Multifunctional Flexible MXene/AgNW Composite Thin Film with Ultrahigh Conductivity Enabled by a Sandwich-Structured Assembly Strategy.

Flexible composite films have attracted considerable attention due to great potential for healthcare, telecommunication, and aerospace. However, it is still challenging to achieve high conductivity and multifunctional integration, mainly due to poorly designed composite structures of these films. Herein, a novel sandwich-structured assembly strategy is proposed to fabricate flexible composite thin films made of Ag nanowire (AgNW) core and MXene layers by combination of spray coating and vacuum filtration process. In this case, ultrathin MXene layers play crucial roles in constructing compact composite structures strongly anchored to substrate with extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions. The resultant sandwich-structured MXene/AgNW composite thin films (SMAFs) exhibit ultrahigh electrical conductivity (up to 27193 S cm-1 ), resulting in exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 16 223.3 dB cm2 g-1 and impressive Joule heating performance with rapid heating rate of 10.4 °C s-1 . Moreover, the uniform SMAFs can also be facilely cut into kirigami-patterned interconnects, which indicate superior strain-insensitive conductance even after long-term exposure to extreme temperatures. The demonstrated strategy offers a significant paradigm to construct multifunctional composite thin films for next-generation integrated flexible electronics with practical applications.

Biohybrid Urchin-Like ZnO-Based Microspheres with Tunable Hierarchical Structures and Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Properties.

Microorganisms have attracted much attention to act as biotemplates for fabricating micro/nanostructured functional particles. However, it is still challenging to produce tunable hierarchical particles based on microorganisms with intricate architectures and superior stability. Herein, a novel strategy is developed to fabricate biohybrid urchin-like magnetic ZnO microspheres based on Chlorella (Ch.) with tunable hierarchical core-shell structures. Using Ch. cells as microspherical templates, Fe3 O4 nanoparticles and ZnO nanorod (NR) arrays are deposited in sequence to form the final biohybrid heterostructure microspheres (Ch.@Fe3 O4 @ZnO NRs). Ordered growth and structural regulation of 3D ZnO NR arrays are achieved via a facile and controllable manner. Compared with the prepared microspheres with diverse structure configurations of ZnO shells, the Ch.@Fe3 O4 @ZnO NRs possess excellent light absorption and photoelectrocatalysis performance toward tetracycline degradation (normalized apparent rate constant, k = 366.3 h-1 g-1 ), which is significantly larger than that of ZnO nanoflower/nanoparticle loaded types. It also proves that the synergistic enhancement of well-oriented ZnO NR arrays, heterojunction structures, and biomass features is the fundamental reason for outstanding photoelectrocatalytic activity. Due to the remarkable stability and versatility, this work provides abundant opportunities to construct biohybrid multilevel micro/nanostructures with significant potentials for practical applications.

MoSBOTs: Magnetically Driven Biotemplated MoS2 -Based Microrobots for Biomedical Applications.

2D layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) nanomaterials are a promising platform for biomedical applications, particularly due to its high biocompatibility characteristics, mechanical and electrical properties, and flexible functionalization. Additionally, the bandgap of MoS2 can be engineered to absorb light over a wide range of wavelengths, which can then be transformed into local heat for applications in photothermal tissue ablation and regeneration. However, limitations such as poor stability of aqueous dispersions and low accumulation in affected tissues impair the full realization of MoS2 for biomedical applications. To overcome such challenges, herein, multifunctional MoS2 -based magnetic helical microrobots (MoSBOTs) using cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis are proposed as biotemplate for therapeutic and biorecognition applications. The cytocompatible microrobots combine remote magnetic navigation with MoS2 photothermal activity under near-infrared irradiation. The resulting photoabsorbent features of the MoSBOTs are exploited for targeted photothermal ablation of cancer cells and on-the-fly biorecognition in minimally invasive oncotherapy applications. The proposed multi-therapeutic MoSBOTs hold considerable potential for a myriad of cancer treatment and diagnostic-related applications, circumventing current challenges of ablative procedures.

