In recent years, light-guided robotic soft actuators have attracted intense scientific attention and rapidly developed, although it still remains challenging to precisely and reversibly modulate the ...moving directions and shape morphing modes of soft actuators with ease of stimulating operation. Here we report a strategy of building a multi-stimuli-responsive liquid crystal elastomer soft actuator system capable of performing not only multi-directional movement, but also different shape morphing modes. This strategy is based on the selective stimulation of specific domains of the hierarchical structured actuator through the modulation of three wavelength bands (520, 808, 980 nm) of light stimulus, which release the actuation system from light scanning position/direction restriction. Three near-infrared dual-wavelength modulated actuators and one visible/infrared tri-wavelength modulated multi-directional walker robot are demonstrated in this work. These devices have broad application prospects in robotic and biomimetic technology.
In nature, plant tendrils can produce two fundamental motion modes, bending and chiral twisting (helical curling) distortions, under the stimuli of sunlight, humidity, wetting or other atmospheric ...conditions. To date, many artificial plant-like mechanical machines have been developed. Although some previously reported materials could realize bending or chiral twisting through tailoring the samples into various ribbons along different orientations, each single ribbon could execute only one deformation mode. The challenging task is how to endow one individual plant tendril mimic material with two different, fully tunable and reversible motion modes (bending and chiral twisting). Here we show a dual-layer, dual-composition polysiloxane-based liquid crystal soft actuator strategy to synthesize a plant tendril mimic material capable of performing two different three-dimensional reversible transformations (bending versus chiral twisting) through modulation of the wavelength band of light stimuli (ultraviolet versus near-infrared). This material has broad application prospects in biomimetic control devices.
The link between depression and anxiety status and cancer outcomes has been well-documented but remains unclear. We comprehensively quantified the association between depression and anxiety defined ...by symptom scales or clinical diagnosis and the risk of cancer incidence, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality in cancer patients. Pooled estimates of the relative risks (RRs) for cancer incidence and mortality were performed in a meta-analysis by random effects or fixed effects models as appropriate. Associations were tested in subgroups stratified by different study and participant characteristics. Fifty-one eligible cohort studies involving 2,611,907 participants with a mean follow-up period of 10.3 years were identified. Overall, depression and anxiety were associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer incidence (adjusted RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06-1.19), cancer-specific mortality (1.21, 1.16-1.26), and all-cause mortality in cancer patients (1.24, 1.13-1.35). The estimated absolute risk increases (ARIs) associated with depression and anxiety were 34.3 events/100,000 person years (15.8-50.2) for cancer incidence and 28.2 events/100,000 person years (21.5-34.9) for cancer-specific mortality. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that clinically diagnosed depression and anxiety were related to higher cancer incidence, poorer cancer survival, and higher cancer-specific mortality. Psychological distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety) was related to higher cancer-specific mortality and poorer cancer survival but not to increased cancer incidence. Site-specific analyses indicated that overall, depression and anxiety were associated with an increased incidence risks for cancers of the lung, oral cavity, prostate and skin, a higher cancer-specific mortality risk for cancers of the lung, bladder, breast, colorectum, hematopoietic system, kidney and prostate, and an increased all-cause mortality risk in lung cancer patients. These analyses suggest that depression and anxiety may have an etiologic role and prognostic impact on cancer, although there is potential reverse causality; Furthermore, there was substantial heterogeneity among the included studies, and the results should be interpreted with caution. Early detection and effective intervention of depression and anxiety in cancer patients and the general population have public health and clinical importance.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Pandemics have become more frequent and more complex during the twenty-first century. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following pandemics is a significant public health concern. We sought to ...provide a reliable estimate of the worldwide prevalence of PTSD after large-scale pandemics as well as associated risk factors, by a systematic review and meta-analysis. We systematically searched the MedLine, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, medRxiv, and bioRxiv databases to identify studies that were published from the inception up to August 23, 2020, and reported the prevalence of PTSD after pandemics including sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H1N1, Poliomyelitis, Ebola, Zika, Nipah, Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), H5N1, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 88 studies were included in the analysis, with 77 having prevalence information and 70 having risk factors information. The overall pooled prevalence of post-pandemic PTSD across all populations was 22.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 19.9-25.4%, I
