Temporal associations between morningness/eveningness,problematic social media use,psychological distress and daytime sleepiness: Mediated roles of sleep quality and insomnia among young adults

The extant literature has suggested relationships between an individual's chronotype (in relation to morningness/eveningness) and several outcomes, including addictive disorders, psychological distress and daytime sleepiness. Moreover, sleep quality has been proposed to be a mediator in the aforementioned relationships. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to investigate the complex relationship between morningness/eveningness, problematic social media use, psychological distress and daytime sleepiness, with the potential mediators of sleep quality and insomnia. All participants (N = 1,791 [30.1% males]; mean age = 27.2 years, SD = 10.1) completed a battery of psychometric scales, including a reduced version of the Morningness‐Eveningness Questionnaire (at baseline), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index (1 month after baseline assessment), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (2 months after baseline assessment). The impacts of morningness‐eveningness on problematic social media use, anxiety, depression and daytime sleepiness were found in the mediation models. Furthermore, the mediated effects of insomnia and sleep quality were observed. The present study's results emphasize the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits and sleep hygiene behaviours, and that of early detection of sleep problems among individuals who have the eveningness chronotype, because this would significantly improve their health outcomes.     

Quantifying continuous-flow dielectrophoretic trapping of cells and micro-particles on micro-electrode array

An interdigitated electrode array embedded within a micro-channel with forced flow is shown to enable dielectrophoretic (DEP) characterization of particles and/or cells based on measurements of their trapping percentage over a continuous frequency range. A simplified model of the trapping percentage, using spatial averaging of the convective and DEP force, linearly correlated it to the effective DEP force (in its positive mode). Thus, the Clausius–Mossotti factor was fitted to the experimental data, yielding effective electrical characteristics of the particles and/or cells. Also, the generated trapping percentage curve response over a continuous range of frequencies facilitates sorting and detection based on differences other than just the cross-over frequencies.     

2-Butoxyethanol model of haemolysis and disseminated thrombosis in female rats: a preliminary study of the vascular mechanism of osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joint

Female rats develop haemolytic anaemia and disseminated thrombosis and infarction in multiple organs, including bone, when exposed to 2-butoxyethanol (BE). There is growing evidence that vascular occlusion of the subchondral bone may play a part in some cases of osteoarthritis. The subchondral bone is the main weight bearer as well as the source of the blood supply to the mandibular articular cartilage. Vascular occlusion is thought to be linked to sclerosis of the subchondral bone associated with disintegration of the articular cartilage. The aim of this study was to find out whether this model of haemolysis and disseminated thrombosis supports the vascular hypothesis of osteoarthritis. Six female rats were given BE orally for 4 consecutive days and the two control rats were given tap water alone. The rats were killed 26 days after the final dose. The mandibular condyles showed histological and radiological features consistent with osteoarthritis in three of the four experimental rats and in neither of the control rats. These results may support the need to explore the vascular mechanism of osteoarthritis further.