Excretory dysfunction and quality of life after a spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the aspects of excretory dysfunction most influential in determining the quality of life of survivors of spinal cord injury. BACKGROUND: Excretory dysfunction is one of the most common and troublesome sequelae of spinal cord injury. Previous studies have shown that it can restrict social participation restriction, cause readmission and generally influence quality of life substantially. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of hospital inpatients following STOBE guidelines. METHODS: A convenience sample of 101 patients with traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury were asked about their experiences of excretory dysfunction, and management and their self-perceived quality of life. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were performed to isolate the most important relationships. RESULTS: Only 2 of the 101 subjects professed to be unaffected by excretion dysfunction. Bladder-related dysfunction was the most frequently mentioned type of problem. Quality of life impairment was found to be most often associated with bladder accidents, bowel accidents and having more than one bladder complications. CONCLUSIONS: Excretory dysfunction substantially impacts quality of life after a spinal cord injury. Bladder accidents, bowel accidents and more than one bladder complication are factors independently influencing the quality of life of spinal cord injury survivors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To improve excretion-related QOL, patients' bladder and bowel self-management training should be strengthened seeking to prevent complications and reduce the risk of bladder and bowel accidents.

Inhibition of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors Independent of Its Peripheral Antinociceptive Effects in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is often associated with depression. Enhancing endocannabinoids by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors relieves neuropathic pain and stress-induced depressive-like behaviors in animal models. However, it is unclear whether FAAH inhibitor can relieve neuropathic pain-induced depression by or not by its antinociceptive effects. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve were treated with the systemic FAAH inhibitor URB597 (5.8 mg·kg·day, intraperitoneally) or peripherally acting FAAH inhibitor URB937 (1.6 mg·kg·d, intraperitoneally; n = 11-12). The treatment was applied from the 15th day after surgery and continued for 15 days. Mechanical withdrawal threshold was examined by Von Frey test before surgery and on the 28th day after CCI. Depressive-like behaviors were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST) and novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) after 15-day treatment. The levels of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in hippocampus were examined by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Hippocampal neurogenesis including proliferation, differentiation, and survival of newborn cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After CCI injury, the rats developed significantly nociceptive and depressive-like behaviors, indicated by persistent mechanical hypersensitivity in Von Frey test, significantly prolonged immobility time in FST (sham: 84.2 ± 13.4 seconds versus CCI: 137.9 ± 18.8 seconds; P < .001), and protracted latency to feed in NSF (sham: 133.4 ± 19.4 seconds versus CCI: 234.9 ± 33.5 seconds; P < .001). For the CCI rats receiving treatment, compared to vehicle placebo group, pain threshold was increased by both URB597 (3.1 ± 1.0 vs 11.2 ± 1.2 g; P < .001) and URB937 (3.1 ± 1.0 vs 12.1 ± 1.3 g; P < .001). Immobility time of FST was reduced by URB597 (135.8 ± 16.6 vs 85.3 ± 17.2 seconds; P < .001) but not by URB937 (135.8 ± 16.6 vs 129.6 ± 17.8 seconds; P = .78). Latency to feed in NSF was also reduced by URB597 (235.9 ± 30.5 vs 131.8 ± 19.8 seconds; P < .001) but not by URB937 (235.9 ± 30.5 vs 232.2 ± 33.2 seconds; P = .72). Meanwhile, CCI decreased the number of proliferating cells and reduced survival of new mature neurons in hippocampus. URB597 but not URB937 treatment improved these cellular deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of FAAH can improve depressive-like behaviors induced by neuropathic pain independent of its peripheral antinociceptive action. Enhanced neurogenesis in hippocampus might contribute to the antidepressive effects of URB597.

