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The thermal conductivity for CP was enhanced with 5 wt% dopants but impaired with more than 20 wt% dopants. The enhanced thermal conductivity was attributed to higher rDOC and stronger π–π interactions due to small amount of active dopants.

Conjugated ladder polymer forms highly robust, temperature-insensitive aggregation in the solution due to low entropy change of rigid backbone, which is promising for highly robust intermolecular interaction at high temperature.

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has increased and levels with silicon solar cells; however, their commercialization has not yet been realized because of their poor long-term stability. One of the primary causes of the instability of PSC devices is the large concentration of defects in the polycrystalline perovskite film. Such defects limit the device performance besides triggering hysteresis and device instability. In this study, tetradodecylammonium bromide (TDDAB) was used as a postsurface modifier to suppress the density of defects from the mixed perovskite film (CsFAMA). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses validated that TDDAB binds to the mixed perovskite through hydrogen bonding. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and two-dimensional grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (2D GIWAXS) study uncovered that the TDDAB modification formed a capping layer of (TDDA)

The

Base editing technology is an efficient tool for genome editing, particularly in the correction of base mutations. Diverse base editing systems were developed according to the dCas9 or nCas9 linked with different deaminase or reverse transcriptase in the editors, including ABEs, CBEs, PEs and dual-functional of base editor (such as CGBE1, A&C-BEmax, ACBE, etc.). Currently, Base editing technology has been widely applied to various fields such as microorganisms, plants, animals and medicine for basic research and therapeutics. Here, we reviewed the advancement of base editing technology. We also discussed the application of base editors in different areas in the future.

The electrospinning technique has been considered an attractive route for processing conjugated polymers in a significant quantity for large-scale applications. The processing-structure-property relationship of the electrospinning process for conjugated polymers is not well understood. Here, we report the electrospinning of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) for three different molecular weights of P3HT: 31, 58, and 83 kDa. Chloroform was used as a solvent, and a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was utilized to facilitate the processing of P3HT. The electrospinning was performed on the freshly prepared and 24 h aged spinning solutions. The aging of the spinning solution led to the self-assembly of P3HT chains, particularly with dominant H-aggregation for 83 kDa P3HT. The structure development and properties of the fibers were investigated, including the single-fiber electrical conductivity measured using a custom-built setup. The electrical conductivity has been found to be increasing with increasing molecular weight, and as high as a five-fold enhancement in single fiber electrical conductivity was obtained compared to the fiber from the freshly-prepared solution. Despite a 25% PEO concentration in the fibers, the maximum electrical conductivity of a single fiber was found to be ≈2.7 X 10^(-5) S/cm, similar to the pristine P3HT thin films. Our study provides an additional understanding of P3HT structure development in electrospun fibers as a function of polymer molecular weight and processing steps and relates that to fiber properties.

Solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) plays a pivotal role in stabilizing lithium (Li) metal anode for rechargeable batteries. However, electrolyte-derived SEI often suffers from poor stability, leading to Li dendrite growth, consumption of electrolyte, and short cycle life. Here, we report a porous lithiophilic polymer coating induced by phase separation of polyvinylidenefluoride-polyacrylonitrile (PVDF-PAN) blends for stabilizing Li metal anode. Different from single polymer coating, PVDF-PAN blends protective layer with porous structures caused by phase separation can provide effective Li+ transport channels and regulate uniform Li+ flux. The lithiophilic functional groups of C≡N and C-F can promote uniform Li deposition and accelerate Li+ diffusion at the same time during plating/stripping process. As a result, Li||NCM811 full cells using PVDF-PAN coated Li present an apparently improved cycling stability and higher Coulombic efficiency with lean electrolyte (7.5 μL mA h-1), limited Li supply (N/P ratio = 2.4), and high areal capacity (4.0 mA h cm-2).

