The reliable acquisition of microvolt-level (μV) neural signals (EEG/EMG) during intense physical activity remains a fundamental challenge due to severe motion-induced electromechanical artifacts and dynamic interface instabilities. This review systematically examines how advanced flexible bioelectronics transcend macroscopic mechanical compliance to address the rigorous electrophysiological demands of motion neural monitoring. We elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which engineered materials and electrode structures optimize dynamic interface electrochemistry and equivalent circuit stability. Specifically, we summarize strategies for suppressing half-cell potential fluctuations, preventing parasitic ionic shunt pathways via localized dielectric control (e.g., sweat management), and minimizing piezoresistive noise in dynamic percolation networks. Furthermore, we explore the integration of multimodal systemswhere kinematic sensors serve as dynamic reference vectors for artifact decouplingand their practical applications in neuro-rehabilitation, fatigue management, and motor skill enhancement. Finally, we critically discuss current limitations, emphasizing the necessity for long-term electrochemical robustness, standardized artifact evaluation, and the eventual transition toward AI-driven digital twins. Through this mechanistic analysis, we aim to provide fundamental insights for advancing flexible interfaces from passive wearables to precision motion-neural platforms.

Central disorders of hypersomnolence are characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness. There has been growing interest in analysing sleep micro-architecture, to further understand how sleep is affected by these conditions. We investigated if sleep spindle activity differed between children with narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnolence (IH) and subjectively sleepy children with a non-diagnostic multiple sleep latency test, and individually age- and sex-matched controls. Twenty eight children with narcolepsy, 11 with IH and 26 with subjective sleepiness (aged 6-19 years) were included. Spindle activity was characterised as spindle density (number of spindles/min) and intensity (density × average duration) of central (C4) and frontal (F4) EEG electrodes for Slow and Fast spindles and combined (Slow&Fast) across the sleep period and also when separated into NREM sleep periods (NREMP) across the night. C4 Slow and Fast and F4 Slow spindle duration was longer in children with narcolepsy compared to their controls (p < 0.05 for all comparisons) and to those with subjective sleepiness (p < 0.05). In the children with narcolepsy and subjective sleepiness C4 spindle intensity was greater (p < 0.05 for both groups) compared to controls. C4 spindle density and intensity were lower at the beginning compared to the end of the night in the children with narcolepsy and subjective sleepiness (p < 0.05 for both groups). There were no relationships between spindle activity and parental reports of daytime sleepiness. Spindle characteristics differed between children with narcolepsy compared to controls and to children with undiagnosed subjective sleepiness. Our findings may aid in distinguishing between groups of children referred for assessment of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Clitoria ternatea (commonly known as sangu poo (SP) in South Indian languages) is a plant rich in natural flavonoids, particularly rutin, offering a sustainable source of electroactive molecular compounds for electrochemical applications. In this study, rutin from Clitoria ternatea was in situ grafted onto a carbon nanofibre (CNF)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), forming a composite designated as GCE/CNF@SP-Redox, where SP-Redox refers to the redox-active form of sangu poo. This composite was employed in the development of a green, eco and bio-friendly electrochemical sensor for instant preparation and real-time pH monitoring. The sensor demonstrated excellent redox behavior, high stability, and a strong pH-dependent electrochemical response, attributed to the surface-confined electroactivity of grafted rutin. The successful grafting of rutin, as a plausible electroactive species, onto the CNF surface was validated through High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) using an organic solvent extraction method and by several control experiments. Comprehensive characterization of the GCE/CNF@SP-Redox composite was carried out using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM), Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) measurements, and various electrochemical techniques. These analyses confirmed the successful functionalization, nanoscale surface morphology, localized redox behavior, mass changes during electron transfer, and improved electrochemical performance. To demonstrate practical utility, a portable electrochemical sensing device was fabricated for on-site and point-of-care applications. Notably, the sensor was successfully applied to monitor pH variations in rat wound models, capturing dynamic pH fluctuations associated with different stages of wound healing. As a proof of concept, the system was further validated using various real sample matrices, confirming its versatility and reliability.

