High-performance sono-piezoelectric nanocomposites enhanced by interfacial coupling effects for implantable nanogenerators and actuators.

Transcutaneous energy-harvesting technology based on ultrasound-driven piezoelectric nanogenerators is the most promising technology in medical and industrial applications. Based on ultrasonic coupling effects at the interfaces, the interfacial architecture is a critical parameter to attain desirable electromechanical properties of nanocomposites. Herein, we successfully synthesized core-conductive shell-structured BaTiO3@Carbon [BT@Carbon] nanoparticles [NPs] as nanofillers to design implantable poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene)/BT@Carbon [P(VDF-CTFE)/BT@Carbon] piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) and actuators for harvesting ultrasound (US) underneath the skin. For US-driven PENGs, the electrons and holes are generated not only from the interfaces between the BT@Carbon NPs and the matrix, but also from the dipoles vibrating in the smaller lamellae of ferroelectric ß-phase crystals in poled nanocomposites. Remarkably, P(VDF-CTFE)/BT@Carbon piezoelectric nanogenerators could attain an extraordinary output power of 521 µW cm-2 under ultrasound stimulation, which is far greater than that of force-induced PVDF-based nanogenerators and other ultrasound-driven triboelectric generators. Furthermore, the US-PENG actuator system, which is composed of an amplifier and a microcontroller, could efficiently convert ultrasonic energy into electricity or instructions to switch on/off small electronics in the tissues and organs of mice. Finally, the nanocomposite-based US-driven PENGs have a good biocompatibility, with no cytotoxicity or immune response in vivo, indicating their potential for developing wireless power generators and actuators for medical implant devices.

[The impact of anxiety levels in male soldiers with infertility on stress coping strategies and the quality of fertility life].

OBJECTIVE: To explore and analyze the correlation between anxiety levels, coping strategies, and fertility quality of life in male soldiers with infertility. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 480 male soldiers with infertility who visited the Reproductive Medicine Department of the Eastern Theater Command General Hospital from June 2022 to February 2023, analyze the impact of anxiety levels on stress coping strategies and fertility quality of life in male officers and soldiers with infertility. RESULTS: Self evaluation scale score is (43.06 ± 15.02), Fertility Quality of Life Scale score is （52.11 ± 36.68）, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire score is (48.45 ± 23.15). The relevant analysis results show that there is a negative correlation between the scores of the Self Rating Anxiety Scale and the Reproductive Quality of Life Scale, a positive correlation between the scores of the Self Rating Anxiety Scale and the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and a positive correlation between the scores of the Reproductive Quality of Life Scale and the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that years of infertility, history of childbirth, anxiety level, and coping strategies entered the regression equation. The anxiety level of male officers and soldiers with infertility has a mediating effect on the relationship between stress coping styles and quality of life during childbirth. CONCLUSION: The mental health status of male officers and soldiers with infertility is poor, and their coping strategies and quality of life during childbirth are at a moderate to low level. This indicates that more attention should be paid to the special group of male officers and soldiers with infertility, and psychological intervention should be strengthened in routine treatment. Provide support from different perspectives to address concerns and enhance the combat effectiveness of the military.

MoS2/MXene pillared nanocomposite for ultrafast photonics applications.

In this work, we used nanocomposite saturable absorbers (SAs) in order to precisely design and modulate the process of compositing the light absorption by band gap engineering. Due to the higher absorption intensity of our MoS2/MXene nanocomposite, we have successfully shortened the pulse duration (1.2µs) of SA with enhancing saturable absorption intensity (7.22 MW cm-2), and the ultra-fast fiber laser based on this nanocomposite SA has shown wider Q-switching stable range in the case of high pump power. This strategy can efficiently improve the performance of SA and shows the potential application prospect of nanocomposites in nonlinear optics.