Sputum signatures for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with underlying respiratory diseases (SPARED): study protocol for a prospective diagnostic trial.

BACKGROUND: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has been increasingly reported in patients with underlying respiratory diseases (URD). Early diagnosis of IPA is crucial for mortality reduction and improved prognosis, yet remains difficult. Existing diagnostic tools for IPA largely rely on the detection of biomarkers based on serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), both of which have their limitations. The use of sputum sample is non-invasive, and Aspergillus detection is feasible; however, the usefulness of sputum biomarkers for the diagnosis of IPA, especially in patients with URD, has not been systematically studied. METHODS: This is a prospective diagnostic trial. At least 118 participants will be recruited from respiratory wards and intensive care units. IPA is defined according to the EORTC/MSG criteria modified for patients with URD. Induced sputum and blood will be collected, and BALF will be obtained by bronchoscopy. Sputum biomarkers, including galactomannan, Aspergillus DNA, triacetylfusarinine and bis(methylthio)gliotoxin will be determined, and the presence of a JF5 antigen will be examined with a lateral fluid device. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and diagnostic odds ratio will be computed for different biomarkers and compared using the McNemar χ2 test. Receiver operating characteristic analyses will be performed, and the cut-off values will be established. Participants will receive follow-up evaluations at 3 months and 6 months after recruitment. The difference in hospital stay and survival will be analysed, and the relationships between the levels of biomarkers and hospital stay and survival will be analysed via regression models. DISCUSSION: We have developed and verified the feasibility of Aspergillus-related biomarker assays for sputum. The study findings will contribute to a novel look at the diagnostic performance of sputum biomarkers in IPA and provide important insight into the improvement of the early diagnosis of IPA, particularly in patients with URD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR-DPD-16009070 ) on 24th of August 2016.

An in vitro investigation of the inhibitory mechanism of ß-galactosidase by cinnamaldehyde alone and in combination with carvacrol and thymol.

BACKGROUND: Some antibacterial agents exert their antimicrobial action by targeting the cytoplasmic macromolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, to disturb the properties of macromolecules that may deeply influence their biological activities and functions. Cinnamaldehyde (CIN) is a natural antibacterial ingredient found in the bark and leaves of cinnamon trees. METHODS: The inhibitory mechanism of a typical enzyme, ß-galactosidase by CIN was investigated by UV-visible, fluorescence, 3-D spectroscopy, circular dichroism, atomic force microscopy and molecular modeling studies. RESULTS: CIN decreased the activity of ß-galactosidase by competitive inhibition through a multiphase kinetic process. 3-D spectroscopy and circular dichroism showed that the binding of CIN to ß-galactosidase resulted in changes in micro-environment of tryptophan and tyrosine residues, and conformation of ß-galactosidase. The molecular recognition was also analyzed through modeling which indicated that CIN was inserted into the active site pocket of ß-galactosidase and interacted with amino acid residues, such as Met502, Trp568, Phe601 and Trp999. Atomic force microscopy showed that a serious destabilization of the native conformation of ß-galactosidase occurred after binding with CIN, e.g., morphological changes and increased dimensions of the ß-galactosidase molecule. Moreover, it was found that the combinations of CIN, carvacrol and thymol exposure displayed synergistic effects on the inhibition of ß-galactosidase. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study exhibits a comprehensively understanding about the action mechanism of CIN that affects the conformation and activity of ß-galactosidase in biochemical processes and provides some new insights into the possible intracellular targeting behaviors of CIN at a molecular level.

Combination of microbiological, spectroscopic and molecular docking techniques to study the antibacterial mechanism of thymol against Staphylococcus aureus: membrane damage and genomic DNA binding.

Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) is a natural ingredient used as flavor or preservative agent in food products. The antibacterial mechanism of thymol against Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in this work. A total of 15 membrane fatty acids were identified in S. aureus cells by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Exposure to thymol at low concentrations induced obvious alterations in membrane fatty acid composition, such as decreasing the proportion of branched 12-methyltetradecanoic acid and 14-methylhexadecanoic acid (from 22.4 and 17.3% to 7.9 and 10.3%, respectively). Membrane permeability assay and morphological image showed that thymol at higher concentrations disrupted S. aureus cell membrane integrity, which may decrease cell viability. Moreover, the interaction of thymol with genomic DNA was also investigated using multi-spectroscopic techniques, docking and atomic force microscopy. The results indicated that thymol bound to the minor groove of DNA with binding constant (K a) value of (1.22 ± 0.14) × 104 M-1, and this binding interaction induced a mild destabilization in the DNA secondary structure, and made DNA molecules to be aggregated. Graphical Abstract Thymol exerts its antibacterial effect throught destruction of bacterial cell membrane and binding directly to genomic DNA.

Comparison of double filtration plasmapheresis with immunoadsorption therapy in patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) and (IA) are both used to clear antibody. However, the clinical efficacy and safety of DFPP in patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease are unclear. METHODS: The 28 enrolled patients diagnosed serologically and pathologically with anti-GBM disease from 2003 to 2013 included 16 treated with DFPP and 12 with IA, with all patients administered immunosuppressive agents. DFPP consisted of an EC50W filter for plasma separation and an EC20W filter for plasma fractionation. A double volume of plasma was processed, and each patient received a 30-40 g human albumin supplement during each session. IA consisted of 10 cycles per session, with 8-10 sessions performed daily or every other day and each session regenerating 30-60 L of plasma. Serum anti-GBM antibodies and IgG were measured, and urinary and blood tests were performed, before and after each procedure. Renal function and outcome were determined. RESULTS: The 28 patients consisted of 13 males and 15 females, of median age 44.5 years (range, 22.5-57 years). Six patients had pulmonary hemorrhage and 18 had serum creatinine concentrations >500 umol/L. The average serum creatinine concentration at early onset of disease was 525 umol/L while the peak concentration was 813 umol/L. All patients showed progressive increases in serum creatinine and required CRRT during the course of disease. Pathological examination showed an average 73.9% of crescents (range, 54.6-95.4%).The clinical and pathological features of the DPPP and IA groups were similar. Efficacy of clearing anti-GBM antibody was similar in the two groups (59.0 vs. 71.2%, P = 1.00), although fewer patients in the DFPP group experienced reduced IgG (62.7 vs. 83.5%, p = 0.002). One patient each had a pulmonary hemorrhage and a subcutaneous hemorrhage during treatment, but there were no other serious complications. At the end of follow-up, patient survival and renal survival were similar in the DFPP and IA groups. CONCLUSION: DPPP plus immunosuppressive therapy efficiently and safely removed anti-GBM antibodies. The fewer plasma-associated side effects and reduced loss of IgG suggest that DFPP may be a better treatment choice for anti-GBM disease, especially in patients with insufficient plasma.

A new Cinygmula McDunnough, 1933 species with distinct imaginal frontal fold from eastern Chinese Himalaya (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae).

In the family Heptageniidae (Ephemeroptera), Cinygmula hutchinsoni (Traver, 1939) from central Asia is the only species known to possess pointed claws and a distinct frontal fold. Here, a second similar species with the same combination of characters is described. Cinygmula longissima sp. nov. is found in the eastern Himalaya of China, shows stouter imaginal penes, darker wingbases, and narrower nymphal gills than the previous one. This discovery indicates that this species of Heptageniidae are not limited to central Asia but live in high-altitude alpine habitats.

Biohybrid Flexible Sperm-like Microrobot for Targeted Chemo-Photothermal Therapy.

