Electricity-Driven Strategies for Bioinspired Multifunctional Swimming Marangoni Robots Based on Super-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Composites.

Marangoni actuators that are propelled by surface tension gradients hold significant potential in small-scale swimming robots. Nevertheless, the release of "fuel" for conventional chemical Marangoni actuators is not easily controllable, and the single swimming function also limits application areas. Constructing controllable Marangoni robots with multifunctions is still a huge challenge. Herein, inspired by water striders, electricity-driven strategies are proposed for a multifunctional swimming Marangoni robot (MSMR), which is fabricated by super-aligned carbon nanotube (SACNT) and polyimide (PI) composite. The MSMR consists of a Marangoni actuator and air-ambient actuators. Owing to the temperature gradient generated by the electrical stimulation on the water surface, the Marangoni actuators can swim controllably with linear, turning, and rotary motions, mimicking the walking motion of water striders. In addition, the Marangoni actuators can also be driven by light. Importantly, the air-ambient actuators fabricated by SACNT/PI bilayer structures demonstrate the function of grasping objects on the water surface when electrically Joule-heated, mimicking the predation behavior of water striders. With the synergistic effect of the Marangoni actuator and air-ambient actuators, the MSMR can navigate mazes with tunnels and grasp objects. This research will provide a new inspiration for smart actuators and swimming robots.

Accurate prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta by 3-step echocardiographic diagnostic protocol.

BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is the most common undiagnosed congenital heart defect during prenatal screening. High false positive and false negative rates seriously affect prenatal consultation and postnatal management. The objective of the study was to assess the utility of various measurements to predict prenatal CoA and to derive a diagnostic algorithm. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four fetuses with suspected CoA who presented at Fuwai Hospital between December 2017 and August 2021 were enrolled and divided into confirmed CoA cases (n = 47) and false positive cases (n = 107), according to their postnatal outcomes. The transverse aortic arch, isthmus, and descending aorta were measured in the long-axis view of the aortic arch. The angle between the transverse aortic arch (TAO) and the descending aortic arch (DAO) was defined as the TAO-DAO angle and measured in the long axis or sagittal view. Based on the database in GE Voluson E10 and the formula (Z = [Formula: see text]), the standard score (Z-score) of the dimensions of the aorta were calculated in relation to the gestational age. The main echocardiographic indices were combined to design a 3-step diagnostic protocol. The TAO-DAO angle was used as the first step in the diagnostic model. The diameter of the transverse arch and the Z-score of the isthmus were the second step. The third-step indices included a Z-score of the transverse arch, diameter of the isthmus, distance from the left subclavian artery (LSA) to left common carotid artery (LCCA), the ratio of isthmus diameter and LSA diameter and ratio of the distances (the distance between the LSA and LCCA to the distance between the right innominate artery and LCCA). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve determined the predictive capability of each diagnostic parameter, and the kappa test determined the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed model. RESULTS: The cases with confirmed CoA had thinner transverse arches (1.92 ± 0.32 mm vs. 3.06 ± 0.67 mm, P = 0.0001), lower Z-scores of the isthmus (-8.97 ± 1.45 vs. -5.65 ± 1.60, P = 0.0001), smaller TAO-DAO angles (105.54 ± 11.51° vs. 125.29 ± 8.97°, P = 0.0001) and larger distance between the LSA and LCCA (4.45 ± 1.75 mm vs. 2.74 ± 1.07 mm, P = 0.0001) than the false positive cases. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.947 (95% CI 0.91-0.98) for the TAO-DAO angle ≤ 115.75°, 0.942 (95% CI 0.91-0.98) for the transverse arch diameter ≤ 2.31 mm, 0.937 (95% CI 0.90-0.98) for the Z-score of the isthmus ≤ -7.5, and 0.975 (95% CI 0.95-1.00) for the 3-step diagnostic protocol with 97.8% sensitivity and 97.2% specificity. The kappa test showed that the model's diagnostic accuracy was consistent with postnatal outcomes (kappa value 0.936, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The 3-step diagnostic protocol included the three most useful measurements and the additional indices with appropriate cut-off values. The algorithm is useful for the detection of aortic coarctation in fetuses with a high degree of accuracy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Exploring Genetic Diversity of SOD2 and POU5F1 for Congenital Heart Disease in the Southwest Chinese Population.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) accounts for nearly one-third of all major congenital anomalies, with atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) being the most common forms of simple CHD, which involve a large number of susceptibility genes. However, despite extensive research, the etiology of ASD and VSD remains unclear. Yunnan Province has advantages in exploring CHD pathogenesis due to its unique genetic background. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes and susceptibility to simple CHD in a specific population by means of a case-control study. A total of 337 healthy controls and 767 patients with simple CHD (501 ASD and 266 VSD) from China were recruited. Candidate SNPs were identified through whole-genome sequencing of pooled CHD patients and controls (pool-seq). Genotyping from 1,104 samples was performed, and stratified analysis was conducted to explore the association between positive SNPs and CHD subtypes. χ2 tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between each SNP and simple CHD. Of 11 SNPs identified, SOD2 rs62437333 (P = 0.005) and POU5F1 rs3130504 (P = 0.017) showed differences between the control and ASD cohorts. In the dominant inheritance model hypothesis, rs62437333 allele C carriers had increased ASD (odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, P = 0.005) and combined simple CHD risk (OR = 2.33, P = 0.012) compared to DD genotype, while rs3130504 allele C carriers had increased ASD risk (OR = 1.121, P = 0.045) compared to DD genotype.

