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This study investigates the impact of interface defects on the electrical performance of epoxy-impregnated aramid papers (EAPs). Various composites with different degrees of defects were prepared and analyzed for their structural, mechanical, partial discharge, and insulation performance. The results demonstrate the widespread presence of void defects in the composites, negatively affecting paper compactness, mechanical properties, initial discharge voltage, and leading to significant gas gap discharge phenomena. In terms of insulation performance, composites with severe defects exhibit a 40-fold increase in low-frequency dielectric loss, a 16-fold increase in electrical conductivity, and up to a 64% reduction in breakdown field strength, along with noticeable shallowing of charge traps. Phase field modeling of electro-thermal breakdown reveals that void-type defects guide discharge trajectories, causing lateral damage diffusion, localized overheating, and severe electric field distortion, ultimately endangering the voltage resistance. This study provides the research support for the application of aramid paper as a matrix for a novel epoxy-impregnated insulating paper.

Abstract:Family business has been an important economic engine under China’s market reform, but little is known about how family business has evolved under the rise of online entrepreneurship, which may help to undermine the related gender gap and regional disparities in entrepreneurial activities or reinforce existing social inequalities. This study examines whether and how online and offline family businesses illustrate different patterns of regional disparities and gender inequalities at the regional level and at the individual level. At the regional level, the distribution of offline family businesses suggests a positive sex ratio effect and a negative education effect. These effects are not significant for the distribution of online family businesses; instead, access to the Internet and technology matters more in the development of online entrepreneurship across different areas. At the individual level, the gender gap and regional effects persist in the baseline model, but the two types of family businesses illustrate different gendered patterns regarding the effects of socioeconomic and demographic factors in separate models. Online family businesses allow people to be less constrained by marital status, health status, and family care burden, which continue to contribute to gender differences in offline businesses. Some other effects, however, become more gendered in online businesses: men have a higher chance of online business involvement based on greater human capital and women are more likely to run online business when living in western areas, which may reflect men’s education-facilitated market adventures and women’s resilient agency in places of limited opportunities. The mixed patterns reflect how regional disparities, opportunity structures, family dynamics, and gender inequalities interact in complicated ways.

The correlation between metals and hypertension, such as sodium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium, has been confirmed, while the relationship between aluminum and hypertension is not very clear. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between plasma aluminum and hypertension in electrolytic aluminum workers by the Bayesian networks (BN). In 2019, 476 male workers in an aluminum factory were investigated. The plasma aluminum concentration of workers was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influencing factors on the prevalence of hypertension were analyzed by the BN. The prevalence of hypertension was 23.9% in 476 male workers. The risk of hypertension from plasma aluminum in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups was 5.20 (1.90–14.25), 6.92 (2.51–19.08), and 7.33 (2.69–20.01), respectively, compared with that in the Q1 group. The risk of hypertension from the duration of exposure to aluminum of >10 years was 2.23 (1.09–4.57), compared without aluminum exposure. Area under the curve was 0.80 of plasma aluminum and the duration of exposure to aluminum was based on covariates, indicating that aluminum exposure had important predictive value in the prevalence of hypertension in the occupational population. The results of the study using the BN model showed that if the plasma aluminum of all participants was higher than Q4 (≥47.86 µg/L) and the participants were drinking, smoking, diabetes, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and aged >50 years, the proportion of hypertension was 71.2%. The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly with the increase of plasma aluminum level. The Bayesian networks (BN) model showing marginal probabilities. (A) The BN model for hypertension and hypertension‐related factors. (B) The BN model for hypertension for those plasma aluminum higher than Q4 ( ≥ 47.86 µg/L) and all the participants reported drinking, smoking, diabetes, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and aged >50 years. Exploring the association between high‐concentration aluminum exposure and hypertension risk in occupational populations.Using a BN model to demonstrate the influence of blood aluminum concentration on the prevalence of hypertension.Revealing high‐risk groups for hypertension among aluminum workers. Exploring the association between high‐concentration aluminum exposure and hypertension risk in occupational populations. Using a BN model to demonstrate the influence of blood aluminum concentration on the prevalence of hypertension. Revealing high‐risk groups for hypertension among aluminum workers.

To understand the mechanical response pattern of the existing structure and ground due to the construction of metro tunnels underneath, the finite difference method is adopted to study the torsional deformation and stress variation of the existing structure and the effect of underground carriageway structures on the surface subsidence. The curves of the maximum differential subsidence, torsion angle, and distortion of the cross‐section of the existing structure show two peaks in succession during traversing of two metro tunnels beneath it. The torsion angle of the existing structure changes when the two tunnels traverse beneath it in opposite directions. The first traversing of the shield tunnel mainly induces the magnitude variation in torsional deformation of the existing structure, but the second traversing of the subsurface tunnel may cause a dynamic change in the magnitude and form of torsional deformation in the existing structure. The shielding effect can reduce the surface subsidence caused by metro tunnel excavation to a certain extent, and the development trend of subsidence becomes slower as the excavation continues. Focusing on the influence of the underground carriageway structures on surface subsidence, some interesting results were obtained: (1) The curves of the maximum differential subsidence, the torsion angle, and the distortion of the cross‐section of the existing structure show two peaks in succession during the traversing of two metro tunnels beneath it. (2) The carriageway structure exerts the “shield effect” on the subsidence of soil mass under the influence of tunnel excavation. The shielding effect can reduce the surface subsidence caused by metro tunnel excavation. A simulation of the construction process of a shield tunnel and a shallow tunnel traversing beneath an existing underground carriageway is carried out.The torsional deformation features of the existing structure are studied.The mechanism and influence pattern of the “shield effect” of the existing structure on stratum subsidence are examined. A simulation of the construction process of a shield tunnel and a shallow tunnel traversing beneath an existing underground carriageway is carried out. The torsional deformation features of the existing structure are studied. The mechanism and influence pattern of the “shield effect” of the existing structure on stratum subsidence are examined.

