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Background: Recognizing the scarcity of data on caffeine consumption among university students in Malaysia, this study was designed to first characterize the habitual caffeine intake within this group. This study further investigated the potential association between these caffeine consumption patterns and sleep quality and mental health status. Methodology: The study employed an online self-administered questionnaire to assess habitual caffeine intake from various products. Sleep quality and mental health were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), respectively. Results: 78% of the respondents consumed caffeinated products daily within the safe level recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (£400mg/day). Only 2.6% of the students consumed caffeine exceeding the recommended limit. The median total daily caffeine intake was 100mg/day. Most students had poor sleep quality (77.3%), with 43.5%, 49.5%, and 33.0% reporting varying levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Odds ratio calculations revealed respondents consuming less than or more than 400 mg/day of caffeine did not show significantly different odds of poor sleep quality, depression, anxiety, or stress compared to non-consumers. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further localized research on caffeine's effects among Malaysian university students regarding caffeine consumption, sleep, and mental health.

The heterogeneous anatomy of the left atrial appendage (LAA) necessitates preprocedural imaging essential for planning of percutaneous LAA occlusion (LAAO) procedures. While transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) remains the gold standard, cardiac computed tomography (CT) is becoming increasingly popular. To address the lack of consensus on the optimal imaging modality, we compared the outcomes of preprocedural TOE versus CT for LAAO procedure planning. A retrospective single-center cohort study of all LAAO procedures was performed to compare the outcomes of patients receiving preprocedural TOE versus those receiving CT. The primary outcome was procedural success and rate of major adverse events. The secondary outcomes were total procedure time, rate of device size change, and maximum landing zone diameter. A total of 64 patients was included. Of these, 25 (39.1%) underwent TOE and 39 (60.9%) underwent CT. There was no significant difference in the procedural success rate (96.0% vs. 100%, P = 0.39) or major adverse event rate (4.0% vs. 5.1%, P > 0.99) between TOE and CT patients. Compared with TOE, CT was associated with significantly shorter median procedure time (103 min vs. 124 min, P = 0.02) and a lower rate of device size change (7.7% vs. 28.0%, P = 0.04). Compared to CT, TOE was associated with a significantly smaller mean maximum landing zone diameter (20.8 mm vs. 25.8 mm, P < 0.01) and a higher rate of device upsizing (24.0% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.01). No significant difference in detected residual leak rates was found between TOE and CT (50.0% vs. 52.2%, P > 0.99). Planning of LAAO procedures with CT is associated with a shorter total procedure time and a lower rate of device size change and is less likely to underestimate the maximum landing zone diameter., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Parents play a pivotal role in child development and several parental factors have been identified as risk or protective factors for childhood anxiety and depression. To assess and target these parental factors in interventions, there is a need for a comprehensive, easy-to-use instrument., Method: This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of an adapted version of the Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, PaRCADS(N) in a Norwegian community sample (N = 163) of parents of children aged 8-12 years., Results: Our findings indicate that PaRCADS(N) has acceptable psychometric properties. These results are comparable to those of the original study of the PaRCADS in Australia., Conclusion: Based on these results, we recommend that PaRCADS(N) can be utilized by health care workers as a tool for assessment and identification of parental practices related to child anxiety and/or depression to target relevant risk and protective factors in treatment and prevention., (© 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Lithium (Li) is the "holy grail" for satisfying the increasing energy demand. This is because of its high theoretical capacity and low potential. Although Li is considered as a potential anode material, dendritic Li growth and the limited electrochemical properties continue to hinder its practical application. Structure-based self lithium ion (Li + ) concentrating electrodes with high capacity and uniform Li + -flux are recommended to overcome these shortcomings of Li. However, recent studies have been limited to structural perspectives. In addition, the electrokinetic principle of electrode materials remains a challenge. Herein, the space-confinement-based strategy is suggested for condensed Li + -flux control in nanoscaled slit spaces that induce the dense Li growth on an anodeless electrode by using the stratified carbon pack (SCP). The micro/mesoporous slits of the SCP concentrate the electric field, which is strengthened by the space-confined electric field focusing, resulting in the accumulation of Li + -flux in the host. The accumulated Li + in host sites enables a uniform Li deposition with high capacity at high current density stably. Furthermore, SCPs have great compatibility with LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NCM811) cathode, representing the outstanding full cell performance with Li deposited electrode which show the high specific of 115 mAh g -1 at 4 C during 350 cycles., (© 2022 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A popular substance in the MXene family, titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x ), has received substantial attention mainly due to its high metallic conductivity, easy solution processability, and environment friendliness. However, the poor oxygen resistance nature of MXene has prevented its practical applications from being realized. Despite significant attempts to improve the oxidative stability of MXenes, a comprehensive understanding of the oxidation mechanism is still elusive, thus leaving an optimal strategy for recycling oxidized MXene in question. Here, by developing a facile hydrofluoric acid (HF) post-treatment, we have unraveled the regeneration kinetics of the oxidized Ti 3 C 2 T x . A systematic and extensive investigation using a combination of Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that HF post-treatment is critical for restoring the structure/morphology and surface composition of MXene nanosheets. These are ascribed to the oxidizing agent removal kinetics, while the generation of amorphous carbon and Ti(III) in fluorinated derivatives provides efficient electrical conductivity. Our findings suggested that HF post-treatment is sufficient to evade and reduce the degradation process while maintaining the conductivity for a longer time, which will not only be economically advantageous but also a step forward for the rational design of Ti 3 C 2 T x -based devices and functional coatings.

Although parents' engagement in parenting programmes has frequently been posited to influence the efficacy and dissemination of these programmes, its relationship with intervention outcomes in parenting programmes is understudied. This study examined the predictive value of parental engagement on preventive parenting outcomes in a tailored online parenting programme aimed at enhancing parental protective factors and reducing risk factors for child depression and anxiety disorders. The present study also explored the associations between parental engagement and other parent, child and family outcomes. Data were collected from a community sample of 177 parents who received a tailored online parenting programme ('Parenting Resilient Kids'; PaRK) and their children as part of a randomised controlled trial. Participants completed measures on parenting, child anxiety and depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life and family functioning on three occasions. Multiple regressions showed that parental engagement explained additional variance in preventive parenting (most proximal outcomes) at post-intervention and 12-month follow-up. Indicators of higher levels of parental engagement, operationalised by greater proportions of recommended programme modules and intended goals completed, uniquely predicted higher levels of preventing parenting. Higher levels of parental engagement also predicted higher levels of parental acceptance and parental psychosocial health-related quality of life, lower levels of parental psychological control and lower levels of impairments in child health-related quality of life. However, parental engagement did not explain additional variance in parent or child reported anxiety or depressive symptoms. This study provides support for the role of parental engagement in facilitating parenting changes in parenting-focused interventions.