Electronic Media Use and Sleep Quality: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This paper explores the widely discussed relationship between electronic media use and sleep quality, indicating negative effects due to various factors. However, existing meta-analyses on the topic have some limitations. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to analyze and compare the impacts of different digital media types, such as smartphones, online games, and social media, on sleep quality. METHODS: Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the study performed a systematic meta-analysis of literature across multiple databases, including Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from January 2018 to October 2023. Two trained coders coded the study characteristics independently. The effect sizes were calculated using the correlation coefficient as a standardized measure of the relationship between electronic media use and sleep quality across studies. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3.0) was used to perform the meta-analysis. Statistical methods such as funnel plots were used to assess the presence of asymmetry and a p-curve test to test the p-hacking problem, which can indicate publication bias. RESULTS: Following a thorough screening process, the study involved 55 papers (56 items) with 41,716 participants from over 20 countries, classifying electronic media use into "general use" and "problematic use." The meta-analysis revealed that electronic media use was significantly linked with decreased sleep quality and increased sleep problems with varying effect sizes across subgroups. A significant cultural difference was also observed in these effects. General use was associated with a significant decrease in sleep quality (P<.001). The pooled effect size was 0.28 (95% CI 0.21-0.35; k=20). Problematic use was associated with a significant increase in sleep problems (P≤.001). The pooled effect size was 0.33 (95% CI 0.28-0.38; k=36). The subgroup analysis indicated that the effect of general smartphone use and sleep problems was r=0.33 (95% CI 0.27-0.40), which was the highest among the general group. The effect of problematic internet use and sleep problems was r=0.51 (95% CI 0.43-0.59), which was the highest among the problematic groups. There were significant differences among these subgroups (general: Qbetween=14.46, P=.001; problematic: Qbetween=27.37, P<.001). The results of the meta-regression analysis using age, gender, and culture as moderators indicated that only cultural difference in the relationship between Eastern and Western culture was significant (Qbetween=6.69; P=.01). All funnel plots and p-curve analyses showed no evidence of publication and selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some variability, the study overall confirms the correlation between increased electronic media use and poorer sleep outcomes, which is notably more significant in Eastern cultures.

Accelerated corrosion of 316L stainless steel in a simulated oral environment via extracellular electron transfer and acid metabolites of subgingival microbiota.

316L stainless steel (SS) is widely applied as microimplant anchorage (MIA) due to its excellent mechanical properties. However, the risk that the oral microorganisms can corrode 316L SS is fully neglected. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of 316L SS is essential to the health and safety of all patients because the accelerated corrosion caused by the oral microbiota can trigger the release of Cr and Ni ions. This study investigated the corrosion behavior and mechanism of subgingival microbiota on 316L SS by 16S rRNA and metagenome sequencing, electrochemical measurements, and surface characterization techniques. Multispecies biofilms were formed by the oral subgingival microbiota in the simulated oral anaerobic environment on 316L SS surfaces, significantly accelerating the corrosion in the form of pitting. The microbiota samples collected from the subjects differed in biofilm compositions, corrosion behaviors, and mechanisms. The oral subgingival microbiota contributed to the accelerated corrosion of 316L SS via acidic metabolites and extracellular electron transfer. Our findings provide a new insight into the underlying mechanisms of oral microbial corrosion and guide the design of oral microbial corrosion-resistant materials.

Burning question: Are there sustainable strategies to prevent microbial metal corrosion?

The global economic burden of microbial corrosion of metals is enormous. Microbial corrosion of iron-containing metals is most extensive under anaerobic conditions. Microbes form biofilms on metal surfaces and can directly extract electrons derived from the oxidation of Fe0 to Fe2+ to support anaerobic respiration. H2 generated from abiotic Fe0 oxidation also serves as an electron donor for anaerobic respiratory microbes. Microbial metabolites accelerate this abiotic Fe0 oxidation. Traditional strategies for curbing microbial metal corrosion include cathodic protection, scrapping, a diversity of biocides, alloys that form protective layers or release toxic metal ions, and polymer coatings. However, these approaches are typically expensive and/or of limited applicability and not environmentally friendly. Biotechnology may provide more effective and sustainable solutions. Biocides produced with microbes can be less toxic to eukaryotes, expanding the environments for potential application. Microbially produced surfactants can diminish biofilm formation by corrosive microbes, as can quorum-sensing inhibitors. Amendments of phages or predatory bacteria have been successful in attacking corrosive microbes in laboratory studies. Poorly corrosive microbes can form biofilms and/or deposit extracellular polysaccharides and minerals that protect the metal surface from corrosive microbes and their metabolites. Nitrate amendments permit nitrate reducers to outcompete highly corrosive sulphate-reducing microbes, reducing corrosion. Investigation of all these more sustainable corrosion mitigation strategies is in its infancy. More study, especially under environmentally relevant conditions, including diverse microbial communities, is warranted.

