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Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients frequently experience sleep disturbances, significantly impacting their quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the first-line treatment but is often complex, costly, and requires highly trained therapists. Behavioral activation (BA), derived from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), offers a flexible, simple, and cost-effective alternative. BA highlights the importance of activation, a strategy that encourages active participation in positive, meaningful activities to boost positive experiences and reduce negative emotions, which may have potential benefits for individuals with sleep disorders. This study explores the effects of BA on sleep disturbances, quality of life, and psychological distress in CRC patients and investigates potential underlying mechanisms. Methods The study included 101 CRC patients with sleep disturbances, who were randomly assigned to either the BA group (n = 53) or the usual care (UC) group (n = 48). Assessments of quality of life, sleep disturbances, psychological distress, activation, avoidance, and physical activity levels were conducted at baseline (T0), four weeks later (T1), and post-intervention (T2). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis was used to evaluate the intervention’s impact and potential mediating effects. Results The BA group experienced significant improvements in sleep disturbances (Wald's χ2 = 7.979, P = 0.019), enhanced quality of life (Wald's χ2 = 6.435.P = 0.04), and reduced psychological distress (Wald's χ2 = 56.728, P

Abstract Liquid‐solid triboelectric nanogenerator (LS‐TENG) harvests energy efficiently while eliminating wear issues associated with solid‐solid TENG. However, the effect of ions or charges in the liquid on output performance needs further examination. In this work, the impact of fluorine and copper ions introduced through deionized water with sodium fluoride (DI‐NaF) and deionized water with copper sulfate (DI‐CuSO4) solution on the output voltage, charge and current of a tubular LS‐TENG with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Nylon as solid materials is examined. The results indicate that fluorine and copper ions have opposite effects on PTFE and Nylon LS‐TENG's output. The fluorine (F−) ions enhance the triboelectric effect and charge transfer in Nylon LS‐TENG, increasing output, while they hinder the charge transfer process in PTFE LS‐TENG, consequently decreasing its output. Conversely, the copper (Cu2+) ions have a positive effect on the output of PTFE LS‐TENG and a detrimental effect on Nylon LS‐TENG's output. Moreover, the results indicate that LS TENG's output performance depends on the charges of solid and liquid triboelectric materials. Thus, this study provides insights into material‐ion interaction in LS‐TENG and underscores the importance of triboelectric material selection for optimizing output performance.

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are a promising stationary energy storage technology for leveling power supply from intermittent renewable energy sources with demand. A central objective for the development of practical, scalable RFBs is to identify affordable and high-performance redox-active molecules as storage materials. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a new organic scaffold, indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline, for highly stable, low-reduction potential, and high-solubility anolytes for nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs). The mixture of 2- and 3-(tert-butyl)-6-(2-methoxyethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline exhibits a low reduction potential (-2.01 V vs Fc/Fc+), high solubility (>2.7 M in acetonitrile), and remarkable stability (99.86% capacity retention over 49.5 h (202 cycles) of H-cell cycling). This anolyte was paired with N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)-ethyl)phenothiazine (MEEPT) to achieve a 2.3 V all-organic NARFB exhibiting 95.8% capacity retention over 75.1 h (120 cycles) of cycling.

Neurotransmitters play essential roles in regulating neural circuit dynamics both in the central nervous system as well as at the peripheral, including the gastrointestinal tract1-3. Their real-time monitoring will offer critical information for understanding neural function and diagnosing disease1-3. However, bioelectronic tools to monitor the dynamics of neurotransmitters in vivo, especially in the enteric nervous systems, are underdeveloped. This is mainly owing to the limited availability of biosensing tools that are capable of examining soft, complex and actively moving organs. Here we introduce a tissue-mimicking, stretchable, neurochemical biological interface termed NeuroString, which is prepared by laser patterning of a metal-complexed polyimide into an interconnected graphene/nanoparticle network embedded in an elastomer. NeuroString sensors allow chronic in vivo real-time, multichannel and multiplexed monoamine sensing in the brain of behaving mouse, as well as measuring serotonin dynamics in the gut without undesired stimulations and perturbing peristaltic movements. The described elastic and conformable biosensing interface has broad potential for studying the impact of neurotransmitters on gut microbes, brain-gut communication and may ultimately be extended to biomolecular sensing in other soft organs across the body.