"Sweat-Driven" MXene Composites with Energy-Storage and Thermal-Management Multifunctions: A Platform for Versatile Electronic Skins.

Most exogenous electronic skins (e-skins) currently face challenges of complex structure and poor compatibility with the human body. Utilizing human secretions (e.g., sweat) to develop e-skins is an effective solution strategy. Here, a new kind of "sweat-driven" e-skin is proposed, which realizes energy-storage and thermal-management multifunctions. Through the layer-by-layer assembly of MXene-carbon nanotube (CNT) composite with paper, lightweight and versatile e-skins based on supercapacitors and actuators are fabricated. Long CNTs wrap and entangle MXene nanosheets, enhancing their long-distance conductivity. Furthermore, the CNT network overcomes the structural collapse of MXene in sweat, improving the energy-storage performance of e-skin. The "sweat-driven" all-in-one supercapacitor with a trilayer structure is patternable, which absorbs sweat as electrolyte and harnesses the ions therein to store energy, exhibiting an areal capacitance of 282.3 mF cm-2 and a high power density (2117.8 µW cm-2 ). The "sweat-driven" actuator with a bilayer structure can be driven by moisture (bending curvature of 0.9 cm-1 ) and sweat for personal thermal management. Therefore, the paper serves as a separator, actuating layer, patternable layer, sweat extractor, and reservoir. The "sweat-driven" MXene-CNT composite provides a platform for versatile e-skins, which achieve the interaction with humans and offer insights into the development of multifunctional wearable electronics.

Generation of attosecond micro bunched beam using ionization injection in laser wakefield acceleration.

Micro bunched electron beams with periodic longitudinal density modulation at optical wavelengths give rise to coherent light emission. In this paper, we show attosecond micro bunched beam generation and acceleration in laser-plasma wakefield via particle-in-cell simulations. Due to the near-threshold ionization with the drive laser, the electrons with phase-dependent distributions are non-linearly mapped to discrete final phase spaces. Electrons can preserve this initial bunching structure during the acceleration, leading to an attosecond electron bunch train after leaving the plasma with separations of the same time scale. The modulation of the comb-like current density profile is about 2k0 ∼ 3k0, where k0 is the wavenumber of the laser pulse. Such pre-bunched electrons with low relative energy spread may have potential in applications related to future coherent light sources driven by laser-plasma accelerators and broad application prospects in attosecond science and ultrafast dynamical detection.

Initial experiences of transapical beating-heart mitral valve repair with a novel artificial chordal implantation device.