Accelerated Microbial Corrosion by Magnetite and Electrically Conductive Pili through Direct Fe0 -to-Microbe Electron Transfer.

Electrobiocorrosion, the process in which microbes extract electrons from metallic iron (Fe0 ) through direct Fe0 -microbe electrical connections, is thought to contribute to the costly corrosion of iron-containing metals that impacts many industries. However, electrobiocorrosion mechanisms are poorly understood. We report here that electrically conductive pili (e-pili) and the conductive mineral magnetite play an important role in the electron transfer between Fe0 and Geobacter sulfurreducens, the first microbe in which electrobiocorrosion has been rigorously documented. Genetic modification to express poorly conductive pili substantially diminished corrosive pitting and rates of Fe0 -to-microbe electron flux. Magnetite reduced resistance to electron transfer, increasing corrosion currents and intensifying pitting. Studies with mutants suggested that the magnetite promoted electron transfer in a manner similar to the outer-surface c-type cytochrome OmcS. These findings, and the fact that magnetite is a common product of iron corrosion, suggest a potential positive feedback loop of magnetite produced during corrosion further accelerating electrobiocorrosion. The interactions of e-pili, cytochromes, and magnetite demonstrate mechanistic complexities of electrobiocorrosion, but also provide insights into detecting and possibly mitigating this economically damaging process.

Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors for Biosensing Applications.

Field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have drawn significant attention due to their outstanding sensitivity. However, the Boltzmann distribution of electrons imposes a physical limit on the subthreshold swing (SS), and a 2D-material biosensor with sub-60 mV/dec SS has not been realized, which hinders further increase of the sensitivity of 2D-material FET biosensors. Here, we report tunnel FETs (TFETs) based on a SnSe2/WSe2 heterostructure and observe the tunneling effect of a 2D material in aqueous solution for the first time with an ultralow SS of 29 mV/dec. A bilayer dielectric (Al2O3/HfO2) and graphene contacts, which significantly reduce the leakage current in solution and contact resistance, respectively, are crucial to the realization of the tunneling effect in solution. Then, we propose a novel biosensing method by using tunneling current as the sensing signal. The TFETs show an extremely high pH sensitivity of 895/pH due to ultralow SS, surpassing the sensitivity of FET biosensors based on a single 2D material (WSe2) by 8-fold. Specific detection of glucose is realized, and the biosensors show a superb sensitivity (3158 A/A for 5 mM), wide sensing range (from 10-9 to 10-3 M), low detection limit (10-9 M), and rapid response rate (11 s). The sensors also exhibit the ability of monitoring glucose in complex biofluid (sweat). This work provides a platform for ultrasensitive biosensing. The discovery of the tunneling effect of 2D materials in aqueous solution may stimulate further fundamental research and potential applications.

Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Benzalkonium Bromide and Cu-Bearing Duplex Stainless Steel against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The bactericide benzalkonium bromide is widely used to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). However, the extensive use of benzalkonium bromide will enhance bacterial drug resistance and cause environmental pollution. In this study, benzalkonium bromide combined with Cu-bearing 2205 duplex stainless steel (2205-Cu DSS) was used to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa; the germicidal rate of the combination of benzalkonium bromide and 2205-Cu DSS was 24.2% higher than that of using benzalkonium bromide alone, after five days. The antibacterial efficacy was evaluated using an antibacterial test and biofilm observation. The results showed that, in the presence of P. aeruginosa, the combination of 23.44 ppm benzalkonium bromide and 2205-Cu DSS showed the best antibacterial efficacy.

High-Efficiency Dynamic Terahertz Deflector Utilizing a Mechanically Tunable Metasurface.

Terahertz (THz) wave manipulation, especially the beam deflection, plays an essential role in various applications, such as next-generation communication, space exploration, and high-resolution imaging. Current THz optical components and devices are hampered by their large bulk sizes and passive responses, limiting the development of high-performance, miniaturized THz microsystems. Tunable metasurfaces offer a powerful dynamic optical platform for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves. In this article, we presented a mechanically tunable metasurface (MTM), which can achieve terahertz beam deflection and vary the intensity of the anomalous reflected terahertz wave by changing the air gap between the metallic resonator (MR) array with phase discontinuities and Au ground plane. The absence of lossy spacer materials substantially enhances deflection efficiency. The device was fabricated by a combination of the surface and bulk-micromachining processes. The THz beam steering capability was characterized using terahertz time domain spectroscopy. When the air gap is 50 µm, the maximum deflection coefficient reaches 0.60 at 0.61 THz with a deflection angle of ~44.5°, consistent with theoretical predictions. We further established an electrically tunable miniaturized THz device for dynamic beam steering by introducing a micro voice coil motor to control the air gap continuously. It is shown that our designed MTM demonstrates a high modulation depth of deflection coefficient (~ 62.5%) in the target steered angle at the operating frequency. Our results showcase the potential of the proposed MTM as a platform for high-efficiency THz beam manipulation.