Magnetic micro/nanorobots are promising platforms for targeted drug delivery, and their construction with soft and flexible features has received extensive attention for practical applications. Despite significant efforts in this field, facile fabrication of magnetic microrobots with flexible structures and versatility in targeted therapy remains a big challenge. Herein, we proposed a novel universal strategy to fabricate a biohybrid flexible sperm-like microrobot (BFSM) based on a Chlorella (Ch.) cell and artificial flagella, which showed great potential for targeted chemo-photothermal therapy for the first time. In this approach, microspherical Ch. cells were utilized to construct the microrobotic heads, which were intracellularly deposited with core-shell Pd@Au, extracellularly magnetized with Fe3O4, and further loaded with anticancer drug. The magnetic heads with excellent photothermal and chemotherapeutic capability were further assembled with flexible polypyrrole nanowires via biotin-streptavidin bonding to construct the BFSMs. Based on the exquisite head-to-tail structures, the BFSMs could be effectively propelled under precessing magnetic fields and move back and forth without a U-turn. Moreover, in vitro chemo-photothermal tests were conducted to verify their performance of targeted drug delivery toward localized HeLa cells. Due to this superior versatility and facile fabrication, the BFSMs demonstrated great potential for targeted anticancer therapy.

[Life Cycle Carbon Reduction Benefits of Electric Heavy-duty Truck to Replace Diesel Heavy-duty Truck].

To accurately predict the life-cycle carbon reduction benefits of replacing a diesel heavy-duty truck with an electric one, taking a single heavy-duty truck as the object, the variation trend in electric and diesel carbon emission factors from 2023 to 2050 were predicted; coupled with the life spans and life-cycle mileage of the two types of heavy-duty trucks, a dynamic carbon emission model for the heavy-duty trucks was constructed in stages. The carbon footprints of the trucks under the "Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE)", "Announced Pledges Scenario (APS)", and "Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS)" were analyzed. In addition, the carbon reduction and carbon reduction rate were calculated. The results showed that battery manufacturing and battery recycling were the main factors to impair the improvement of carbon reduction in the production and recycling stages of electric heavy-duty trucks, respectively. For every 1 g·(kW·h)-1 reduction in the electricity carbon emission factor (CO2), an electric heavy-duty truck could reduce 1.74 t of carbon emissions over its life cycle. Under the three scenarios, the carbon emissions during the operation stage of both types of heavy trucks accounted for more than 90% of the total life-cycle carbon emissions. Carbon reduction benefits from the highest to the lowest were NZE, APS, and STEPS, and their corresponding life-cycle carbon emission reductions were 1054.68, 1021.78, and 1007.97 t, with carbon reduction rates of 54.38%, 52.68%, and 51.97%, respectively.

Facile fabrication of diatomite biosilica-based nasal drug delivery vehicle for enhanced treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Nanostructured silica-based materials have great potential as drug delivery vehicles for precise and personalized medical applications. As natural nanostructured silica, diatomite biosilica (DB) is recognized as a novel carrier to construct oral/parenteral smart drug delivery systems due to high surface area, biocompatibility, and applicability at low cost, yet the related studies on its use in local delivery routes are still scarce. Herein, we proposed a novel strategy to develop multifunctional nasal drug delivery vehicles based on DB, and demonstrated their versatile performance for enhanced treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). As a proof of concept, the purified DB microparticles were loaded with budesonide as an anti-inflammatory model drug, and further processed via surface modification to graft polydopamine and carboxymethyl chitosan layers. The synthesized microcapsules exhibited remarkable mucin binding capacity and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Besides, toxicity evaluation with human skin fibroblast cells and hemolysis tests indicated their high biocompatibility. Moreover, in vitro drug release results demonstrated pH-responsive release performance of the microcapsules under simulated AR environment (pH 5.0, 35 °C). Hence, this study provides a facile and reliable approach to construct DB-based mucoadhesive nasal drug delivery vehicles, showing great potential for treatment of allergic airway inflammatory diseases.

SPOP promotes CREB5 ubiquitination to inhibit MET signaling in liver cancer.