BACKGROUND: Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with progressive heart failure and impairment of survival. Degenerative MR accounts for most MV repair surgeries. Conventional mitral valve repair surgery requires cardiopulmonary bypass and is associated with significant morbidity and risks. Transapical beating-heart mitral valve repair by artificial chordae implantation with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance has the potential to significantly reduce surgical morbidity. We report the first-in-human experience of degenerative MR repair using a novel artificial chordae implantation device (MitralstitchTM system). METHODS: Ten patients with severe MR underwent transapical artificial chordae implantation using MitralstitchTM system. The procedure was performed through a small left thoracotomy under general anesthesia and TEE guidance. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and other assessments during the follow-up. RESULTS: All 10 patients with an average age of 63.7 ± 9.6 years successfully received transapical artificial chordae implantation. Their MR reduced from severe to none or trace in five patients, mild in five patients before discharge. Five patients received one artificial chordal implantation, four patients received two, and one patient received three and edge-to-edge repair by locking two of them. The safety and efficacy endpoint were achieved in all patients at 1-month follow-up. At 1-year follow-up, six patients had mild MR, three patients had moderate MR, one patient had recurrence of severe MR and underwent surgical repair. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this first-in-human study show safety and feasibility of transapical mitral valve repair using MitralStitch system. Patient selection and technical refinement are crucial to improve the outcomes.

Investigation of Dropwise Condensation on a Super-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Mesh-Coated Surface.

Enhanced vapor condensation is a critical issue for improving the efficiency of energy conversion, thermal management, water recovery, and treatment. Low-energy surfaces incorporating micro/nanoscale roughness have been reported to significantly promote vapor condensation. In this research, the mesh structures of super-aligned carbon nanotube (SACNT) films were prepared by crossing monolayer SACNT films on a copper substrate. Then, the sustaining dropwise condensation was achieved on the SACNT mesh-coated surface. The SACNT mesh-coated surface could obviously enhance the coalescence and sweeping departure of the condensing droplets. Additionally, the measured overall heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of the SACNT mesh-coated surface demonstrated a 36% enhancement compared to that on the bare copper surface. The parallel stacking of SACNT films with different groove structures was also studied, and a 15% enhancement in the HTC was shown as compared with the bare copper surface. Furthermore, we developed a morphology-based model to theoretically analyze the condensation-enhancement mechanism on a SACNT mesh-coated surface. The SACNT surfaces also have advantages of low cost, durability, flexibility, and extensibility. Our findings revealed that the SACNT films could be readily used as vapor condensation-strengthening surfaces, further extending their potential applications to industrial equipment.

Cellular analysis of a novel mutation p. Ser287Tyr in TOR1A in late-onset isolated dystonia.

BACKGROUND: Variations in TOR1A were thought to be associated with early-onset isolated dystonia. The variant S287Y (NM_000113.2: c.860C > A, p. Ser287Tyr, rs766483672) was found in our late-onset isolated dystonia patient. This missense variant is adjacent to R288Q (c.863G > A, p. Arg288Gln), which was reported to be associated with isolated dystonia. The potentially pathogenic role of S287Y is not conclusively known. METHODS: Cytological and molecular biological analyses were performed in vitro to determine whether this variant damages the structure and function of the cell. RESULTS: Compared with the SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing wild-type TOR1A, the cells overexpressing the protein with S287Y have an enlarged peri-nuclear space. The same changes in nuclear morphology were also found in the cells overexpressing the pathogenic variants ΔE (NM_000113.2:c.904_906delGAG, p. Glu302del), F205I (NM_000113.2:c.613 T > A, p. Phe205Ile), and R288Q (NM_000113.2:c.863G > A, p. Arg288Gln). Mutated proteins with S287Y presented a higher tendency to form dimers under reducing conditions. The same tendencies were observed in other mutated proteins but not in wild-type torsinA. CONCLUSIONS: TorsinA with S287Y damages the structure of the cell nucleus and may be a novel pathogenic mutation that causes isolated dystonia.

Down-regulation of the insulin signaling pathway by SHC may correlate with congenital heart disease in Chinese populations.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common and severe congenital defects. The incidence of fetal cardiac malformation is increased in the context of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Therefore, we wanted to determine whether abnormalities in the insulin signaling pathway are associated with the occurrence of nonsyndromic CHD (ns-CHD). METHODS: We used digital gene expression profiling (DGE) of right atrial myocardial tissue samples from eight ns-CHD patients and four controls. The genes potentially associated with CHD were validated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis of right atrial myocardial tissues from 37 patients and 10 controls and the H9C2 cell line. RESULTS: The results showed that the insulin signaling pathway, which is mediated by the SHC gene family, was inhibited in the ns-CHD patients. The expression levels of five genes (PTPRF, SHC4, MAP2K2, MKNK2, and ELK1) in the pathway were significantly down-regulated in the patients' atrial tissues (P<0.05 for all). In vitro, the H9C2 cells cultured in high glucose (33 mmol/l) expressed less SHC4, MAP2K2, and Elk-1 than those cultured in low glucose (25 mmol/l). Furthermore, the high glucose concentration down-regulated the 25 genes associated with blood vessel development based on Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment analyses of RNA-seq data. CONCLUSION: We considered that changes in the insulin signaling pathway mediated by SHC might be involved in the heart development process. This mechanism might account for the increase in the incidence of fetal cardiac malformations in the context of GDM.