Shape memory polymers are promising materials in many emerging applications due to their large extensibility and excellent shape recovery. However, practical application of these polymers is limited by their poor energy densities (up to ∼1 MJ/m3). Here, we report an approach to achieve a high energy density, one-way shape memory polymer based on the formation of strain-induced supramolecular nanostructures. As polymer chains align during strain, strong directional dynamic bonds form, creating stable supramolecular nanostructures and trapping stretched chains in a highly elongated state. Upon heating, the dynamic bonds break, and stretched chains contract to their initial disordered state. This mechanism stores large amounts of entropic energy (as high as 19.6 MJ/m3 or 17.9 J/g), almost six times higher than the best previously reported shape memory polymers while maintaining near 100% shape recovery and fixity. The reported phenomenon of strain-induced supramolecular structures offers a new approach toward achieving high energy density shape memory polymers.

BackgroundTwo major forms of inherited J-wave syndrome (JWS) are recognized: early repolarization syndrome (ERS) and Brugada syndrome (BrS).ObjectivesThis study sought to assess the distinct features between patients with ERS and BrS carrying pathogenic variants in SCN5A.MethodsClinical evaluation and next-generation sequencing were performed in 262 probands with BrS and 104 with ERS. Nav1.5 and Kv4.3 channels were studied with the use of patch-clamp techniques. A computational model was used to investigate the protein structure.ResultsThe SCN5A+ yield in ERS was significantly lower than in BrS (9.62% vs 22.90%; P = 0.004). Patients diagnosed with ERS displayed shorter QRS and QTc than patients with BrS. More than 2 pathogenic SCN5A variants were found in 5 probands. These patients displayed longer PR intervals and QRS duration and experienced more major arrhythmia events (MAE) compared with those carrying only a single pathogenic variant. SCN5A-L1412F, detected in a fever-induced ERS patient, led to total loss of function, destabilized the Nav1.5 structure, and showed a dominant-negative effect, which was accentuated during a febrile state. ERS-related SCN5A-G452C did not alter the inward sodium current (INa) when SCN5A was expressed alone, but when coexpressed with KCND3 it reduced peak INa by 44.52% and increased the transient outward potassium current (Ito) by 106.81%.ConclusionsThese findings point to SCN5A as a major susceptibility gene in ERS as much as it is in BrS, whereas the lower SCN5A+ ratio in ERS indicates the difference in underlying electrophysiology. These findings also identify the first case of fever-induced ERS and demonstrate a critical role of Ito in JWS and a higher risk for MAE in JWS probands carrying multiple pathogenic variants in SCN5A.

Next-generation wearable electronics require enhanced mechanical robustness and device complexity. Besides previously reported softness and stretchability, desired merits for practical use include elasticity, solvent resistance, facile patternability and high charge carrier mobility. Here, we show a molecular design concept that simultaneously achieves all these targeted properties in both polymeric semiconductors and dielectrics, without compromising electrical performance. This is enabled by covalently-embedded in-situ rubber matrix (iRUM) formation through good mixing of iRUM precursors with polymer electronic materials, and finely-controlled composite film morphology built on azide crosslinking chemistry which leverages different reactivities with C-H and C=C bonds. The high covalent crosslinking density results in both superior elasticity and solvent resistance. When applied in stretchable transistors, the iRUM-semiconductor film retained its mobility after stretching to 100% strain, and exhibited record-high mobility retention of 1 cm2 V-1 s-1 after 1000 stretching-releasing cycles at 50% strain. The cycling life was stably extended to 5000 cycles, five times longer than all reported semiconductors. Furthermore, we fabricated elastic transistors via consecutively photo-patterning of the dielectric and semiconducting layers, demonstrating the potential of solution-processed multilayer device manufacturing. The iRUM represents a molecule-level design approach towards robust skin-inspired electronics.