Liver cancer is ranked as the sixth most prevalent from of malignancy globally and stands as the third primary contributor to cancer-related mortality. Metastasis is the main reason for liver cancer treatment failure and patient deaths. Speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) serves as a crucial substrate junction protein within the cullin-RING E3 ligase complex, acting as a significant tumor suppressor in liver cancer. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanism underlying the role of SPOP in liver cancer metastasis remain elusive. In the current study, we identified cAMP response element binding 5 (CREB5) as a novel SPOP substrate in liver cancer. SPOP facilitates non-degradative K63-polyubiquitination of CREB5 on K432 site, consequently hindering its capacity to activate receptor tyrosine kinase MET. Moreover, liver cancer-associated SPOP mutant S119N disrupts the SPOP-CREB5 interactions and impairs the ubiquitination of CREB5.This disruption ultimately leads to the activation of the MET signaling pathway and enhances metastatic properties of hepatoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our findings highlight the functional significance of the SPOP-CREB5-MET axis in liver cancer metastasis.

Manipulation of magnetic beads for actively capturing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and nucleic acid based on microfluidic system.

Rapid biological detection of pathogen micro-organisms has attracted much attention for practical biomedical applications. Despite the development in this field, it is still challenging to achieve simple and rapid biological detection using the microfluidic method. Herein, we propose a novel strategy of biological detection that combines precise detection control of the capillary microfluidic chip and versatile manipulation of magnetic beads. The microfluidic chip was fabricated via laser cutting, which utilized capillary pressure to realize rapid passive injection of liquid samples. Under an external magnetic field, the aptamer-modified magnetic beads were actuated to mix with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) and its nucleic acid in the capillary microfluidic chip for rapid selective capture and detection, which could be achieved within 40 min. The experimental results demonstrated that V. parahaemolyticus could be captured using on-chip immunomagnetic beads with a high efficiency and significantly enhanced detection value. Due to these superior performances, the capillary microfluidic system, based on the manipulation of magnetic beads, demonstrated great potential for automatic biological detection.

Macrophage immunomodulatory activity of a purified polysaccharide isolated from Ganoderma atrum.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of the purified Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG-1) on murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Phagocytotic assay by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran internalization showed that PSG-1 stimulated the phagocytosis of macrophages. G. atrum polysaccharide increased the production of NO, and the level of mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in a dose-response manner. G. atrum polysaccharide also dose-dependently induced the release of TNF-α and interleukin-1ß. Generation of reactive oxygen species was promoted by PSG-1, as determined by flow cytometry. Moreover, PSG-1 induced nuclear factor-κB activation by elevation of p65 nuclear translocation, suggesting that PSG-1 probably stimulated macrophage activities by activating the nuclear factor-κB pathway.

The imaginal and nymphal morphology of Gilliesia pulchra Zhou, 2004 and its contribution to understanding generic phylogeny (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae).

The nymphs of the leptophlebiid mayfly Gilliesia pulchra Zhou, 2004 have not been reported before, which inhibits deeper understanding of the taxonomy and phylogenetic position of this species and its genus. In 2022, we reared nymphs from southwestern China to the adult stage. All stages are described and photographed here. Nymphs of this species have single deeply-forked gills, somewhat elongated maxillary palpi and two setal tufts on the lingua. Its imaginal characteristics, including wings and penes, are quite similar to G. hindustanica (Gillies, 1951), the type species of the genus. Comparatively, the third species of the genus, G. ratchaburiensis Boonsoong & Sartori, 2015, seems less similar, both in adults and nymphs. Generally, features of G. pulchra nymphs link the two genera Gilliesia Peters & Edmunds, 1970 and Habrophlebiodes Ulmer, 1919 together, while features of the nymphs of G. ratchaburiensis bridge the genera Gilliesia and Dipterophlebiodes Demoulin, 1954.

Remarkable Conductive Anisotropy of Ag-Coated Glass Microbeads/UV Adhesive Composites Made by Electric Field Induced Alignment.