Testing and comparing two self-care-related instruments among older Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to test and compare the reliability and validity, including sensitivity and specificity of the two self-care-related instruments, the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly (SASE), and the Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R), among older adults in the Chinese context. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to conduct this study. The sample consisted of 1152 older adults. Data were collected by a questionnaire including the Chinese version of SASE (SASE-CHI), the Chinese version of ASAS-R (ASAS-R-CHI) and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency scale (ESCA). Homogeneity and stability, content, construct and concurrent validity, and sensitivity and specificity were assessed. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha (α) of SASE-CHI was 0.89, the item-to-total correlations ranged from r = 0.15 to r = 0.81, and the test-retest correlation coefficient (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC) was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00; P<0.001). The Cronbach's α of ASAS-R-CHI was 0.78, the item-to-total correlations ranged from r = 0.20 to r = 0.65, and the test-retest ICC was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.96; P<0.001). The content validity index (CVI) of SASE-CHI and ASAS-R-CHI was 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. The findings of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) confirmed a good construct validity of SASE-CHI and ASAS-R-CHI. The Pearson's rank correlation coefficients, as a measure of concurrent validity, between total score of SASE-CHI and ESCA and ASAS-R-CHI and ESCA were assessed to 0.65 (P<0.001) and 0.62 (P<0.001), respectively. Regarding ESCA as the criterion, the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve for the cut-point of SASE-CHI and ASAS-R-CHI were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.91-0.94) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.80-0.86), respectively. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference between the two instruments. Each has its own characteristics, but SASE-CHI is more suitable for older adults. The key point is that the users can choose the most appropriate scale according to the specific situation.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To translate the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly into Simplified Chinese and to test the Chinese version of the scale regarding its reliability and validity among older people. BACKGROUND: Self-care is an important topic in nursing. When assessing older people's self-care ability, it is essential that a reliable and valid instrument is used. DESIGN: This study employed across-sectional design. METHODS: We translated the English version of the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly into Simplified Chinese according to Brislin's translation guidelines and carried out a questionnaire survey among 610 older people, including both community-dwelling people and hospital patients, in Jinzhou City, People's Republic of China. Eighty participants completed the instrument twice for test-retest reliability. Data analyses were performed using spss 17.0 and Mplus, version 5, to assess reliability and validity. RESULTS: A Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .89 and statistically significant item-to-total correlations showed evidence of homogeneity. An intraclass correlation coefficient of .99 for the test-retest between total scores and intraclass correlation coefficients between .87-.99 for the test-retest scores of each item explained the almost perfect test-retest reliability noted in this study. Content validity was found to be good, and a three-factor model was obtained in an exploratory factor analysis (explaining a variance of 57%) and modified in a confirmatory factor analysis (χ2  = 261.559, df = 98, root mean square error of approximation = 0.074; standardised root mean square residual = 0.059), which reflected an acceptable construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the Chinese version of the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly has sufficient psychometric properties for assessing self-care ability among older people in China. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A reliable and valid instrument is available to assess the self-care ability of older Chinese people.

The Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R): Reliability and Validity Among Older Chinese People.

The study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R-CHI). A cross-sectional design was used to conduct this study, and the sample consisted of 1,219 older people, collected by a demographic questionnaire, ASAS-R-CHI and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency (ESCA) scale. The Cronbach's alpha (α) of ASAS-R-CHI was .79, the test-retest correlation was 0.95, and the item-to-total correlations ranged from r = .41 to r = .74. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) resulted in three factors that explained 65.31% of the total variance; all 15 items had strong factor loadings ranging from 0.54 to 0.91. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated the three-factor solution of ASAS-R-CHI had a good fit (x2,chi-square/degree of freedom [CMIN/DF] = 2.61, goodness of fitness index [GFI] = 0.93, adjusted goodness of fit index [AGFI] = 0.92,, comparative fit index [CFI = 0.92], Tucker Lewis index [TLI] = 0.91, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.04, root mean residual [RMR] = 0.02, P-value for test of close fit [PCLOSE] = 0.68). ASAS-R-CHI is a short, reliable, and valid instrument for measuring self-care agency among Chinese older adults.

Correlation between self-efficacy and fall efficacy in patients with stroke / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between self efficacy and fall efficacy in patients with stroke.Methods The falls efficacy scale-international (FES-I) and the stroke self-efficacy questionnaire(SSEQ) were applied to 300 patients with stroke.Results The FES-I score of the participants was 39.13± 16.40,the scores of the indoor activity dimension and outdoor activity dimension were (26.01 ± 11.13) and (18.33 ± 7.76),respectively.The total mean score of SSEQ was (40.11 ± 22.37),the scores of the activity function dimension and self-management dimension were (24.97± 14.40)and (15.14±8.35),respectively.FES-I scores were positively correlated with SSEQ scores (r=0.550-0.802,P＜0.05).Falls efficacy could explain 34.3％ and 36.8％ variation amount for each dimension of self-efficacy in patients with stroke.Conclusion Falls efficacy is closely related to self-efficacy in patients with stroke.In order to improve the quality of medical care,medical staff should pay attention to the occurrences of reduction of self-efficacy and selfesteem in patients with stroke when they avoid falling during some activities.