: 99.7%). Healthcare workers had the highest prevalence of PTSD (26.9%; 95% CI: 20.3-33.6%), followed by infected cases (23.8%: 16.6-31.0%), and the general public (19.3%: 15.3-23.2%). However, the heterogeneity of study findings indicates that results should be interpreted cautiously. Risk factors including individual, family, and societal factors, pandemic-related factors, and specific factors in healthcare workers and patients for post-pandemic PTSD were summarized and discussed in this systematic review. Long-term monitoring and early interventions should be implemented to improve post-pandemic mental health and long-term recovery.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
In this Communication, we develop a two-step acyclic diene metathesis in situ polymerization/cross-linking method to synthesize uniaxially aligned main-chain liquid crystal elastomers with chemically ...bonded near-infrared absorbing four-alkenyl-tailed croconaine-core cross-linkers. Because of the extraordinary photothermal conversion property, such a soft actuator material can raise its local temperature from 18 to 260 °C in 8 s, and lift up burdens 5600 times heavier than its own weight, under 808 nm near-infrared irradiation.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Sleep disturbances and dementia are two common and significant health problems in older adults. Investigations suggest that sleep disturbances might increase the risk of dementia. The aim of the ...present study was to systematically review and meta-analyze the predictive roles of overall sleep disturbances, their subtypes (e.g., insomnia, sleep disordered breathing SDB), and other sleep problems (e.g., excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep-related movement disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, and nonspecific sleep problems) in incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia subtypes. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed, EMBase, ISI Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases for longitudinal studies that were published up to October 28, 2016. A total of 12,926 papers were retrieved. Eighteen longitudinal studies that included 246,786 subjects at baseline and 25,847 dementia cases after an average 9.49 y of follow-up were eligible for inclusion. Compared with individuals without sleep disturbances, subjects who reported sleep disturbances had a higher risk of incident all-cause dementia, AD, and vascular dementia. The subgroup analysis showed that insomnia increased the risk of AD but not vascular or all-cause dementia. In contrast, SDB was associated with a higher incidence of all-cause dementia, AD, and vascular dementia. This meta-analysis suggests that sleep disturbances may predict the risk of incident dementia. Moreover, insomnia was associated only with incident AD, and SDB was a risk factor of all-cause dementia, AD, and vascular dementia. However, sleep disturbances were evaluated mainly based on self-reports, and some confounders may mediate the relationship between sleep disturbances and dementia. Therefore, the results should be further validated. In summary, these findings may help identify individuals who are at risk for dementia and optimize early prevention strategies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
In nature, many flowers can open their petals into blooming flowers or furl them into buds and simultaneously alter the petal colors under the precise control of light, temperature, pH, humidity, or ...other environmental stimuli. Inspired by this fascinating natural phenomenon, here we report a two-spiropyran-unit-functionalized, monodomain/polydomain bilayer-structured liquid crystal elastomer strategy to fabricate an ultraviolet, green, and near-infrared trilight-modulated tricolor-changing flower mimic soft actuator. Relying on a combination of photochromic effect, thermochromic effect, pigment blending effect, photothermal conversion effect, and gradient stress effect, this flower mimic material can furl or open it “petals” under the on/off stimulation of near-infrared light and meanwhile possess a tristable showy color switch system which is tunable through varying the wavelength band (365, 520, and 808 nm) of light stimuli. Such a material has wide application prospects in camouflage materials, control devices, and biomimetic devices.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
People exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a series of imperative containment measures could be psychologically stressed, yet the burden of and factors associated with mental health ...symptoms remain unclear.
To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with mental health symptoms in the general population in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This large-sample, cross-sectional, population-based, online survey study was conducted from February 28, 2020, to March 11, 2020. It involved all 34 province-level regions in China and included participants aged 18 years and older. Data analysis was performed from March to May 2020.
The prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and acute stress among the general population in China during the COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Insomnia Severity Index, and Acute Stress Disorder Scale. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore demographic and COVID-19-related risk factors.