Accelerated biocorrosion of stainless steel in marine water via extracellular electron transfer encoding gene phzH of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) constantly occurs in water/wastewater systems, especially in marine water. MIC contributes to billions of dollars in damage to marine industry each year, yet the physiological mechanisms behind this process remain poorly understood. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a representative marine electro-active bacterium, which has been confirmed to cause severe MIC on carbon steel through extracellular electron transfer (EET). However, little is known about how P. aeruginosa causes corrosion on stainless steel. In this study, the corrosivity of wild-type strain, phzH knockout, phzH complemented, and phzH overexpression P. aeruginosa mutants were evaluated to explore the underlying MIC mechanism. We found the accelerated MIC on 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) was due to the secretion of phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN), which was regulated by the phzH gene. Surface analysis, Mott-Schottky test and H2O2 measurement results showed that PCN damaged the passive film by forming H2O2 to oxidize chromium oxide to soluble hexavalent chromium, leading to more severe pitting corrosion. The normalized corrosion rate per cell followed the same order as the general corrosion rate obtained under each experimental condition, eliminating the influence of the total amount of sessile cells on corrosion. These findings provide new insight and are meaningful for the investigation of MIC mechanisms on stainless steel. The understanding of MIC can improve the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure, leading to huge environmental and economic benefits.

Direct microbial electron uptake as a mechanism for stainless steel corrosion in aerobic environments.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is an attractive model microbe for elucidating the biofilm-metal interactions that contribute to the billions of dollars in corrosion damage to industrial applications each year. Multiple mechanisms for S. oneidensis-enhanced corrosion have been proposed, but none of these mechanisms have previously been rigorously investigated with methods that rule out alternative routes for electron transfer. We found that S. oneidensis grown under aerobic conditions formed thick biofilms (∼50 µm) on stainless steel coupons, accelerating corrosion over sterile controls. H2 and flavins were ruled out as intermediary electron carriers because stainless steel did not reduce riboflavin and previous studies have demonstrated stainless does not generate H2. Strain ∆mtrCBA, in which the genes for the most abundant porin-cytochrome conduit in S. oneidensis were deleted, corroded stainless steel substantially less than wild-type in aerobic cultures. Wild-type biofilms readily reduced nitrate with stainless steel as the sole electron donor under anaerobic conditions, but strain ∆mtrCBA did not. These results demonstrate that S. oneidensis can directly consume electrons from iron-containing metals and illustrate how direct metal-to-microbe electron transfer can be an important route for corrosion, even in aerobic environments.

The effects of titanium mesh cage size on the biomechanical responses of cervical spine after anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion: A finite element study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the lack of sufficient studies focusing on titanium mesh cage size, there exists a puzzle among surgeons about how to determine the optimal size of cage to provide surgical segments an adequate distraction. METHODS: The biomechanical responses of cervical spine after the implantation of cages with different heights and trimmed angles were analyzed using the finite element method. Twenty Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion models, of which the surgical segment was C5, were developed corresponding to the combinations of 4-different-heights and 5-different-trimmed angle cages. Biomechanical parameters were calculated under simulated physiological load of cervical spine. A rating scale was designed to assess the biomechanical performances of titanium mesh cages with different heights and trimmed angles comprehensively, assisting to select the most appropriate combination of cage height and trimmed angle. FINDINGS: It was indicated that in the single-level Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion at C5 segment, a cage with a height fitting with the space between C4 and C6 as well as a trimmed angle 2° lower than the sagittal angle of C4 inferior endplate would provide adequate biomechanical environment for cervical spine to resist cage subsidence and reduce the impact to adjacent segments. INTERPRETATION: The biomechanical responses of cervical spine are affected significantly by the height and trimmed angles of titanium mesh cage. The results of this study would provide quantitative guidance for surgeons to determine the optimal height and trimmed angle of titanium mesh cage for a specific patient in order to achieve favorable clinical outcomes.

Wildfire Risk Assessment of Transmission-Line Corridors Based on Naïve Bayes Network and Remote Sensing Data.