Comparison of different surgical approaches of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is not a life-threatening disorder but may have a great impact on the patients. This study intended to evaluate the impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), and compare the effect and quality of life (QOL) after two different surgical approaches on patients with CRS. Sixty patients of CRS were analyzed before and after FESS. The extent of disease was evaluated by the Lund-Mackay scoring system using computed tomography (CT) and endoscopy. Subjective patient QOL scores were assessed by SF-36 questionnaire and symptom scores were recorded using the SNOT-20 questionnaire. Forty patients of multiunit CRS were randomly allocated to two groups in order to be taken radical FESS (RFESS) and conservative FESS (CFESS), respectively. The Lund-Mackay score and degree of preoperative polyps did not differ statistically between the two groups. In the 1 months follow-up settings, such domains as role physical, mental health, role emotional and general health of SF-36, and total of the SNOT-20 items scores and the most important 5-item scores of SNOT-20 all began to get better markedly (P<0.05); in the 6-12 months follow-up settings, the indices of QOL and symptoms status entirely improved from the baseline, and CFESS scope surgery is no significantly difference with RFESS in improving the QOL and symptoms of patients. The results of this study suggesting that nasal polyps have a significant negative impact on the patients with CRS. FESS is a reliable and effective method for improving a patient's QOL and symptoms after 6 months of surgery, regardless of approaches.

Spray-congealed microparticles for drug delivery - an overview of factors influencing their production and characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: In any manufacturing process, the success of producing an end product with the desired properties and yield depends on a range of factors that include the equipment, process and formulation variables. It is the interest of manufacturers and researchers to understand each manufacturing process better and ascertain the effects of various manufacturing-associated factors on the properties of the end product. Unless the manufacturing process is well understood, it would be difficult to set realistic limits for the process variables and raw material specifications to ensure consistently high-quality and reproducible end products. Over the years, spray congealing has been used to produce particulates by the food and pharmaceutical industries. The latter have used this technology to develop specialized drug delivery systems. AREAS COVERED: In this review, basic principles as well as advantages and disadvantages of the spray congealing process will be covered. Recent developments in spray congealing equipment, process variables and formulation variables such as the matrix material, encapsulated material and additives will also be discussed. EXPERT OPINION: Innovative equipment designs and formulations for spray congealing have emerged. Judicious choice of atomizers, polymers and additives is the key to achieve the desired properties of the microparticles for drug delivery.

Quality of life in advanced maxillary sinus cancer after radical versus conservative maxillectomy.

PURPOSE: A study of patients with advanced maxillary sinus cancer who underwent radical or conservative maxillectomy was performed to show the differences between the 2 groups in patients' survival rate and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A total of 61 advanced maxillary sinus cancer patients from Weifang People's Hospital in China were traced: 27 radical maxillectomy and 34 conservative maxillectomy. Survival rate was compared between the 2 groups. Quality of life assessments were performed at the time of preoperation as well as 6, 12, and 18 months after the operation. Measures included the University of Washington-QOL scale (UW-QOL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: The UW-QOL scale scores of the composite score, appearance, activity, recreation, swallowing, speech, and chewing in the conservative surgical group were much higher than those in the radical surgical group. However, there is no big difference in total survival rate between these 2 groups. Also, no significant difference can be seen in the scores of pain, employment, and shoulder between the 2 groups. At the 6-month follow-up, the radical maxillectomy had more effects on anxiety than the conservative maxillectomy, while they are almost equally effective on depression. The 12-month and 18-month follow-ups showed that the radical maxillectomy made a greater impact on both anxiety and depression than the conservative maxillectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative maxillectomy is more effective than radical maxillectomy to preserve the QOL of patients with advanced maxillary sinus cancer.