZ-induced diabetic mice exhibited glomerular hypertrophy, tissue fibrosis and increased urine albumin levels, urine protein- and albumin-to-creatinine ratios, which were relieved by exercise training. Diabetic renal injury was associated with apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the enhanced caspase-3 activity, the increased TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling -positive cells and the reduced expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, all of which were attenuated by exercise training. Exercise training enhanced renal sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in diabetic mice, accompanied by an inhibition of the p53-#ediated pro-apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, exercise training restored the STZ-mediated downregulation of cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and the reduced renal H2 S production. NaHS treatment restored SIRT1 expression, inhibited the p53-mediated pro-apoptotic pathway and attenuated diabetes-associated apoptosis and renal injury. In high glucose-treated MPC5 podocytes, NaHS treatment inhibited the p53-mediated pro-apoptotic pathway and podocyte apoptosis in a SIRT1-dependent manner. Collectively, exercise training upregulated CBS/CSE expression and enhanced the endogenous H2 S production in renal tissues, thereby contributing to the modulation of the SIRT1/p53 apoptosis pathway and improvement of diabetic nephropathy.

Surface-Functionalized Terahertz Metamaterial Biosensor Used for the Detection of Exosomes in Patients.

Owing to their stability in bodily fluids, exosomes have attracted increased attention as colorectal cancer (CRC) biomarkers for early diagnosis. To validate the potential of the plasma exosomes as a novel biomarker for the monitoring of CRC, we demonstrated a terahertz (THz) metamaterials (MMs) biosensor for the detection of exosomes in this work. The biosensor with two resonant frequencies is designed using full wave electromagnetic simulation software based on the finite integration time domain (FITD) method and fabricated by a surface micromachining process. The biosensor surface is first modified using Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), and then, anti-KRAS and anti-CD147, which are specific to the exosomes, are modified on the AuNPs assembled with HS-poly(ethylene glycol)-COOH (HS-PEG-COOH). Exosomes used in the experiment are extracted via the instructions in the exosomes isolation and purification kit and identified by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Western blot (WB), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The biosensor covered with plasma-derived exosomes of CRC patients has a different resonance frequency shift compared to that with healthy-control-derived exosomes. This study proposes an emerging and quick method for diagnosing the CRC.

Analysis of reaction between vitamin B6 and bovine serum albumin based on a terahertz metamaterial sensor.

A four-peak terahertz metamaterial sensor was used to detect the reaction between different concentrations of vitamin B6 (VB6) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), which achieves a concentration range (0.015-0.125 mg/µl) of VB6 and a maximum binding concentration (0.05 mg/µl) of VB6 and 0.0875 mg/µl BSA. To understand the combination of VB6 and BSA, the reactants between VB (VB1, VB3, and VB5) with the same concentration (0.05 mg/µl) and a BSA solution with a concentration of 0.0875 mg/µl were carried on the surface of the sensor. Experimental results show that the reactants cause the four resonance peaks of the sensor to produce the coincident redshift, which is the same as the order of their binding coefficients determined by the fluorescence method. The experimental process indicates that it is feasible to use terahertz metamaterials to detect the reaction process of organic matter.

Terahertz metamaterial biosensor for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma at early stage.

We propose a method for diagnosis of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using a terahertz (THz) metamaterial (MM) biosensor. The biosensor has a resonance frequency at about 0.801 THz and can measure the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in serum. The sensitivity of the sensor is 124 GHz/refractive index unit (RIU), and the quality-factor (Q) is 6.913, respectively. When the surface of the biosensor is covered with healthy serum (AFP≤7ng/mL), the maximum resonance frequency shift is 50 GHz. However, when it is covered with serum from patients with cirrhosis and early HCC (AFP>7ng/mL), the resonance frequency shift is more than 59 GHz. Positive correlation exists between the frequency shift of the biosensor and serum levels of the AFP in the HCC patients. This study provides a method for quick diagnosis and prediction of cirrhosis and HCC.

Prevalence and risk factors analysis for low back pain among occupational groups in key industries of China.

