Thermo-responsive shape and optical memories of photonic composite films enabled by glassy liquid crystalline polymer networks.

We propose a novel shape and optical memories of a photonic composite film based on a silica opal photonic crystal (PC) template and a liquid crystal polymer network (LCN). Here, the photonic composite film was fabricated by introducing a LCN precursor into a silica opal PC template, followed by UV photo-polymerization and then by the removal of the template. The obtained bilayer-structure photonic film was found to spontaneously form a three-dimensional (3D) temporary bending shape in response to heating, and thus the corresponding reflection color of the photonic composite film shows a blue shift during bending deformation. The inherent mechanisms of these two observations could be attributed to the variations of the LC molecule orientation and the light reflection in the photonic composite film during the thermal process. More intriguingly, the resulting temporary bending shape was fixed by applying mechanical force during slowly cooling down to the room temperature or autonomously fixed by a rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen. Additionally, this temporary state could restore back to the permanent flat shape when the film is cooled from the heat source without an external force. Finally, more complex 3D shape-memory samples could also be achieved by simply controlling the LC alignment or designing the sample geometry. This work opens up a new way to develop a novel shape-memory polymer photonic film.

Effect of long-term lifestyle intervention on mild cognitive impairment in hypertensive occupational population in China.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hypertension in China is high, which seriously affects people's health, including occupational population in mining areas. Cognitive dysfunction has a serious impact on the work and life of patients. Lifestyle intervention can improve diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, there are few studies on the effects of lifestyle interventions on cognitive function in hypertensive patients. So the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of long-term lifestyle intervention on mild cognitive impairment in hypertensive occupational population in China. METHODS: In September 2013, a cluster sampling was conducted for the workers in the Shaanxi Jinduicheng (intervention group) and Hancheng (control group) mining areas. In both groups, according to the blood pressure (BP) level, they were divided into hypertension stage 1 to 3 subgroups; according to their age, they were divided into between 45 and 59 and under 45 years subgroups; and according to whether or not taking medicine, they were divided into Lifestyle intervention, Lifestyle intervention plus medication, Medication, and No lifestyle intervention nor medication subgroups. The intervention group received regular lifestyle intervention for 2 years, which included diet, smoke, drink, and exercise intervention. Mild cognitive impairment was measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The arterial stiffness was measured by Omron Automatic Atherosclerosis Tester. We conducted BP measurement and MoCA questionnaire at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 510 mine workers, whose average age was 45.6 ±â€Š13.4 years old. With the increase of BP level, the MoCA scores decreased significantly both in control and lifestyle intervention groups (P < .05). There was no obvious difference between the hypertensive patients whose age was between 45 and 59 to those under 45 in MoCA scores (P > .05). After 2 years, the BP, total cholesterol, glucose, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity of the Lifestyle intervention subgroup and Lifestyle intervention plus medication subgroup decreased (P < .05), and the MoCA scores and ankle-brachial index increased (P < .05), and the latter improved more significantly. Compared with the No lifestyle intervention nor medication subgroup, the BP and MoCA scores had no obvious changes at 6 months (P > .05), but the BP decreased and the MoCA scores increased significantly in the Lifestyle intervention and Lifestyle intervention plus medication subgroups after 1 and 2 years of lifestyle intervention (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Long-term lifestyle intervention can be used as adjunctive therapy to improve the BP and cognitive function of hypertensive occupational population in China.

Effects of long-term psychological intervention on blood pressure and health-related quality of life in patients with hypertension among the Chinese working population.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of psychological intervention on blood pressure, health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL), and stroke prevalence in patients with hypertension among the Chinese working population. Cluster sampling was conducted in September 2013 at the Shaanxi Jinduicheng Molybdenum Group General Hospital (intervention group) and the Shaanxi Province Hancheng Mining Bureau General Hospital (control group). The intervention group received regular psychological intervention for 2 years, including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral interventions. HRQOL was measured with the Spanish Hypertension Quality of Life Questionnaire (MINICHAL). We analyzed the data from a total of 409 subjects. After 2 years of psychological intervention, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the non-anxiety subgroup, and the anxiety subgroup were lower than baseline levels and lower than those in the control group. Post intervention, the mental state, somatic symptoms, and total MINICHAL scores were significantly below baseline levels, and the stroke morbidity was lower than that in the control group. Post intervention, SBP, DBP, and the MINICHAL scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group. SBP, DBP, and the MINICHAL scores were lower in the intervention group after 1 and 2 years of psychological intervention, as compared with the control group. Long-term psychological intervention can thus be used as an adjunctive therapy for patients with hypertension among the Chinese working population to improve their blood pressure, HRQOL and stroke prevalence.