To address prevalent industrial challenges, including the high cost of fabricating microstructures via photolithography and 3D printing, impurity residues easily generated by conventional physical/chemical pore-forming techniques, and the limited sensitivity of regular capacitive sensors, this paper innovatively proposes an integrated low-temperature in situ gas foaming strategy using ammonium bicarbonate for the fabrication of porous TPU-based ionic gels. Relying on the complete gaseous decomposition property of ammonium bicarbonate upon heating, a three-dimensionally interconnected continuous porous network is spontaneously constructed inside the polymer matrix. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is selected as the continuous polymer phase, and [EMIM][TFSI] imidazolium ionic liquid is blended as the ion source to synthesize composite ionic gel substrates. A PDMS composite slurry filled with graphene is employed to prepare flexible substrates, followed by low-temperature oxygen plasma surface modification to introduce polar functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl onto electrode surfaces. A standard sandwich-structured ionic pressure sensor with the configuration of "top modified electrode-porous ionic gel dielectric layer-bottom modified electrode" is finally assembled. The porous framework and modified electrodes constitute a dual synergistic enhancement system: the porous structure markedly reduces the equivalent elastic modulus of the gel and improves its compressive deformation capacity; polar-modified electrodes optimize the interfacial compatibility between electrodes and gels, shorten ion migration paths and lower interfacial contact resistance. Systematic calibration of multiple batches of parallel samples reveals that the as-fabricated sensor achieves a high sensitivity of 25.3 kPa[-1] across the full measuring range from 0 to 1000 kPa with a linear fitting coefficient R[2] = 0.992. The loading response time and unloading recovery time of the device are 60 ms and 80 ms respectively, with a performance degradation of less than 3% after 1000 consecutive loading-unloading cycles, featuring low hysteresis error and excellent signal repeatability. Multi-scenario in vivo wearable tests on human subjects verify that the device can precisely capture subtle fluctuations of radial artery pulse and periodic laryngeal deformation during swallowing, distinguish characteristic waveform patterns of various English words according to differences in vocal cord vibration, and accurately detect bending motions when attached to finger joints. The entire fabrication process adopts common chemical raw materials and standard laboratory equipment without expensive micro-nano processing facilities, featuring convenient raw material procurement and high process fault tolerance, which enables large-area coating-based mass production. This work delivers a novel technical route for the low-cost large-scale production of high-performance ionic flexible sensors and bears significant industrialization reference value for applications in wearable medical monitoring, bionic robotic electronic skin, flexible human-machine interactive touch panels and other related fields.

Basic cardiac life support and automated external defibrillation refer to the skills required for resuscitation of a cardiac arrest casualty. On recognising cardiac arrest, the rescuer should call '995' for an ambulance and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. High-quality chest compressions are performed with the arms extended, elbows locked, shoulders directly perpendicular over the casualty's chest and the heel of the palm placed on the lower half of the sternum. The rescuer compresses to a depth of 4-6 cm for adults, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, allowing complete chest recoil after each compression. Two quick ventilations of 400-600 mL each are delivered via a bag-valve-mask (or mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-mask if trained and able) after 30 chest compressions (or 15 chest compressions for casualties under 12 years of age). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be stopped when the casualty regains consciousness, the emergency team takes over care, or when an automated external defibrillator analyses the heart rhythm or delivers a shock.