Value of Implantable Loop Recorders in Monitoring Efficacy of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of the implantable loop recorder (ILR) in diagnosing atrial fibrillation (AF) and assessing the postoperative efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 32 patients who successfully underwent RFCA were selected. These patients discontinued antiarrhythmic medication with no AF recurrence for more than 3 months after RFCA, and underwent ILR placement by a conventional method. The clinical manifestations and information on arrhythmias recorded by the ILR were followed up to assess the efficacy of AF RFCA. RESULTS The mean follow-up period was 24.7±12.5 months. Of 32 patients with ILR information, 27 had successful RFCA and 5 had recurrent AF. The follow-up results obtained by traditional methods showed 29 patients with successful RFCA and 3 with recurrent AF (P<0.05). Among the 18 patients with clinical symptoms, 13 had recorded cardiac arrhythmic events (72.2%) and 5 showed sinus rhythm (27.8%). The ILRs recorded 18 patients with arrhythmic events (56.3%), including 12 cases of atrial arrhythmias, among whom 5 recurred at 9, 12, 16, 17, and 32 months after AF RFCA; there were also 2 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and 4 with bradycardia. CONCLUSIONS The value of ILR in assessing the efficacy of AF RFCA was superior to that of traditional methods. ILR can promptly detect asymptomatic AF, and can monitor electrocardiogram features after RFCA, thus providing objective evidence of efficacy.

Biventricular pacing with ventricular fusion by intrinsic activation in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

We sought to evaluate the impact of biventricular (BiV) pacing with ventricular fusion by intrinsic atrioventricular nodal (AVN) conduction (BiV + intrinsic pacing) on clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).A total of 44 patients were randomized to receive either BiV or BiV + intrinsic pacing for one month. Echocardiographic optimization was performed for the BiV pacing mode, while the BiV + intrinsic pacing mode was achieved by titrating AV delay under electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring. Symptoms, quality of life, ECG, echocardiography, and cardiovascular events were recorded at baseline and the end of the follow-up for each pacing mode.Patients undergoing BiV + intrinsic pacing mode had shorter QRS duration compared to those with conventional BiV pacing (118.4 ± 21.6 ms versus 146.4 ± 5.3 ms, P < 0.0001). Also, these patients had improved echocardiographic left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (17.4 ± 5.9 versus 15.7 ± 4.9, P = 0.019), higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (35.5 ± 9.7 versus 32.7 ± 9.7, P = 0.048), longer 6-minute walk test (6MWT) (372.5 ± 80.9 m versus 328.7 ± 108.9 m, P = 0.0001), and better Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores (12.5 ± 6.6 versus 18.2 ± 12.3, P = 0.0001).Treating CHF patients with BiV+intrinsic pacing resulted in improved cardiac function and quality of life. BiV + intrinsic pacing can be used in CHF patients with sinus rhythm and normal AV nodal conduction to improve CRT efficacy.

WW domain containing oxidoreductase induces apoptosis in gallbladder-derived malignant cell by upregulating expression of P73 and PUMA.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is one leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) is a tumor suppressor gene which can suppress proliferation of a variety of tumors. However, little was known about the relationships between WWOX and gallbladder cancer. In the current study, we intended to investigate the tumor suppressive role of WWOX in gallbladder malignant cells both in vitro and in vivo, and explore the potential mechanism of tumor toxic function of WWOX. Our results have shown that WWOX triggerred apoptosis in GBC cells and increased the expression of P73 and PUMA in cytoplasm. We also have found that Bax has been upregulated after overexpression of WWOX, whereas, Bcl-2 was downregulated by WWOX. To further validate the results in vivo, we evaluated the tumor suppressive role of WWOX in mouse model of gallbladder cancer. The results have shown that the proliferation of the tumor was inhibited after delivery of WWOX, and the expressions of P73 and PUMA were upregulated in target tissues. The mice models administrated with WWOX have shown better prognosis than mice in negative control groups. The results from our study indicated that WWOX could be used as a therapeutic agent in the gene therapy of gallbladder cancer.