We successfully prepared highly anisotropic conductive composites (ACCs) made of Ag-coated glass microbeads/UV adhesive via electric field-induced alignment, which was achieved using custom patterned microelectrode arrays. An optimized AC electric field (2 kV/cm, 1 kHz) with pole-plate spacing (50 µm) was utilized to effectively assemble the microbeads into chain arrays, which were precisely positioned on the microelectrode arrays to construct ordered conductive channels. In this case, tangling and cross-connection of the assembled microchains could be reduced, resulting in enhanced performance of the ACCs with high conductivity as well as excellent anisotropy. With a minor loading (3 wt %), the conductivity in the alignment direction could reach ∼24.9 S/m, which was the highest among the reported ACCs to the best of our knowledge, and it could also be 6 orders of magnitude higher than that within the plane. Besides, the samples exhibited high reliability in wire connections with low resistances. Due to these fascinating properties, the ACCs demonstrate promising applications for reliable electrical interconnects and integrated circuits.

Ultra-Sensitive and Wide Sensing-Range Flexible Pressure Sensors Based on the Carbon Nanotube Film/Stress-Induced Square Frustum Structure.

Flexible pressure sensors have attracted much attention due to their significant potentials in E-skin, artificial intelligence, and medical health monitoring. However, it still remains challenging to achieve high sensitivity and wide sensing range simultaneously, which greatly limit practical applications for flexible sensors. Inspired by the surface stress-induced structure of mimosa, we propose a novel flexible sensor based on the carbon nanotube paper film (CNTF) and stress-induced square frustum structure (SSFS) and demonstrated their excellent sensing performances. Based on interdigital electrodes and uniform CNTF consisting of fibers with large specific surface area, rich conductive paths are formed for enhanced resistance variation. Besides, both experiments and modeling are conducted to verify the synergistic effect of substrates with diverse stiffnesses and SSFS. The SSFS of polydimethylsiloxane transfer small pressure to the CNTF, resulting in sensitive responses with a broad resistance variation. The sensor achieves an ultrahigh sensitivity (2027.5 kPa-1) and a wide pressure range (0.0003-200 kPa). Therefore, it can not only detect human signals such as pulse, vocal cord vibration, wrist flexion, and foot pressure but also be integrated onto car tires to monitor vehicle statuses. These fascinating features endow the sensors with great potentials for future health monitoring, human-computer interaction, and virtual reality.

Dose health education on dementia prevention have more effects on community residents when a community physician/nurse leads it? A cross-sectional study.

Background: Dementia is a growing public health concern worldwide. Community residents still have limited knowledge about dementia prevention, although many sources are accessible for individuals to acquire knowledge. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in five communities in Chongqing, China, between March 2021 and February 2022. Participants were divided into three groups according to the dementia-related education they received: physician/nurse-led, mass media, and no relevant education. Covariance analysis was performed to determine the differences among the three groups in knowledge, motivation, and lifestyle, with the covariate of MoCA scores (education-adjusted). Results: Of the 221 participants, 18 (8.1%) received physician/nurse-led education, 101 (45.7%) received only mass media education, and 102 (46.2%) did not receive any relevant education regarding dementia prevention. Participants who only received mass media education had a higher level of education (t = 5.567, p = 0.004) and cognitive function (t = 13.978, p < 0.001). The analysis of covariance showed that compared with participants who received no relevant education, those who received physician/nurse-led education had higher levels of knowledge, perceived benefits, and better lifestyle, and those who received mass media education had lower perceived barriers; however, higher levels of cues to action, general health motivation, self-efficacy, and lifestyle (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The popularization of dementia-related education was not ideal for communities. Physician/nurse-led education plays a vital role in providing knowledge and promoting lifestyles for dementia prevention, but may not motivate community residents. Mass media education may help encourage residents and promote their lifestyles.