The morphological stability of an organic photovoltaic (OPV) device is greatly affected by the dynamics of donors and acceptors occurring near the device's operational temperature. These dynamics can be quantified by the glass transition temperature (T

Transient electronics are a rapidly emerging field due to their potential applications in the environment and human health. Recently, a few studies have incorporated acid-labile imine bonds into polymer semiconductors to impart transience; however, understanding of the structure-degradation property relationships of these polymers is limited. In this study, we systematically design and characterize a series of fully degradable diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymers with engineered sidechains to investigate the impact of several molecular design parameters on the degradation lifetimes of these polymers. By monitoring degradation kinetics via ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, we reveal that polymer degradation in solution is aggregation-dependent based on the branching point and

The vertical composition distribution and crystallinity of photoactive layers are considered to have critical roles in photovoltaic performance. In this concise contribution, the layer-by-layer (LB...

Incorporating dynamic covalent bonds into block copolymers provides useful molecular level information during mechanical testing, but it is currently unknown how the incorporation of these units affects the resultant polymer morphology. High-molecular-weight polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene block copolymers containing an anthracene/maleimide dynamic covalent bond are synthesized through a combination of postpolymerization modification, reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization, and Diels-Alder coupling. The bulk morphologies with and without dynamic covalent bond are characterized by atomic force microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, which reveal a strong dependence on annealing time and casting solvent. Morphology is largely unaffected by the inclusion of the mechanophore. The high-molecular-weight polymers synthesized allow interrogation of a large range of polymer domain sizes.

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the convolutional neural network (CNN) in diagnosing gastric cancer and predicting the invasion depth of gastric cancer and to compare the performance of the CNN with that of endoscopists.PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and gray literature were searched until July 23, 2021 for studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of CNN-assisted examinations for gastric cancer or the invasion depth of gastric cancer. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis.Seventeen studies comprising 51,446 images and 174 videos of 5539 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-), and area under the curve (AUC) of the CNN for diagnosing gastric cancer were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85-93), 93% (95% CI, 88-97), 13.4 (95% CI, 7.3-25.5), .11 (95% CI, .07-.17), and .94 (95% CI, .91-.98), respectively. The performance of the CNN in diagnosing gastric cancer was not significantly different from that of expert endoscopists (.95 vs .90, P.05) and was better than that of overall endoscopists (experts and nonexperts) (.95 vs .87, P .05). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, LR+, LR-, and AUC of the CNN for predicting the invasion depth of gastric cancer were 82% (95% CI, 78-85), 90% (95% CI, 82-95), 8.4 (95% CI, 4.2-16.8), .20 (95% CI, .16-.26), and .90 (95% CI, .87-.93), respectively.The CNN is highly accurate in diagnosing gastric cancer and predicting the invasion depth of gastric cancer. The performance of the CNN in diagnosing gastric cancer is not significantly different from that of expert endoscopists. Studies of the real-time performance of the CNN for gastric cancer diagnosis are needed to confirm these findings.

Background Behavioral results have shown that bipolar disorder patients have impaired recognition of facial emotions, but the detailed information processing of facial emotions in patients with bipolar I (BD I) and II (BD II) disorders remain unknown. Methods We tested the cerebral event-related potentials to the static facial expressions of Neutral, Happiness, Anger and Sadness in 39 adult patients with BD I, 22 BD II, and 54 healthy volunteers. Participants’ affective states were measured with the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Hypomania Checklist-32, and the Plutchik–van Praag Depression Inventory. Results Over-processed right occipitotemporal cortex during N1 time window to Neutral and Happiness, and during P3b window to Sadness were found in BD I; prolonged N1 latencies to Neutral and Happiness, declined P3b amplitude to Sadness, negative correlation between P3b latency to Sadness and depression, and attenuated superior frontal activity during P3b window to Sadness were found in BD II; and the right-side dominance during facial emotion processing were found in both BD I and BD II. Limitations We didn't record the personality traits or medication used in patients, nor included other facial emotions such as fear and disgust. Conclusions When responding to facial emotions, both BD I and BD II showed a right-side processing dominance; BD I displayed enhanced processing in the right occipitotemporal cortex during structural encoding and categorical processing of facial emotions; while BD II displayed generalized impairments, less involvement of superior frontal cortex to negative emotions, and reduced ability to process negative emotions which was associated with depression.

Bipolar disorder types I (BD I) and II (BD II) might present different cortico-brainstem circuit dysfunctions under external emotions, which might be reflected by the blink reflex. We therefore invited 32 BD I and 23 BD II patients, and 46 healthy volunteers to answer the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Hypomania Checklist-32, and the Plutchik – van Praag Depression inventory, and to undergo the blink reflex test under external emotions (emotional pictures plus sounds) of Disgust, Erotica, Fear, Happiness, and Sadness. Compared to healthy controls, BD I showed prolonged R2/R2′ latencies under most emotions, and their PVP scores were negatively correlated with the areas under curve (AUCs) of R2 and R2′ under Erotica; and BD II showed reduced R2/R2′ AUCs under all emotions. Moreover, R2′ AUCs under Disgust, Fear, and Happiness were significantly reduced in BD II than those in BD I. Our results have shown that, irrespective of patients’ on-going affective states, the R2/R2′ components were delayed in BD I but suppressed in BD II under most external emotions. Our study provides some hints to distinguish the two types of bipolar disorder, referring to the cortico-brainstem circuit dysfunctions under external emotions.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Evaluation of 10-year clinical safety and effectiveness of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) using the Prestige LP™ disc to treat degenerative cervical spine disease at two adjacent levels has been completed. Occurrence of heterotopic ossification (HO) surrounding the prosthesis following CDA has been reported for other prostheses and found to limit the range of motion and to negatively impact function of the prosthesis. PURPOSE To assess the impact of HO on clinical outcomes and angular range of motion (ROM) after CDA with the Prestige LP™ disc at two levels. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, FDA-approved clinical trial. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 209 subjects implanted with Prestige LP™ discs at two cervical levels in the clinical trial and participating in a post-approval study. The 10-year follow-up rate was 86% after excluding subjects at sites not participating in the PAS study, deaths, and withdrawals. OUTCOME MEASURES HO assessed on lateral neutral radiographs and graded 0-IV; clinical outcomes of overall success, neurological success, neck disability index (NDI), neck pain, arm pain and SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score; ROM; implant-related adverse event (AE) rate. METHODS Data were obtained as part of an FDA-approved clinical trial and a separate subgroup analysis was performed for this study. ROM was compared by HO grade, and clinical outcomes were compared between HO subgroups (Grade 0-II vs III/IV) based on HO severity at 2 and 10 years after surgery. RESULTS The Grade III/IV HO incidence at either or both index levels was 24.2% (48/198) at 2 years and 39.0% (57/146) at 10 years. No statistical difference was found in overall success, neurological success, NDI, neck pain, arm pain, or SF-36 PCS scores between the HO subgroups (Grade 0-II vs III/IV) at either 2 or 10 years. The cumulative rate of possible implant-related AEs was higher in subjects having Grade III/IV HO than those having Grade 0-II HO at 2 years (56.3% vs 24.4%) and 10 years (47.8% vs 17.9%), specifically in two subcategories: spinal events and heterotopic ossifications reported by the investigators. However, no statistical difference was found between HO subgroups in possible implant-related serious AEs or secondary surgeries at index or adjacent levels. The average angular ROMs at index levels were lower in subjects with higher-grade HO at 2 and 10 years. The average ROMs at the superior level were 8.8°, 6.6°, 3.2°, and 0.3°, respectively for HO Grade 0-I, II, III and IV groups at 10 years, and 7.9°, 6.2°, 3.7°, and 0.6°, respectively, at the inferior level. CONCLUSIONS Radiographically severe (Grade III or IV) HO after CDA with the Prestige LP disc at two levels did not significantly affect efficacy or safety (severe AEs or secondary surgeries) outcomes. However, severe HO, particularly Grade IV HO, significantly limited ROM, as expected. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS Prestige LP™ Disc, Approved for 2-level cervical disc arthroplasty in 2016 (Approved for this indication)