In the pursuit of combating multidrug-resistant bacteria, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising agents; however, their application in clinical settings still presents challenges. Specifically, the exploration of crucial structural parameters that influence the antibacterial spectrum of AMPs and the subsequent development of tailored variants with either broad- or narrow-spectrum characteristics to address diverse clinical therapeutic needs has been overlooked. This study focused on investigating the effects of amino acid sites and hydrophobicity on the peptide’s antibacterial spectrum through Ala scanning and fixed-point hydrophobic amino acid substitution techniques. The findings revealed that specific amino acid sites played a pivotal role in determining the antibacterial spectrum of AMPs and confirmed that broadening the spectrum could be achieved only by increasing hydrophobicity at certain positions. In conclusion, this research provided a theoretical basis for future precise regulation of an antimicrobial peptide’s spectrum by emphasizing the intricate balance between amino acid sites and hydrophobicity.

Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher pain and worse functional outcomes compared to men, even when treated with similar medications. The objective of this study was to identify sex differences in pain intensity, pain interference, and quantitative sensory tests (QST), which are independent of inflammation, in patients with RA. This study is a post hoc analysis of participants in the Central Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort. Pain intensity was assessed using a 0–10 numeric rating scale. Pain interference was measured using a Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System computerized adaptive test. QST included pressure pain detection thresholds, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation. Women and men were compared using multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, education, race, research site, depression, obesity, RA disease duration, swollen joint count, and C‐reactive protein. Mean ± SD pain intensity was 5.32 ± 2.29 among women with RA, compared to 4.60 ± 2.23 among men with RA (adjusted difference 0.83 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.14, 1.53]). Women with RA had lower pressure pain detection thresholds at the trapezius (adjusted difference –1.22 [95% CI –1.73, –0.72]), wrist (adjusted difference –0.57 [95% CI –1.07, –0.06]), and knee (adjusted difference –1.10 [95% CI –2.00, –0.21]). No statistically significant differences in pain interference, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation were observed. Women reported higher pain intensity and lower pressure pain detection thresholds (higher pain sensitivity) than men. However, pain interference, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation did not differ between men and women.

Development of transition metal-based photocatalysts with low cost, strong visible light absorption, and high efficiency is a long-stand pursuit for advanced organic synthesis, yet remains highly challenging. In this article, an anthraquinone-based copper(I) cyclic trinuclear complex (1) was designed and it featured strong visible light absorption, high charge separation efficiency and photochemical properties. Complex 1as a heterogeneous photocatalyst can efficiently catalyze homo-coupling of terminal alkynes and denitrification-oxidative coupling reaction between hydrazinopyridine and terminal alkynes with excellent yield (up to 99%), broad substrate tolerance (27 examples) and superior reusability (up to 10 cycles without loss of performance) under mild conditions.

The study aimed to characterize the natural history of the pain experience, concurrently considering intermittent and constant pain over 4 years, and determine baseline factors associated with unfavorable trajectories in individuals with chronic knee pain. The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) is a prospective, observational study of people with or at higher risk for knee osteoarthritis. The Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) was assessed annually at 48-to-96-month OAI visits. Twenty-eight baseline sociodemographic, knee-specific, and health-related characteristics were assessed. Group-based dual-trajectory modeling identified pain experience patterns indicated by ICOAP intermittent and constant pain scores over 4 years. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression models determined baseline factors associated with membership in each dual-trajectory group. Four longitudinal pain experience patterns were identified (n = 3,584, mean age = 64.8 [standard deviation 9.0] years, BMI = 28.6 [5.0] kg/m2; 57.9% women). Group 1 (37.7%) had minimal intermittent and no constant pain; Group 2 (35.1%) had mild intermittent and no constant pain; Group 3 (18.5%) had mild intermittent and low-grade constant pain; and Group 4 (8.7%) had moderate intermittent and constant pain. Baseline widespread pain, knee stiffness, back pain, hip pain, ankle pain, obesity, depressive symptoms, more advanced radiographic disease, and analgesic use were each associated with an increased risk of membership in less favorable Groups 2, 3, and 4. These distinct courses of pain experience may be driven by different underlying pain mechanisms. The benchmarked ICOAP scores could be used to stratify patients and tailor management. Addressing and preventing the development of modifiable risks (eg, widespread pain and knee joint stiffness) may reduce the chance of belonging to unfavorable dual-trajectory groups.

Herein, a series of polyimide (PI)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) organic–inorganic flexible composite microfibers with high photocatalytic performance and good reusability were prepared by combining electrospinning technology and a hydrothermal method. Under simulated sunlight, the photocatalytic characteristics of the as-prepared PI nanofibers, TiO2nanorods, and PI/TiO2microfibers were evaluated with photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution. