Profile of sleep disturbances in patients with recurrent depressive disorder or bipolar affective disorder in a tertiary sleep disorders service.

Bidirectional relationship between sleep disturbances and affective disorders is increasingly recognised, but its underlying mechanisms are far from clear, and there is a scarcity of studies that report on sleep disturbances in recurrent depressive disorder (RDD) and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). To address this, we conducted a retrospective study of polysomnographic and clinical records of patients presenting to a tertiary sleep disorders clinic with affective disorders. Sixty-three BPAD patients (32 female; mean age ± S.D.: 41.8 ± 12.4 years) and 126 age- and gender-matched RDD patients (62 female; 41.5 ± 12.8) were studied. Whilst no significant differences were observed in sleep macrostructure parameters between BPAD and RDD patients, major differences were observed in comorbid sleep and physical disorders, both of which were higher in BPAD patients. Two most prevalent sleep disorders, namely obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) (BPAD 50.8.0% vs RDD 29.3%, P = 0.006) and insomnia (BPAD 34.9% vs RDD 15.0%, P = 0.005) were found to be strongly linked with BPAD. In summary, in our tertiary sleep clinic cohort, no overt differences in the sleep macrostructure between BPAD and RDD patients were demonstrated. However, OSA and insomnia, two most prevalent sleep disorders, were found significantly more prevalent in patients with BPAD, by comparison to RDD patients. Also, BPAD patients presented with significantly more severe OSA, and with higher overall physical co-morbidity. Thus, our findings suggest an unmet/hidden need for earlier diagnosis of those with BPAD.

Ultralarge Pixel Array Photothermal Film based on 3D Self-Suspended Microbridge Structure for Infrared Scene Projection.

Infrared emitter is highly desirable for applications in infrared imaging and infrared stealth technology. It is also a core device in infrared scene generation. Light-driven photothermal film has attracted considerable interest due to its outstanding photothermal properties and easy fabrication. However, the existing photothermal films suffer from low photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) as well as small sizes. The improvement of the PCE is usually achieved at the expense of dynamic frame rate. Here, this work designs and fabricates a photothermal film based on 3D self-suspended microbridge structure. Silicon (Si) microbridges are introduced into each microstructure to manipulate the thermal conductivity of the films. By optimizing the parameters of the Si microbridges, the high PCE and fast frame rate are both achieved. Moreover, the 3D structure microbridge film is 4-inch in diameter, forming an ultralarge array with over 2200 × 2200 pixels. Finally, a high PCE infrared scene projector is realized based on this photothermal film. A visible image is projected on the film, the 3D-microstructured photothermal film absorbs the visible light and emits an infrared image same as the visible one with high resolution and fast frame rate due to the excellent photothermal properties.

Longitudinal changes of cognitive function and its relationship with subdomains of negative symptoms in patients with adult-onset first-episode schizophrenia: A 4-year follow up study.

BACKGROUNDS: This study explores the longitudinal changes and trajectories of cognitive functions in patients with adult-onset first-episode schizophrenia (FES) over four years and their relationships with the baseline subdomains of negative symptoms. METHODS: A total of 177 patients of age 25-55 with FES were recruited. Baseline demographics, clinical, social and cognitive functions were assessed. Diminished expression and diminished motivation of negative symptoms were assessed with Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Patients had yearly follow-up of cognitive function assessments over four years. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) and mixed linear regression model were used to explore the longitudinal changes of cognitive functions and the effect of baseline negative symptoms on the longitudinal cognitive function changes. Relationships of baseline negative symptoms subdomains and cognitive functions were also explored. RESULTS: Two trajectories of cognitive functions were identified. Longitudinal improvements were found in most cognitive functions apart from the logical memory. One trajectory of patients had significant deterioration of logical memory while the other group had significant improvement. Baseline diminished expression was associated with baseline and longitudinal changes of processing speed and verbal fluency while diminished motivation was associated with baseline and longitudinal changes of processing speed. CONCLUSIONS: Adult-onset FES patients had a homogeneous longitudinal improvement in most cognitive functions but not for logical memory suggesting the unique nature of verbal memory. The distinct relationship between baseline subdomains of negative symptoms with baseline and longitudinal cognitive functions suggesting the presence of differential overlapping etiology between negative symptom subdomains and cognitive functions.