PVA-based Hydrogel Materials for Underwater Energy Storage and Underwater Sensing.

As human exploration of marine continues to expand, the demand for underwater devices is also increasing. The unique properties of hydrogel materials make them well-suited for underwater applications. We propose a multi-functional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - NaCl @ Polyaniline (PANI) (PNP) hydrogel, which is characterized by easy fabrication, integrated structure, and flexibility, and can be directly applied in the fields of underwater energy storage and underwater sensing. Solid-state supercapacitors fabricated by the PNP hydrogel, due to integrated and all-solid-state design, can be charged and discharged underwater without encapsulation. What's more, the PNP supercapacitor can maintain a capacitance retention rate of over 90% after 5,000 cycles in simulated seawater, eliminating concerns about the hydrogel's dehydration when used underwater. The PNP hydrogel with an integrated three-layer structure can also be applied to the capacitive pressure sensors, which can also be directly used in underwater environments without the need for encapsulation, significantly reducing the structural complexity and preparation steps of the device. Finally, we demonstrate a "supercapacitor module"with a voltage window greater than 1.6 V created by directly connecting multiple PNP supercapacitors in series, as well as an underwater intelligent glove, providing new solutions for underwater energy storage and underwater wearable sensing applications.

FLT4 gene polymorphisms influence isolated ventricular septal defect predisposition in a Southwest China population.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart disease. Although a small number of genes associated with VSD have been found, the genetic factors of VSD remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the association of 10 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with isolated VSD in a population from Southwest China. METHODS: Based on the results of 34 congenital heart disease whole-exome sequencing and 1000 Genomes databases, 10 candidate SNPs were selected. A total of 618 samples were collected from the population of Southwest China, including 285 VSD samples and 333 normal samples. Ten SNPs in the case group and the control group were identified by SNaPshot genotyping. The chi-square (χ2) test was used to evaluate the relationship between VSD and each candidate SNP. The SNPs that had significant P value in the initial stage were further analysed using linkage disequilibrium, and haplotypes were assessed in 34 congenital heart disease whole-exome sequencing samples using Haploview software. The bins of SNPs that were in very strong linkage disequilibrium were further used to predict haplotypes by Arlequin software. ViennaRNA v2.5.1 predicted the haplotype mRNA secondary structure. We evaluated the correlation between mRNA secondary structure changes and ventricular septal defects. RESULTS: The χ2 results showed that the allele frequency of FLT4 rs383985 (P = 0.040) was different between the control group and the case group (P < 0.05). FLT4 rs3736061 (r2 = 1), rs3736062 (r2 = 0.84), rs3736063 (r2 = 0.84) and FLT4 rs383985 were in high linkage disequilibrium (r2 > 0.8). Among them, rs3736061 and rs3736062 SNPs in the FLT4 gene led to synonymous variations of amino acids, but predicting the secondary structure of mRNA might change the secondary structure of mRNA and reduce the free energy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a possible molecular pathogenesis associated with isolated VSD, which warrants investigation in future studies.

Association study of FLT4 and HYDIN single nucleotide polymorphisms with atrial septal defect susceptibility in the Han Chinese population of Southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common form of congenital heart disease. Although several genes related to ASD have been found, the genetic factors of ASD remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between 10 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sporadic atrial septal defects. METHODS: Based on the results of 34 individual whole exome sequences, 10 candidate SNPs were selected. In total, 489 ASD samples and 420 normal samples were collected. The 10 SNPs in the case group and the control group were identified through Snapshot genotyping technology. The χ2-test and unconditional regression model were used to evaluate the relationship between ASD and each candidate SNP. Haploview software was used to perform linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis. RESULTS: The χ2 results showed that the FLT4 rs383985 (P = 0.003, OR = 1.115-1.773), HYDIN rs7198975 (P = 0.04621, OR = 1.003-1.461), and HYDIN rs1774266 (P = 0.04621, OR = 1.003-1.461) alleles were significantly different between the control group and the case group (P < 0.05). Only the association with the FLT4 polymorphism was statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a possible molecular pathogenesis associated with sporadic ASD is worth exploring in future studies.