Children who are exposed to lead may have extensive health problems, in particular intelligence deficits and developmental delays. Wide-reaching screening programs are essential to identify children in need of remediation and medical intervention. Lead exposure is most problematic in low- and middle-income countries, as well as in underserved populations in wealthier regions of the world. To increase accessibility, it is critical that screening tools are inexpensive, portable, and easy to use. Here we report a low-cost, handheld, sample-to-answer system for the detection of lead in whole blood samples. Our assay simultaneously lyses blood cells, liberates lead from hemoglobin, aggregates proteins and cellular debris, and separates the solubilized lead from the aggregate via a simple filtration device. Using a screen-printed carbon electrode, anodic stripping voltammetry with a low-cost potentiostat, and our sample-to-answer workflow, we achieved a limit of detection of 1.44 μg/dL, which is below the blood lead reference value established by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (3.5 μg/dL). We validated our system using pre-quantified reference samples from lead-exposed animals and demonstrated excellent agreement with our calibration curve, including for samples near the 3.5 μg/dL threshold.

The formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in sodium-ion batteries is a challenge which is usually solved by introducing film-forming electrolyte additives. The functions and decomposition of common additives like vinylene carbonate (VC) and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) are not fully understood and yield different results in full- and half-cells. This study reveals that the electrochemical reduction of an electrolyte solution based on 1 M NaPF6 dissolved in ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate (EC : DEC) with no additive yields a lower charge loss, while electrolytes containing 2 wt% VC or FEC additives suffer from higher charge consumption for the formation and reformation of SEI due to higher solubility. To solely investigate stability and dissolution of the SEI in the absence of other ageing mechanisms, a model cell consisting of a carbon-coated aluminium foil working electrode and Prussian white counter and reference electrodes was used. Additionally, the experiments show a detrimental effect from using sodium metal counter electrodes. This work sheds light on the insufficiency of VC and FEC electrolyte additives in forming a perfect SEI. However, further investigations are required to account for additional ageing mechanisms to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of VC and FEC in practical sodium-ion batteries.

BackgroundPersistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic vestibular disorder lacking objective tools for monitoring disease activity. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) has identified cortical hyperexcitability in migraine, but whether analogous patterns exist in PPPD and reverse with treatment is unknown. We investigated high beta (25-30 Hz) activity as a state-dependent biomarker for PPPD.MethodsThis retrospective longitudinal study analyzed 19-channel resting-state qEEG from 163 unmedicated PPPD patients, 86 healthy controls (HC), and 67 vestibular migraine (VM) patients as a dizzy control group at a specialized neurology clinic. Absolute power was z-score normalized against an age-adjusted reference database. The primary outcome was the number of electrodes with high beta absolute power z-score > +1.96; the continuous mean high beta z-score served as a confirmatory outcome. Patients were followed through pharmacotherapy, with qEEG repeated at follow-up (n = 107) and at relapse after discontinuation (n = 23).ResultsHigh beta electrode counts were graded across groups and highest in PPPD (median: HC 2 [IQR 0-4], VM 7 [3-13], PPPD 16 [12-18]; all pairwise p < 0.001), discriminating PPPD from HC with an AUC of 0.956 (OR = 1.53 per electrode; 95% CI 1.38-1.69); the continuous mean z-score yielded a comparable AUC (0.948). Within PPPD, high beta count was not confounded by age, sex, comorbid migraine, or anxiety (all p > 0.30). Marked responders (n = 76) showed near-normalization of high beta electrode count (17 → 2.5; Cohen's d = 2.58), whereas partial responders (n = 31) showed smaller reductions (15 → 11; p < 0.001). Clinical improvement correlated with reduction in high beta electrode count (ρ = 0.509; p < 0.001). Relapse after discontinuation produced a V-shaped trajectory (n = 23; 15 → 2 → 13).ConclusionsOn qEEG, high beta-trans-diagnostic but most pronounced in PPPD-represents a promising state-dependent biomarker. Its cross-sectional elevation versus controls establishes it as a valid marker, while its differential reduction with treatment and V-shaped relapse trajectory support its potential as a clinically accessible metric for within-subject monitoring of disease activity in PPPD. These findings warrant multicenter, prospective validation.

In recent years, commercial lightweight electroencephalography (EEG) headsets are gaining popularity in neuroscience. These devices commonly utilize only a few dry electrodes in specific locations and signal quality is often inferior compared to that of their traditional counterparts. In this study, we wanted to assess the feasibility of portable, paste-less, passive electrode-based EEG headset MindRove vision (VSN) for laboratory use. Three paradigms were implemented for acquiring visual evoked potential (VEP), P300 event-related potential and motor execution task (ME) related cortical patterns. Measurements were taken by using VSN, with wet-electrode system mBrainTrain SMARTING applied as reference. The performance of the devices was assessed by using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for VEP and P300 while support vector machine, random forest and convolutional neural network-based classifiers were fit to ME data. The SNRdB (i.e. SNR expressed in decibels) of VSN was greater for both VEP and P300, by a margin of 1.998 and 2.845 dB, respectively. There was a significant difference between VEP signal amplitude levels and SNRdB, P300 SNR and SNRdB in favor of VSN. Average accuracy of the sorters were 78.8% for VSN and 80.9% for SMARTING; the difference was not significant. The application of VSN is feasible for use in research besides qualitative exploration.

Electroencephalography (EEG) is commonly used in neuroscience to study cognitive and emotional processes, often showing functional lateralization. Alpha asymmetries are frequently interpreted as a reverse marker of functional asymmetries in cognitive activation. However, the role of motor activity versus cognitive demands in driving EEG asymmetries remains unclear.

Magnetic particles (MP) combined with screen-printed electrodes (SPE) are widely used for enzyme-labelled magneto-immunoassays enabling quantitative electrochemical detection of analytes. In contrast, thin-film electrodes are less frequently implemented, despite their reported high sensitivity. This study aims to identify the key parameters required for the effective use of gold interdigitated microelectrodes (G-IDE) in the sensitive electrochemical detection of sandwich magneto-immunoassays. As a model system, we selected the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus (F-RSV), a major causative agent of viral respiratory infections and the second leading cause of mortality in infants beyond the neonatal period. The results demonstrate that successful detection using G-IDE requires only a fraction of the MP typically employed with SPE, combined with volumes of substrate solution down to 3-10 μL, and enzymatic detection times of only a few seconds. Two signal-enhancement strategies were synergistically combined: redox cycling-based detection of enzymatic products occurring at G-IDE and physical confinement of MP during the enzymatic reaction to generate highly concentrated products. These approaches were evaluated using two configurations: accumulation of MP in a microwell positioned on top of the G-IDE, and deposition of MP onto a paper-based disc subsequently transferred to the electrode surface. While the former approach required minimal user manipulation, the latter achieved superior analytical performance, yielding a detection limit of 0.09 ng mL[-1] and F-RSV quantification correlating with the reference ELISA measurements (R[2] = 0.998). Finally, the applicability of the proposed detection strategy to complex matrices was addressed through the analysis of 20 clinical samples. Overall, these results confirm the potential of G-IDE for the development of sensitive electrochemical magneto-immunosensors.

Accurate pH monitoring in flexible thin films is essential for biochemical sensing applications. However, in conventional soft-material-based film-type pH sensors, the apparent pH response is often influenced by variations in thin-film morphology, such as swelling, microstructural disorder, and structural inhomogeneity. Here, we adopt a different strategy by confining a small-molecule proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) redox couple, traditionally used in homogeneous aqueous solutions, within an ion gel. A benzoquinone/hydroquinone (BQ/HQ) redox couple is incorporated into an ion-gel matrix deposited on a gold electrode and covered with a Nafion overlayer. The open-circuit potential of the Au/ion-gel interface, measured against an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, exhibits a Nernstian dependence on pH, indicating that the proton-coupled BQ/HQ redox equilibrium is preserved in the thin-film device. These results demonstrate that PCET redox couples homogeneously dissolved in ion gels provide a viable route toward compact and reliable pH-sensing films.