Backward scattering suppression in an underwater LiDAR signal processing based on CEEMDAN-fast ICA algorithm.

A new signal-processing method to realize blind source separation (BSS) in an underwater lidar-radar system based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and independent component analysis (ICA) is presented in this paper. The new statistical signal processing approach can recover weak target reflections from strong backward scattering clutters in turbid water, thus greatly improve the ranging accuracy. The proposed method can overcome the common problem of ICA, i.e. the number of observations must be equal to or larger than the number of sources to be separated, therefore multiple independent observations are required, which normally is realized by repeating the measurements in identical circumstances. In the new approach, the observation matrix for ICA is constructed by CEEMDAN from a single measurement. BSS can be performed on a single measurement of the mixed source signals. The CEEMDAN-ICA method avoid the uncertainty induced by the change of measurement circumstances and reduce the errors in ICA algorithm. In addition, the new approach can also improve the detection efficiency because the number of measurement is reduced. The new approach was tested in an underwater lidar-radar system. A mirror and a white Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plate were used as target, respectively. Without using the CEEMDAN- Fast ICA, the ranging error with the mirror was 12.5 cm at 2 m distance when the attenuation coefficient of the water was 7.1 m-1. After applying the algorithm, under the same experimental conditions, the ranging accuracy was improved to 4.33 cm. For the PVC plate, the ranging errors were 5.01 cm and 21.54 cm at 3.75 attenuation length with and without the algorithm respectively. In both cases, applying this algorithm can significantly improve the ranging accuracy.

532-nm-modulated pulse generation based on a time-delay loop and polarization rotation.

A simple and low-cost scheme of generating 532 nm modulated pulses is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The modulator is an external cavity based on a temporal delay loop and polarization rotation that is realized by two half-wave plates. Propagating in the temporal delay loop multiple times and being outputted partially after each round trip, the intensity of the initial green laser pulse is modulated. By analyzing the polarization of the pulse in each round trip, the pulse train is modeled to simulate the waveform of the modulated pulse. This modulator is coupled with a sub-nanosecond 532-nm-laser source to verify the model of intensity modulation. In the experiment, by rotating the HWPs, modulated pulses with various temporal profiles are obtained. The fundamental modulation frequency is calculated to be 520 MHz, and the frequency of the second harmonic also exceeds 1 GHz. Such a scheme of intensity modulation can be applied in underwater detection and ranging.

A systematic review on the use of clozapine in treatment of tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia in patients with psychiatric disorders.

RATIONALE: Though clozapine is recommended for treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) relating to the use of antipsychotic medications, studies comprehensively investigating the treatment effect of clozapine on TD are still limited. OBJECTIVES: This review examines the effectiveness of clozapine as an intervention for tardive dyskinesia and dystonia in patients with all psychiatric conditions. Effectiveness of clozapine, duration to exert the effect and dosage used were also analysed. METHODS: A search in the PubMed, PsycINFO and clinicaltrials databases was performed, using the search terms "Clozapine" AND "dyskinesia" OR "dystonia". Full-text articles that reported the use of clozapine to treat abnormal involuntary movements and were written in English were included. RESULTS: A total of 48 studies were identified, of which 13 were clinical trials and 35 were case reports. Significant improvement was seen in 86.7% of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (average dose of clozapine = 355 mg/day) and 93% of patients with other psychiatric disorders (average dose of clozapine = 152.5 mg/day). Patients with other psychiatric diagnoses had faster improvement than the patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Variation in improvements and dosage were also seen in the clinical trials. CONCLUSION: Results suggested an overall effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of TD for patients with a range of psychiatric conditions. Different response time and clozapine dosage were seen in patients with different psychiatric conditions, suggesting different treatment protocols are required for different conditions. Most of the studies identified are of inadequate qualities, highlighting the need for high quality studies to provide clearer evidence.