OBJECTIVEThe authors sought to assess the impact of heterotopic ossification (HO) on clinical outcomes and angular range of motion (ROM) after cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) performed with the Prestige LP Cervical Disc (Prestige LP disc) at 2 levels.METHODSHO was assessed and graded from 0 to IV for increasing severity on lateral neutral radiographs at each visit in 209 patients who underwent implantation of Prestige LP discs at 2 cervical levels in a clinical trial with extended 10-year follow-up. ROM was compared by using HO grade, and clinical outcomes were compared between HO subgroups (grade 0–II vs III/IV) based on HO severity at 2 and 10 years after surgery.RESULTSThe grade III/IV HO incidence at either or both index levels was 24.2% (48/198) at 2 years and 39.0% (57/146) at 10 years. No statistical difference was found in overall success; neurological success; or Neck Disability Index (NDI), neck pain, arm pain, or SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores between the HO subgroups (grade 0–II vs III/IV) at either 2 or 10 years. The cumulative rate of possible implant-related adverse events (AEs) was higher in patients having grade III/IV HO at 2 years (56.3%) and 10 years (47.8%) compared with those having grade 0–II HO at 2 years (24.4%) and 10 years (17.9%), specifically in 2 subcategories: spinal events and HOs reported by the investigators. No statistical difference was found between the HO subgroups in possible implant-related serious AEs or secondary surgeries at the index or adjacent levels. The average angular ROMs at index levels were lower in subjects with higher-grade HO at 2 and 10 years. The average ROMs at the superior level were 8.8°, 6.6°, 3.2°, and 0.3°, respectively, for the HO grade 0/I, II, III, and IV groups at 10 years, and 7.9°, 6.2°, 3.7°, and 0.6°, respectively, at the inferior level.CONCLUSIONSRadiographically severe (grade III or IV) HO after CDA with the Prestige LP disc at 2 levels did not significantly affect efficacy or safety outcomes (severe AEs or secondary surgeries). However, severe HO, particularly grade IV HO, significantly limited ROM, as expected.

Text in the novel, A Dream of Red Mansions (DRM), which is thought to broadly reflect Chinese culture, contains a rich source of adjectives, verbs, and motion-event descriptions. These personality-descriptive adjectives used in DRM might help depict personality structure. We selected 493 personality-descriptive adjectives from the first 80 chapters of the novel, and administered them to 732 Chinese university students. With exploratory factor analyses, we tried the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-factor solutions, and found the five-factor one was relatively clearer. The five factors of personality were respectively titled Wicked, Intelligent, Amiable, Conscientious, and Frank. Men scored higher on Wicked and Conscientious, but lower on Amiable compared with women. As a preliminary trial, our study demonstrated that personality-descriptive adjectives in DRM characterize the personality structure, but leaves an open question on how the DRM-author described disordered personality traits or personality disorders (to be answered in Chapter “ Narrations of Personality Disorders in A Dream of Red Mansions”).

Both normal and disordered personality traits are influenced by culture, but might normal personality traits generally predict the disordered ones within the Chinese context? The Chinese Adjective Descriptors of Personality (CADP, see Chap. “ Personality Traits in Contemporary China: A Lexical Approach”) which measures normal Chinese personality traits, might show predictable relationships with personality disorder functioning styles in healthy individuals and in personality disorder patients. We therefore administered the CADP, Parker Personality Measure (PERM), and Plutchik-van Praag Depression Inventory (PVP) to 110 healthy volunteers and 55 personality disorder patients. Patients scored significantly higher on PVP and all 11 PERM personality disorder functioning styles, as well as CADP Emotional and Unsocial traits. The PVP was significantly correlated with some CADP traits and PERM styles in both groups. In healthy volunteers, the CADP Unsocial trait predicted nine PERM styles. In patients, the CADP Intelligent trait predicted the PERM Antisocial, Narcissistic, and Passive-Aggressive styles; CADP Conscientious the PERM Obsessive-Compulsive and Passive-Aggressive (−) styles; CADP Unsocial the PERM Schizotypal, Antisocial, Narcissistic, Avoidant, and Passive-Aggressive styles; CADP Emotional the PERM Paranoid, Borderline, Histrionic, and Dependent styles. The results demonstrated that, in personality disorder patients, four out five CADP traits (except for Agreeable) were specifically associated with 10 out 11 personality disorder functioning styles (except for Schizoid), indicating that CADP might be used as an aid to diagnose personality disorders in China. In next chapter, we will figure out whether the antisocial personality disorder has specific aspects of domains in Chinese context.