Of 71 227 individuals who clicked on the survey link, 56 932 submitted the questionnaires, for a participation rate of 79.9%. After excluding the invalid questionnaires, 56 679 participants (mean SD age, 35.97 8.22 years; 27 149 men 47.9%) were included in the study; 39 468 respondents (69.6%) were aged 18 to 39 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates of mental health symptoms among the survey respondents were 27.9% (95% CI, 27.5%-28.2%) for depression, 31.6% (95% CI, 31.2%-32.0%) for anxiety, 29.2% (95% CI, 28.8%-29.6%) for insomnia, and 24.4% (95% CI, 24.0%-24.7%) for acute stress. Participants with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and their family members or friends had a high risk for symptoms of depression (adjusted odds ratios ORs, 3.27 95% CI, 1.84-5.80 for patients; 1.53 95% CI, 1.26-1.85 for family or friends), anxiety (adjusted ORs, 2.48 95% CI, 1.43-4.31 for patients; 1.53 95% CI, 1.27-1.84 for family or friends), insomnia (adjusted ORs, 3.06 95% CI, 1.73-5.43 for patients; 1.62 95% CI, 1.35-1.96 for family or friends), and acute stress (adjusted ORs, 3.50 95% CI, 2.02-6.07 for patients; 1.77 95% CI, 1.46-2.15 for family or friends). Moreover, people with occupational exposure risks and residents in Hubei province had increased odds of symptoms of depression (adjusted ORs, 1.96 95% CI, 1.77-2.17 for occupational exposure; 1.42 95% CI, 1.19-1.68 for Hubei residence), anxiety (adjusted ORs, 1.93 95% CI, 1.75-2.13 for occupational exposure; 1.54 95% CI, 1.30-1.82 for Hubei residence), insomnia (adjusted ORs, 1.60 95% CI, 1.45-1.77 for occupational exposure; 1.20 95% CI, 1.01-1.42 for Hubei residence), and acute stress (adjusted ORs, 1.98 95% CI, 1.79-2.20 for occupational exposure; 1.49 95% CI, 1.25-1.79 for Hubei residence). Both centralized quarantine (adjusted ORs, 1.33 95% CI, 1.10-1.61 for depression; 1.46 95% CI, 1.22-1.75 for anxiety; 1.63 95% CI, 1.36-1.95 for insomnia; 1.46 95% CI, 1.21-1.77 for acute stress) and home quarantine (adjusted ORs, 1.30 95% CI, 1.25-1.36 for depression; 1.28 95% CI, 1.23-1.34 for anxiety; 1.24 95% CI, 1.19-1.30 for insomnia; 1.29 95% CI, 1.24-1.35 for acute stress) were associated with the 4 negative mental health outcomes. Being at work was associated with lower risks of depression (adjusted OR, 0.85 95% CI, 0.79-0.91), anxiety (adjusted OR, 0.92 95% CI, 0.86-0.99), and insomnia (adjusted OR, 0.87 95% CI, 0.81-0.94).
The results of this survey indicate that mental health symptoms may have been common during the COVID-19 outbreak among the general population in China, especially among infected individuals, people with suspected infection, and people who might have contact with patients with COVID-19. Some measures, such as quarantine and delays in returning to work, were also associated with mental health among the public. These findings identify populations at risk for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and may help in implementing mental health intervention policies in other countries and regions.
Drug use and relapse involve learned associations between drug-associated environmental cues and drug effects. Extinction procedures in the clinic can suppress conditioned responses to drug cues, but ...the extinguished responses typically reemerge after exposure to the drug itself (reinstatement), the drug-associated environment (renewal), or the passage of time (spontaneous recovery). We describe a memory retrieval-extinction procedure that decreases conditioned drug effects and drug seeking in rat models of relapse, and drug craving in abstinent heroin addicts. In rats, daily retrieval of drug-associated memories 10 minutes or 1 hour but not 6 hours before extinction sessions attenuated drug-induced reinstatement, spontaneous recovery, and renewal of conditioned drug effects and drug seeking. In heroin addicts, retrieval of drug-associated memories 10 minutes before extinction sessions attenuated cue-induced heroin craving 1, 30, and 180 days later. The memory retrieval-extinction procedure is a promising nonpharmacological method for decreasing drug craving and relapse during abstinence.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
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