Longitudinal relapse pattern of patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and its predictors and outcomes: A 10-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the 10-year pattern of relapse of patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (FES), predictors and outcomes of early and late relapse. METHODS: Patients received EIS (N = 148) in Hong Kong between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002 were matched with those who entered standard care (N = 148) one year before. Relapse information over 10 years were obtained and 209 patients were interviewed at 10-year follow-up. Predictors of early relapse ([ER] relapse in initial three years) and late relapse group ([LR] relapse in year 4-10) and their differential outcomes were explored. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients (26.8%) were relapse-free over 10 years with more EIS patients. Among the relapsed patients, 63.6% were ER patients who had the poorest longitudinal outcomes, including higher suicide attempts, violence episodes, more hospitalization and lower employment, whereas the LR patients do not differ much from the no relapse group. Relapse-free patients required less hospitalization in the first episode and lower antipsychotic dosage. The LR patients had less positive symptoms in year one but longer first-episode hospitalization and higher antipsychotic dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Delaying the first relapse may help to improve the long-term outcomes. Good response to antipsychotic medications was associated with relapse-free over long-term. However, sufficient antipsychotic medications with good symptomatic control during the early stage of the illness is crucial for relapse prevention for other patients. These findings highlight illness heterogeneity and the importance in differential use of antipsychotics in relapse prevention.

Explicit and implicit mentalization of patients with first-episode schizophrenia: a study of self-referential gaze perception with eye movement analysis using hidden Markov models.

Mentalizing impairment is one of the core features of schizophrenia, and bias judgement of others' gaze as self-directing is common to schizophrenia patients. In this case-control study, 30 patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and 30 matched healthy controls were assigned gaze perception tasks with variable stimulus presentation times (300 ms and no time limit) to determine the presence of self-referential gaze perception (SRGP) bias. The eye movement pattern during the task were tracked and data were analysed using hidden Markov models (HMMs). The SRGP involves reporting of others' gaze intent and was used as a measurement of explicit mentalizing process. Eye movement measurement represents automated visual attention pattern and was considered as a measurement of implicit mentalizing process. The patients with FES had significantly more SRGP bias than the controls in the 300 ms condition but not in the no-time-limit condition. Social cognitive function was related to SRGP bias in the patient group. Two distinct eye movement patterns were identified: eye-focused and nose-focused. Significant group differences in eye movement patterns in the 300 ms condition were found with more controls had eye-focused pattern. Social anxiety symptoms were related to the nose-focused pattern, positive psychotic symptoms were related to the eye-focused pattern, and depressive symptoms were related to less consistent eye movement patterns. No significant relationship was found between SRGP bias and eye movement patterns. The dissociation between explicit and implicit mentalizing processes with different cognitive and symptom dimensions associated with the two processes suggests the presence of different mechanisms.

Ultrabroadband metal-black absorbers and the performance simulations based on a three-dimensional cluster-structure model.

Broadband light absorbers are attractive for their applications in photodetection and thermo-photovoltaics. Metal-black porous coatings have been experimentally proven to have broadband light absorption. However, a theoretical model is of importance for the design and fabrication of metal-black absorbers. Here we propose a three-dimensional cluster-structure model to simulate the absorption of metal-black films. Based on experimental data, a model of uniform clusters formed by nanoparticles with Gaussian random distribution in position was constructed for the gold-black absorbers. The absorption spectra were simulated with this model by finite-difference time-domain method. The gold-black absorbers were fabricated by the one-step magnetron sputtering process. The average absorption of gold-black absorbers with sputtering pressure of 50, 65 and 80 Pa were 72.34%, 87.25% and 91.08% in the visible spectral range and 81.77% (80 Pa) in 3-12 µm infrared spectrum. The high broadband absorption was attributed to the multiple scattering of incident light inside the gold-black porous structure. The simulations showed good agreements with experimental results with an error of 2.35% in visible spectrum and 1.82% in 3-12 µm infrared spectrum. To verify the applicability of this model, aluminum-black absorbers with different thicknesses were fabricated, and the absorption error between simulation and experimental results was 3.96%. This cluster model can be a good tool to design ultrabroadband absorbers based on metal-black porous structures.