BACKGROUND: With the acceleration of industrialization and population aging, low back pain (LBP) has become the leading cause of life loss years caused by disability. Thus, it places a huge economic burden on society and is a global public health problem that needs urgent solution. This study aimed to conduct an epidemiological investigation and research on a large sample of workers in key industries in different regions of China, determine the incidence and distribution characteristics of LBP, explore the epidemic law, and provide a reference basis for alleviating global public health problems caused by LBP. METHODS: We adopted a modified epidemiological cross-sectional survey method and a stratified cluster sampling method. All on-duty workers who fulfill the inclusion criteria are taken as the research participants from the representative enterprises in key industries across seven regions: north, east, central, south, southwest, northwest, and northeast China. The Chinese version of the musculoskeletal disease questionnaire, modified by a standardized Nordic questionnaire, was used to collect information, and 57,501 valid questionnaires were received. Descriptive statistics were used, and multivariate logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05) was performed to explore the association between musculoskeletal disorders and potential risk factors. RESULTS: LBP annual incidence among workers in China's key industries is 16.4%. There was a significant difference in LBP incidence among occupational groups across different industries (p < 0.05). The multivariate regression model showed the following as risk factors for LBP: frequent repetitive movements with the trunk, working in the same positions at a high pace, trunk position, frequently turning around with your trunk, often working overtime, lifting heavy loads (i.e., more than 20 kg), education level, staff shortage, working age (years), cigarette smoking, use of vibration tools at work, body mass index, lifting heavy loads (i.e., more than 5 kg), and age (years). Physical exercise, often standing at work, and absolute resting time were protective factors. CONCLUSION: LBP incidence among key industries and workers in China is high. Thus, it is urgent to take relevant measures according to the individual, occupational, and psychosocial factors of LBP to reduce the adverse impact of LBP on workers' health.

Shoulder work-related musculoskeletal disorders and related factors of workers in 15 industries of China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Changes in modern industrial production practices can easily lead to shoulder work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). The current reports on shoulder WMSD are limited to some industries are less well studied, and the sample size is usually small. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and severity of shoulder WMSD in a large sample of Chinese workers from 15 industries, analyze the possible correlations with sociodemographic and work-related variables, and compare the differences between industries. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 55,749 participants from 252 enterprises in 15 industries throughout China. A Chinese version of the musculoskeletal disease questionnaire was used to collect the demographic factors, shoulder symptoms in past 12 months, and work-related factors including posture-related factors, repetition, vibration, work organization, job control, and environmental factors as independent variables. Descriptive statistics were used, and the binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between shoulder WMSD and potential demographic and work-related factors. RESULTS: Nearly 35.5% of participants reported shoulder pain and discomfort in the previous 12 months. Biopharmaceutical manufacturing (56.2%), medical services (54.4%), and aviation services (50.1%) were the three industries with the highest prevalence of shoulder WMSD. The pain score of aviation services workers was the highest. The related factors for shoulder WMSD varied among the different industries. CONCLUSION: Our study found a relatively high prevalence of shoulder WMSD in China. There were large differences in the prevalence of shoulder WMSD among industries, and the related factors were particular to each industry. Such information is useful to help occupational health practitioners and policymakers conduct preventive programs to reduce shoulder disorders in these working populations.

Polarization Domain Spectrum Sensing Algorithm Based on AlexNet.

In this paper, we propose a spectrum sensing algorithm based on the Jones vector covariance matrix (JCM) and AlexNet model, i.e., the JCM-AlexNet algorithm, by taking advantage of the different state characteristics of the signal and noise in the polarization domain. We use the AlexNet model, which is good at extracting matrix features, as the classification model and use the Jones vector, which characterizes the polarization state, to calculate its covariance matrix and convert it into an image and then use it as the input to the AlexNet model. Then, we calculate the likelihood ratio test statistic (AlexNet-LRT) based on the output of the model to achieve the classification of the signal and noise. The simulation analysis shows that the JCM-AlexNet algorithm performs better than the conventional polarization detection (PSD) algorithm and the other three (LeNet5, long short-term memory (LSTM), multilayer perceptron (MLP)) excellent deep-learning-based spectrum sensing algorithms for different signal-to-noise ratios and different false alarm probabilities.

