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Photoresponsive liquid‐crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are promising candidates for light‐controlled soft actuators. Photoinduced stress/strain originates from the changes in mechanical properties after light irradiation. However, the correlation between the photoinduced mechanical performance and in‐use conditions such as stress/strain states and polymer network properties (such as effective crosslink density and dangling chain density) remains unexplored for practical applications. Here, isometric photo‐induced stress or isotonic strain is investigated at different operating strains or stresses, respectively, on LCEs with polymer network variations, produced by different amounts of solvent during polymerization. As the solvent volume increases, the moduli and photoinduced stresses decrease. However, the photo‐induced strain, fracture strain, fracture stress, and viscosity increase. The optical response performance initially increases with the operating strain/stress, peaks at a higher actuation strain/stress, and then, decreases depending on the polymer network. The maximum work densities, which also depend on the operating stress, are in the range of ≈200–300 kJm−3. These findings, highlighting the significant variations in the mechanical performance with the operating stress/strain ranges and amount of solvent used in the synthesis, are critical for designing LCE‐based mechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the phonological awareness of 219 first, second, and fourth grade Cantonese-speaking children from the south of China, who received immersion Mandarin instruction beginning in the first grade. Children received onset, rime and tone awareness tasks in Cantonese and Mandarin. Children performed better on the Cantonese onset awareness task in grade one, but the difference disappeared in higher grades. However, their performance on the rime and tone awareness tasks was better in Mandarin. These results reflect the phonological structure of the two languages: Mandarin has a more complex onset system, whereas Cantonese has more complex tone and rime systems. Moreover, children's phonological awareness increased faster in Mandarin, which likely resulted from Mandarin instruction. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that onset-rime awareness is a universal construct, whereas tone awareness is a language-specific construct.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that childhood language problems persist into early adulthood. Nevertheless, little is known about how individual and environmental characteristics influence the language growth of individuals identified with speech/language problems. Method: Individual growth curve models were utilised to examine how speech/language impairment and environmental variables (socioeconomic status, family separation, and maternal factors) influence vocabulary development from age 5 to 25. Participants were taken from a community sample of children initially diagnosed with speech/language problems at age 5 and their sex- and age-matched controls. Results: The language impaired group had significantly poorer receptive vocabulary than the speech impaired and control groups throughout the 20-year period. Family income was a significant predictor of vocabulary growth when considered separately, but ceased to be a predictor when language impairment status was taken into account. Maternal education and family separation were determinants of vocabulary at age 5, over and above language impairment status. Conclusion: Language impairment is a significant risk factor for vocabulary development from childhood to adulthood. Individuals with speech impairment were less impaired on receptive vocabulary than individuals with language impairment. Further investigation into maternal and familial risk factors may provide targets for early intervention with children at risk for language impairment.

Transmission localized surface plasmon resonance (T-LSPR) transducers based on the characteristic surface plasmon absorption band of Au island films have become increasingly attractive. The first and main bottleneck hampering the development of T-LSPR sensors is instability, manifested as change in the surface plasmon absorbance band following immersion in organic solvents and aqueous solutions. In this paper, we innovate the platform for T-LSPR transducer by using remarkably stable and highly adhesive Au/[Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] nanocomposite film. Isolated Au nanoparticles embedded in dielectric matrix [Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] were prepared by a simple one-step radio frequency magnetron cosputtering technique. The obtained nanocomposite film is exceedingly stable during immersion in solvents, drying, and binding of different molecules; it successfully passes the adhesive tape test and sonication treatment. The superior stability and adhesion, obtained without the use of any intermediate adhesion layer or protective overlayer, is attributed to (1) the Au nanoparticles embedment and [Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] rim formation during the sputtering process and (2) the resistance of element A1 in matrix to the nucleophilic attack by the solvent molecules. Given this success, we believe that the Au/[Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] nanocomposite film holds promise as an innovative sensing platform in T-LSPR detection technology, as demonstrated here for the Pd(II) sensing process with excellent sensitivity and low detection limit.

Research has been conducted on the sulfonium and sulfide sulfur atoms. The molecular interactions between these atoms have been investigated via the remote Pummerer reaction of p-bis(alkylthio)-aromatic S-oxides and the results are discussed.

The remote Pummerer-type reaction of the mono-sulfoxide of p-bis(methylthio)-aromatic proceeds via an intermolecular through-space interaction between the sulfonium and the sulfenyl sulfur atoms. This is better than an intramolecular through-bond interaction and the abstraction of an alpha-proton of the sulfonium group leading to the Pummerer product. and sulfenyl sulfur atoms. A dithia dication dimer and/or a bis(dithia dication) cyclic dimer are proposed as intermediates.

Background: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often receive psychotropic medications such as antipsychotics and antidepressants to treat aberrant behaviors and mood symptoms, frequently resulting in polypharmacy and drug-related adverse effects. Pharmacogenomic (PGx) studies with ASD and/or ID (ASD/ID) have been scarce despite the promise of optimizing treatment outcomes. We reviewed the literature on PGx studies with antipsychotics and antidepressants (e.g., treatment response and adverse effects) in ASD/ID. Methods: We performed a systematic review using MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO, including peer-reviewed original articles in English referring to PGx in the treatment of ASD/ID in any age groups (e.g., treatment response and adverse effects). Results: A total of 28 PGx studies using mostly candidate gene approaches were identified across age groups. Notably, only 3 studies included adults with ASD/ID while the other 25 studies focused specifically on children/adolescents with ASD/ID. Twelve studies primarily investigated treatment response, of which 5 and 6 studies included patients treated with antipsychotics and antidepressants, respectively. Most interesting results for response were reported for 2 sets of candidate gene studies, namely: (1) The DRD3 Ser9Gly (rs6280) polymorphism was examined in patients treated with risperidone in 3 studies, 2 of which reported an association with risperidone treatment response and (2) the SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and treatment response to antidepressants which was investigated in 4 studies, 3 of which reported significant associations. In regard to side effects, 9 of 15 studies focused on hyperprolactinemia in patients treated with risperidone. Among them, 7 and 5 studies examined the impact of CYP2D6 and DRD2 Taq1A polymorphisms, respectively, yielding mostly negative study findings. Conclusions: There is limited data available on PGx in individuals with ASD/ID and in particular in adults. Given the potential for PGx testing in improving treatment outcomes, additional PGx studies for psychotropic treatment in ASD/ID across age groups are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]