Harvesting power from walking-related motions can be a sustainable energy source for powering wearables. This paper proposes a shoe insole with a 3D stackable self-supporting structure and energy harvesting capability based on triboelectrification. Initial tests showed that a unit cell of the structure could produce an open-circuit voltage of 164.5 V with a charge density of 2.02 nC/cm2, and the performance can be further improved with a higher force and a structure of multiple cells.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), characterized by the loss of two or more pregnancies, impacts approximately 1–2% of couples and poses a significant challenge for individuals of childbearing age. The precise mechanisms underlying RSA remain incompletely understood. Concurrently, the global prevalence of obesity is on the rise, with obesity being closely associated with female reproductive disorders and infertility. This study initially examines the pathways through which obesity contributes to RSA, encompassing factors such as embryonic euploid miscarriage, endometrial development, immune function, among others. Furthermore, adipokines and the fat mass and obesity-related (FTO) are identified as potential contributors to RSA. The study also explores the enhancement of pregnancy outcomes through various weight management strategies, with a particular focus on the roles of dietary interventions, physical activity, and weight control during pregnancy. Obesity is closely related to RSA in multiple aspects. Additional clinical prospective and experimental studies are required to explore its precise pathogenesis. Through this review, we aim to provide strategies for improvement and treatment approaches for RSA related to obesity. Through this review, we suggest potential clinical management strategies and research avenues aimed at offering enhancements and therapeutic insights for miscarriages linked to obesity and its associated risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirement for agricultural crops continues to enhance with the continuous growth of the human population globally. Plant pathogenic diseases outbreaks are enhancing and threatening food security and safety for the vulnerable in different regions worldwide. Silicon (Si) is considered a non-essential element for plant growth. It regulates the biological functions, plant development and productivity, and balance the defense mechanism in response to fungal, bacterial and pest attacks. The optimum crop yield can be achieved by applying Si in agricultural systems through different methods to replace or minimize the use of synthetic fertilizers. This approach can be effective on crop production during limited resources, extreme climates, pests and diseases, and environmental pollution. Silicon can be applied as foliar spray, priming of seeds, soil water irrigation, soil amendment and soilless medium (hydroponic) to enhance plant performance and stress tolerance capacity during stress conditions. This article summarized the effective roles of Si and the ability to perform in agroecosystems for better crop production, food security and safety for sustainable agriculture in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper considers multiuser downlink transmission and detection in a multiple input‐multiple output (MIMO) visible light communication (VLC) system. We combine two promising techniques: space‐shift keying (SSK) and optical orthogonal codes (OOCs). Multiuser downlink transmission is realized by allowing each activated LED to transmit user‐specific OOC simultaneously. An OOC despreader is implemented at the front end of each user terminal (UT) to extract the desired signal and mitigate multiuser interference (MUI). The second part of UT receiver aims to extract the index of the corresponding active LED based on maximum likelihood (ML) or zero‐forcing (ZF) algorithm. The figure of merit we used to access the performance of the proposed downlink multiuser SSK system is the average symbol error rate (SER). Comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations have been undertaken for different system setup to evaluate SER at UT receiver. It is demonstrated that for a specified SER, the required SNR for ML‐based detection algorithm is 3 dB less than the ZF detector in the MUI‐free scenario. On the other hand, the ZF detector outperforms ML detector in the case with residual MUI and limited channel state information (CSI). Both algorithms are computationally attractive, hence can be put into practice in multiuser VLC MIMO system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The penetrance of the RNF213 p.R4810K, a founder mutation of moyamoya disease (MMD), is estimated to be only 1/150–1/300. However, the factors affecting its penetrance remain unclear. Therefore, our study aims to identify modifier genes associated with the incomplete penetrance of this founder mutation. Methods: Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed on 36 participants, including 22 MMD patients and 14 non‐MMD controls with RNF213 p.R4810K mutation. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the presence of genetic variants that differed significantly between MMD patients and non‐MMD controls. In order to exclude false‐positive results, another 55 carriers were included to perform Fisher's exact test for the selected sites in the WES discovery stage. Subsequently, human brain microvascular endothelial cells were transfected with wild‐type and mutant HAPLN3 for tube formation assays and western blotting to explore the impact of candidate genes on angiogenesis. Results: Analysis of variants from WES data revealed a total of 12 non‐synonymous variants. Through bioinformatics analysis, the focus was on the HAPLN3 p.T34A variant with a significant p value of 0.00731 in Fisher's exact test. Validation through Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of this variant in the WES data. In vitro experiments revealed that silencing HAPLN3 and transfecting HAPLN3 p.T34A significantly enhanced tube formation and increased the relative protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in endothelial cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that HAPLN3 may function as a modifier gene of RNF213 p.R4810K, promoting the development of MMD and contributing to the incomplete penetrance of MMD founder mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]