A Low Complexity Sensing Algorithm for Non-Sparse Wideband Spectrum.

The vast majority of existing sub-Nyquist sampling wideband spectrum sensing (WSS) methods default to a sparse spectrum. However, research data suggests that in the near future, the wideband spectrum will no longer be sparse. This article proposes a sub-Nyquist sampling WSS algorithm that can adapt well to non-sparse spectrum scenarios. The algorithm continues to implement the idea of our previously proposed "no reconstruction (NoR) of spectrum" algorithm, thus having low computational complexity. The new one is actually an advanced version of the NoR algorithm, so it is called AdNoR. The key to its advancement lies in the establishment of a folded time-frequency (TF) spectrum model with the same special structure as in the fold spectrum model of the NoR algorithm. For this purpose, we have designed a comprehensive sampling technique which consists of multicoset sampling, digital fractional delay, and TF transform. It is verified by simulation that the AdNoR algorithm maintains a good sensing performance with low computational complexity in the non-sparse scenario.

A Water-Soluble Leggero Pillar[5]arene.

The study of aqueous-phase molecular recognition of artificial receptors is one of the frontiers in supramolecular chemistry since most biochemical processes and reactions take place in an aqueous medium and heavily rely on it. In this work, a water-soluble version of leggero pillar[5]arene bearing eight positively charged pyridinium moieties (CWP[5]L) was designed and synthesized, which exhibited good binding affinities with certain aliphatic sulfonate species in aqueous solutions. Significantly, control experiments demonstrate that the guest binding performance of CWP[5]L is superior to its counterpart water-soluble macrocyclic receptor in traditional pillararenes.

Modulating Supramolecular Charge-Transfer Interactions in the Solid State using Compressible Macrocyclic Hosts.

Modulating intermolecular charge-transfer (ICT) interactions between specific donor and acceptor species in host-guest systems is a big challenge and full of research value in supramolecular chemistry and materials science. In this work, a strategy to modulate the supramolecular ICT interactions in the solid state is developed by compressing the binding cavity of a macrocyclic host named perethylated leaning pillar[6]arene (p-EtLP6). The solid-state ICT affinities of p-EtLP6 toward multi-types of electron-deficient planar guests could be significantly enhanced by transforming the macrocyclic backbone from the original para-bridged mode into a hybrid para- and meta-bridged isomeric form (m-EtLP6). X-ray single-crystal structural analyses incorporating theoretical calculation demonstrate that the improved ICT affinities are mainly attributed to the superior host-guest size fit arising from the compressed binding cavity in m-EtLP6 as compared with p-EtLP6.

A novel Longshi Scale measured activity of daily living disability in elderly patients affected by neurological diseases: a multi-center cross-sectional study in China.

BACKGROUND: Ability in the activities of daily life is often impaired in the older adults with a neurological disease. The Barthel Index is an instrument used worldwide to assess such ability. The Longshi Scale is a picture-based alternative, but its effectiveness has not been evaluated with older adult subjects. This study was to determine whether the Longshi Scale can effectively quantify the ability of older adults in the activities of daily living by comparing its ratings with those using the Barthel Index. METHODS: A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted among patients over 65 years. A total of 2438 patients were divided into three groups, including bedridden, domestic, or community group based on their ability to go out of bed, move outdoors, and return indoors. Their ability in the activities of daily living among three groups was evaluated using both the Longshi Scale and the Barthel Index, and the results were compared. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the average Barthel Index scores of three groups classified using the Longshi Scale. The average Longshi Scale scores also showed significant differences between the four groups classified using the Barthel Index. Spearman correlation coefficients showed strong correlation(>0.83) between the Longshi Scale and Barthel Index scores. CONCLUSIONS: The Longshi Scale can efficiently distinguish the ability in the activities of daily living of people with a neurological disease. Its rating correlate well with those using the Barthel Index.