Randomized and double-blind controlled clinical trial of extracorporeal cardiac shock wave therapy for coronary heart disease.

Our aim was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of extracorporeal cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) for the patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) using a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial design. Twenty-five patients with CHD were enrolled in this study. Fourteen of the patients were randomized into the CSWT group and 11 into the control group. We applied the CSWT procedure to each patient by using nine shock treatments during 3 months, but the shock wave (SW) energy was only applied to the patients in the CSWT group and not to the patients in the control group. Technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose myocardial metabolism single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and two-dimensional echocardiography were performed to identify segments of myocardial ischemia, myocardial viability, and ejection fraction before and after CSWT. We also followed the patients to evaluate adverse effects. After CSWT, the New York Heart Association class, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina scale, nitroglycerin dosage, myocardial perfusion and myocardial metabolic imaging scores of dual-isotope SPECT in the CSWT group were reduced significantly (P = 0.019, 0.027, 0.039, 0.000, 0.001, respectively), and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire scale, 6-min walking test, and left ventricular ejection fraction were increased significantly (P = 0.021, 0.024, 0.016, respectively) compared with those before the SW treatment. All of the parameters in the control group did not change significantly after the treatment (all P > 0.05). No serious adverse effects of CSWT were observed. Cardiac shock wave therapy is a safe and effective treatment for CHD patients.

A PEDOT:PSS/MXene-based actuator with self-powered sensing function by incorporating a photo-thermoelectric generator.

Actuators with sensing functions are becoming increasingly important in the field of soft robotics. However, most of the actuators are lack of self-powered sensing ability, which limits their applications. Here, we report a light-driven actuator with self-powered sensing function, which is designed to incorporate a photo-thermoelectric generator into the actuator based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/MXene composite and polyimide. The actuator shows a large bending curvature of 1.8 cm-1 under near-infrared light (800 mW cm-2) irradiation for 10 s, which is attribute to photothermal expansion mismatch between PEDOT:PSS/MXene composite and polyimide. Simultaneously, the actuator shows enhanced thermoelectric properties with Seebeck coefficient of 35.7 µV K-1, which are mainly attributed to a combination of energy filtering effects between the PEDOT:PSS and MXene interfaces as well as the synergistic effect of its charge carrier migration. The output voltage of the actuator changes in accordance with the bending curvature, so as to achieve the self-powered sensing function and monitor the operating state of the actuator. Moreover, a bionic flower is fabricated, which not only simulates the blooming and closing of the flower, but also perceives the real-time actuation status through the output voltage signal. Finally, a smart Braille system is elaborately designed, which can not only simulate Braille characters for tactile recognition of the blind people, but also automatically output the voltage signal of Braille for self-powered sensing, enabling multi-channel output and conversion of light energy. This research proposes a new idea for exploring multifunctional actuators, integrated devices and self-powered soft robots.

Pencil-Drawn Generator Built-in Actuator for Integrated Self-Powered/Visual Dual-Mode Sensing Functions and Rewritable Display.

Multifunctionality is important to the development of next-generation actuators and intelligent robots. However, current multi-functional actuating systems are achieved based on the integration of diverse functional units with complex design, especially lacking in multi-mode sensing and displaying functions. Herein, a light-driven actuator integrated with self-powered/visual dual-mode sensing functions and rewritable display function is proposed. The actuator demonstrates a bending curvature of 0.93 cm-1 under near-infrared light irradiation. Meanwhile, by embedding a pencil-drawn graphite generator and thermochromic materials, the actuator also provides two independent sensing functions. First, owing to the photo-thermoelectric effect of graphite, the actuator spontaneously outputs a self-powered voltage (Seebeck coefficient: 23 µV K-1 ), which can reflect the deformation trend of actuator. Second, color changes occur on the actuator during deformation, which provide a visual sensing due to the thermochromic property. Furthermore, the actuator can be utilized as a rewritable display, owing to the integrated color-memorizing component. Intelligent robots, switches, and smart homes are further demonstrated as applications. All of them can spontaneously provide self-powered and visual sensing signals to demonstrate the working states of actuating systems, accompanied by rewritable displays on the actuators. This study will open a new direction for self-powered devices, multi-functional actuators, and intelligent robots.