To explore the influence of Chinese culture on various psychological phenomena might start with an adequate understanding of the Chinese culture itself, and a famous novel, A Dream of Red Mansions (DRM) of the seventeenth to eighteenth century China, has provided an ideal vector of it. The core components of Chinese culture expressed in the novel are still influential in contemporary China to a large extent. As one of the Four Classical novels of China, DRM is very informative regarding the Chinese culture, especially those of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, since the themes within the novel ranges from literature, tea culture, festivities, to mythology. Moreover, being long considered a masterpiece of Chinese literature, DRM is generally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of Chinese fiction. This chapter aims to present the main contents of the novel, offer some brief introductions of the major characters, and more importantly, reflect on the core components of Chinese culture embedded in it. This chapter serves as basis for further discussions (Chapters “ Personality Traits Characterized by the Adjectives in A Dream of Red Mansions” and “ Narrations of Personality Disorders in A Dream of Red Mansions”) on the relationship between Chinese culture, especially that of the late imperial China, and the psychological disorders.

From ancient to contemporary epochs in China, there are sorts of psychological disorders that are related to Chinese cultural issues, which might be due to different reasons. However, a link with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory might offer an excellent account for the relationships. We therefore have proposed a theoretical framework for the causal explanation. With evidence from literature and our own studies, we have discussed most parts of the route. Other possible parts of the route are still open to be investigated further. Chinese culture, especially the core value “harmony”, within the framework, is particularly the source of psychological disorders in late imperial and contemporary China. Chinese people might display similar structures of the psychological disorders as people in other areas, but the cultural contributions to these disorders are unique in Chinese culture. Indications mentioned in this book might contribute to the prevention and treatment of psychological disorders in China and other parts of world where Confucianism or Collectivism dominates.

Aim The purpose of the current study was to explore the cerebral areas involved in nightmare disorder. Methods Fifteen nightmare disorder patients and 15 healthy volunteers were invited to undergo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and to complete the Nightmare Experience Questionnaire. Results The nightmare disorder patients scored higher on the Physical Effect and Horrible Stimulation scales, had higher values of regional homogeneity in clusters within the left anterior cingulate cortex and right inferior parietal lobule, and lower regional homogeneity values within the left superior and inferior frontal gyri and bilateral middle occipital gyri. Physical Effect was negatively correlated with regional homogeneity values in anterior cingulate cortex and inferior parietal lobule in the nightmare disorder group, and was positively correlated with regional homogeneity value in the inferior frontal gyrus in the healthy control group. Conclusion To our best knowledge, this is the first neuroimaging study on nightmare disorder, and we have characterized the cerebral activities underlying altered hyperarousal and emotion regulation in nightmare disorder at resting-state.

Background Antisocial, Narcissistic and Schizotypal personality disorders share dissocial traits, but have different impairments when recognizing facial emotions. Whether the differences are due to the early perceptual or late cognitive cerebral processes remains unknown. Methods We invited 12 patients with Antisocial, 13 with Narcissistic, 12 with Schizotypal personality disorder, and 25 healthy volunteers, to undergo the cerebral event-related potentials to facial expressions of Neutral, Anger, Happiness, and Sadness, and the anxiety and depression measures. Results Compared with healthy volunteers, reaction time to Happiness was prolonged in people with Narcissistic personality disorder; P3b amplitude to Sadness was smaller in people with Antisocial personality disorder. P2 amplitudes to Neutral and Happiness were negatively correlated with depression in people with Narcissistic personality disorder, and P3a and P3b latencies to Happiness were delayed in people with Schizotypal personality disorder relative to healthy volunteers. Conclusions When responding to facial emotions, the attention or cerebral process was shallow in Antisocial, emotionally-affected in Narcissistic, and time-expanded in Schizotypal patients.