Considering the complexity of the physical model of wildfire occurrence, this paper develops a method to evaluate the wildfire risk of transmission-line corridors based on Naïve Bayes Network (NBN). First, the data of 14 wildfire-related factors including anthropogenic, physiographic, and meteorologic factors, were collected and analyzed. Then, the relief algorithm is used to rank the importance of factors according to their impacts on wildfire occurrence. After eliminating the least important factors in turn, an optimal wildfire risk assessment model for transmission-line corridors was constructed based on the NBN. Finally, this model was carried out and visualized in Guangxi province in southern China. Then a cost function was proposed to further verify the applicability of the wildfire risk distribution map. The fire events monitored by satellites during the first season in 2020 shows that 81.8% of fires fall in high- and very-high-risk regions.

Responses of soil microbiome to steel corrosion.

The process of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in soils has received widespread attention. Herein, long-term outdoor soil burial experiments were conducted to elucidate the community composition and functional interaction of soil microorganisms associated with metal corrosion. The results indicated that iron-oxidizing (e.g., Gallionella), nitrifying (e.g., Nitrospira), and denitrifying (e.g., Hydrogenophaga) microorganisms were significantly enriched in response to metal corrosion and were positively correlated with the metal mass loss. Corrosion process may promote the preferential growth of the abundant microbes. The functional annotation revealed that the metabolic processes of nitrogen cycling and electron transfer pathways were strengthened, and also that the corrosion of metals in soil was closely associated with the biogeochemical cycling of iron and nitrogen elements and extracellular electron transfer. Niche disturbance of microbial communities induced by the buried metals facilitated the synergetic effect of the major MIC participants. The co-occurrence network analysis suggested possible niche correlations among corrosion related bioindicators.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion of 304 stainless steel by nitrate reducing Bacillus cereus in simulated Beijing soil solution.

In this work, microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of 304 stainless steel (SS) caused by Bacillus cereus was investigated by electrochemical measurements and surface analyses in simulated Beijing soil solution under aerobic condition. The nitrate-reducing bacterium (NRB), B. cereus, was isolated from Beijing soil and identified using 16S rDNA. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images showed that the largest pit depths on 304 SS with and without B. cereus after 14 days of incubation were 7.17 and 4.59 µm, respectively, indicating that pitting corrosion was accelerated by B. cereus. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) results revealed that B. cereus and its metabolic products were detrimental to the integrity of the passive film on 304 SS. The electrochemical results showed that B. cereus significantly reduced the corrosion resistance of 304 SS and accelerated the anodic dissolution reaction, thereby speeding up the corrosion process.

Time to Work Out! Examining the Behavior Change Techniques and Relevant Theoretical Mechanisms that Predict the Popularity of Fitness Mobile Apps with Chinese-Language User Interfaces.

Eyeing the huge potential mHealth market in China, developers both inside and outside of China have created an increasing number of fitness mobile applications with Chinese-language user interfaces. The present study analyzes the content of those fitness mobile apps (N = 177), with a particular focus on their behavior change techniques and relevant theoretical mechanisms. It finds that three theoretical mechanisms, modeling/observational learning, self-regulation, and social comparison/social support, are prevalent among fitness mobile apps with Chinese-language user interfaces. Moreover, based on the configurations of the behavior change techniques, three distinct clusters are identified: "instructional apps" (N = 75), "self-regulation apps" (N = 58), and "triathlon apps" (N = 44). Among them, "triathlon apps" equipped with technical features reflecting all three theoretical mechanisms are found to be the most popular among users. This suggests the usefulness of health behavior change theories in promoting physical activity via mobile apps in that the inclusion of more theoretical content in the app design enhances the app's effectiveness. More theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Accelerated corrosion of 2205 duplex stainless steel caused by marine aerobic Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) in the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated through electrochemical and surface analyses. The electrochemical results showed that P. aeruginosa significantly reduced the corrosion resistance of 2205 DSS. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images showed that the depths of the largest pits on 2205 DSS with and without P. aeruginosa were 14.0 and 4.9µm, respectively, indicating that the pitting corrosion was accelerated by P. aeruginosa. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results revealed that CrO3 and CrN formed on the 2205 DSS surface in the presence of P. aeruginosa.

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion of 2707 Hyper-Duplex Stainless Steel by Marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm.

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a serious problem in many industries because it causes huge economic losses. Due to its excellent resistance to chemical corrosion, 2707 hyper duplex stainless steel (2707 HDSS) has been used in the marine environment. However, its resistance to MIC was not experimentally proven. In this study, the MIC behavior of 2707 HDSS caused by the marine aerobe Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated. Electrochemical analyses demonstrated a positive shift in the corrosion potential and an increase in the corrosion current density in the presence of the P. aeruginosa biofilm in the 2216E medium. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis results showed a decrease in Cr content on the coupon surface beneath the biofilm. The pit imaging analysis showed that the P. aeruginosa biofilm caused a largest pit depth of 0.69 µm in 14 days of incubation. Although this was quite small, it indicated that 2707 HDSS was not completely immune to MIC by the P. aeruginosa biofilm.