Self-chargeable supercapacitor made with MXene-bacterial cellulose nanofiber composite for wearable devices.

The development of wearable electronics is restricted by the developments of supporting energy storage devices, especially flexible supercapacitors. Nowadays, miniaturized supercapacitors based on MXenes due to their obvious advantages in the specific capacity have received extensive attention. The energy existing in the surrounding environment has been used to directly charge energy storage devices. However, the hybrid wearable electronics integrated supercapacitors are mechanically connected through metal wires leading to non-compact devices. Thus, it is urgent to develop a general and universal method to fabricate high-performance robust MXene-based flexible electrodes with high electrical conductivity and apply them to self-chargeable supercapacitors and compact wearable devices. Herein, the bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers are used as a crosslinking agent to connect two-dimensional MXene nanosheets through the hydrogen bond, which greatly improves the mechanical strength of MXene-bacterial cellulose (MXene-BC) composite films (Young's modulus reaching 6.8 GPa). The supercapacitors made with the electrodes of MXene-BC composite films (BC content is 10%) present high capacitance behavior (areal capacitance up to 346 mF cm-2) because the introduction of BC nanofibers increases the interlayer spacing of MXene nanosheets, providing more storage space for the ions in the electrolyte. Then, a self-chargeable supercapacitor is proposed based on the combination of a zinc-air (Zn-air) battery and a supercapacitor. The self-chargeable supercapacitor can realize self-charging after dropping a drop of electrolyte solution into the Zn-air battery. The charging voltage of a single self-chargeable supercapacitor can reach 0.6 V after adding artificial sweat as the electrolyte. Finally, a smart wristband with the function of self-charging is proposed, which can absorb the sweat generated by the human for self-chargeable supercapacitors to drive the pedometer integrated within the smart wristband to work. The proposed self-chargeable supercapacitors are simple and effective, not restricted by the use environment, providing a promising way for self-powered wearable electronics.

Cardiac function evaluated by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in fetuses with congenital heart disease of ventricular afterload increase.

AIMS: To study myocardial deformation in fetuses with ventricular afterload increase compared with gestational age-matched controls using speckle tracking echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-nine fetuses were retrospectively selected from the pregnancy screen by echocardiography. There are 41 fetuses with gestational age-matched normal heart served as the control group, 25 fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) leading to left ventricular (LV) afterload increase as group LVA and 23 fetuses with CHD leading to right ventricular(RV) afterload increases as group RVA. LV and RV fractional shortening (FS) were measured by conventional methods. The longitudinal strain (LS) and strain rate (LSr) were analyzed by EchoPac software. Group LVA and RVA compared with control group, the LV FS was no significant difference, but LS and LSr values of LV were lower in fetuses with LVA compared to the control group (LS:-15.97(-12.50,-22.52)vs -27.53(-24.33,-29.16) %, p < .01; systolic strain rate (SRs):-1.34(-1.12,-2.16) vs -2.55(-2.28,-2.92) 1/sec, p < .01; early diastolic strain rate (SRe):1.70 ± 0.57 vs 2.46 ± 0.61 1/sec, p < 0.01; late diastolic strain rate (SRa):1.62 ± 0.82 vs 2.39 ± 0.81 1/sec, p < .01). LS and LSr values of LV or RV were lower in fetuses with RVA compared to the control group (LV: LS:-21.52 ± 6.68 vs -26.79 ± 3.22%, p < .01; SRs:-2.11 ± 0.78 vs -2.56 ± 0.43 1/sec; p = .02; RV: LS:-17.64 ± 7.58 vs -26.38 ± 3.97%, p < .01; SRs:-1.62 ± 0.67 vs -2.37 ± 0.44 1/sec; p < .01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the ventricular LS, LSr, SRs, SRe, SRa values were lower in fetuses with LV or RV afterload increasing CHD estimated by speckle tracking imaging but LV and RV FS were normal,which indicated the strain imaging is feasible in evaluating cardiac function of fetus, and may be more sensitive.