A new dimension for magnetosensitive e-skins: active matrix integrated micro-origami sensor arrays.

Magnetic sensors are widely used in our daily life for assessing the position and orientation of objects. Recently, the magnetic sensing modality has been introduced to electronic skins (e-skins), enabling remote perception of moving objects. However, the integration density of magnetic sensors is limited and the vector properties of the magnetic field cannot be fully explored since the sensors can only perceive field components in one or two dimensions. Here, we report an approach to fabricate high-density integrated active matrix magnetic sensor with three-dimensional (3D) magnetic vector field sensing capability. The 3D magnetic sensor is composed of an array of self-assembled micro-origami cubic architectures with biased anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensors manufactured in a wafer-scale process. Integrating the 3D magnetic sensors into an e-skin with embedded magnetic hairs enables real-time multidirectional tactile perception. We demonstrate a versatile approach for the fabrication of active matrix integrated 3D sensor arrays using micro-origami and pave the way for new electronic devices relying on the autonomous rearrangement of functional elements in space.

Self-Assembled Flexible and Integratable 3D Microtubular Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

The rapid development of microelectronics has equally rapidly increased the demand for miniaturized energy storage devices. On-chip microsupercapacitors (MSCs), as promising power candidates, possess great potential to complement or replace electrolytic capacitors and microbatteries in various applications. However, the areal capacities and energy densities of the planar MSCs are commonly limited by the low voltage window, the thin layer of the electrode materials and complex fabrication processes. Here, a new-type three-dimensional (3D) tubular asymmetric MSC with small footprint area, high potential window, ultrahigh areal energy density, and long-term cycling stability is fabricated with shapeable materials and photolithographic technologies, which are compatible with modern microelectronic fabrication procedures widely used in industry. Benefiting from the novel architecture, the 3D asymmetric MSC displays an ultrahigh areal capacitance of 88.6 mF cm-2 and areal energy density of 28.69 mW h cm-2, superior to most reported interdigitated MSCs. Furthermore, the 3D tubular MSCs demonstrate remarkable cycling stability and the capacitance retention is up to 91.8% over 12 000 cycles. It is believed that the efficient fabrication methodology can be used to construct various integratable microscale tubular energy storage devices with small footprint area and high performance for miniaturized electronics.

Self-Assembly of Integrated Tubular Microsupercapacitors with Improved Electrochemical Performance and Self-Protective Function.

Inspired by origami art, we demonstrate a tubular microsupercapacitor (TMSC) by self-assembling two-dimensional (2D) films into a "swiss roll" structure with greatly reduced footprint area. A polymeric framework consisting of swelling hydrogel and polyimide layers ensures excellent ion transport between poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based electrodes and provides efficient self-protection of the TMSC against external compression up to about 30 MPa. Such TMSCs exhibit an areal capacitance of 82.5 mF cm-2 at 0.3 mA cm-2 with a potential window of 0.8 V, an energy density and power density of 7.73 µWh cm-2 and 17.8 mW cm-2 (0.3 and 45 mA cm-2), and an improved cycling stability with a capacitance retention up to 96.6% over 5000 cycles. Furthermore, as-fabricated TMSC arrays can be detached from their surface and transferred onto target substrates. The connection of devices in parallel/series greatly improves their capacity and voltage output. Overall, our prototype devices and fabrication methodology provide a promising route to create integratable microscale tubular energy storage devices with an efficient self-protection function and high performance for future miniaturized electronics.

The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on the Burden in Drug Dependent Persons' Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Drug dependence is one of the current problems that leads to the drug dependents persons' suffer and imposes a huge mental burden to their family members. This study aimed investigating to determine the effect of cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT) on the burden of the caregivers of drug dependent people. In CBT, caregivers discover thought and behavioral mistakes and recover them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 caregivers of drug dependent individuals referring to one of the clinical and educational centers in Isfahan, Iran, which were randomly assigned to two equal groups (intervention and control) in 2016. Intervention group under went eight 90-min CBT sessions, whereas control group attended 3 group sessions to express their experiences. Data were collected by Zarit Burden scale and the demographic questionnaire and analyzed by independent t-test, Chi-square, and ANCOVA repeated measure through SPSS 18. RESULTS: Before the intervention, no statistical difference was observed among two groups in the mean scores of burden (t = 0.75, p = 0.46). There was a significant difference between three time points in the intervention group (F = 3.24, p < 0.001). However, care burden mean score did not show a significant reduction in the control group (F = 0.17, p = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: The CBT can lead to reduction of burden in drug dependent caregivers'. We suggest encouraging nurses to establish educational programs such as CBT to maintain and improve caregiver's mental health.

Self-assembly of highly sensitive 3D magnetic field vector angular encoders.

Novel robotic, bioelectronic, and diagnostic systems require a variety of compact and high-performance sensors. Among them, compact three-dimensional (3D) vector angular encoders are required to determine spatial position and orientation in a 3D environment. However, fabrication of 3D vector sensors is a challenging task associated with time-consuming and expensive, sequential processing needed for the orientation of individual sensor elements in 3D space. In this work, we demonstrate the potential of 3D self-assembly to simultaneously reorient numerous giant magnetoresistive (GMR) spin valve sensors for smart fabrication of 3D magnetic angular encoders. During the self-assembly process, the GMR sensors are brought into their desired orthogonal positions within the three Cartesian planes in a simultaneous process that yields monolithic high-performance devices. We fabricated vector angular encoders with equivalent angular accuracy in all directions of 0.14°, as well as low noise and low power consumption during high-speed operation at frequencies up to 1 kHz.

The impact of general medical condition on sleep in children with mental retardation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare sleep problem categories of children with mental retardation without general medical condition (MR-GMC), children with MR co-occurring with GMC (MR+GMC), siblings of the MR children, and the general population. METHOD: This is the first study which separates MR children with GMC and those without GMC. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was completed by their parents to assess their children's sleep practices and behaviors such as the child's sleeping habits, sleeping arrangements, sleep anxiety, night wakening, parasomnias, and daytime sleepiness. RESULTS: The clusters of bedtime resistance and sleep duration, wake up, parasomnia, sleep anxiety, and other problem categories were not different between MR children without GMC and the other two control groups of general population and siblings group. Parasomnia and other problem categories were more impaired in MR+GMC group than the three groups of MR-GMC, general population, and siblings. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of difference between the MR+GMC group and those in the control groups may suggest that medical predisposing factors may contribute to an increased rate of sleep problems in MR children, rather than their MR as a cause of sleep problems. Probably, management of the accompanying medical conditions of the MR children would improve their sleep; in other words, the sleep difficulties of the children with MR are more related to their general medical problems rather than their MR.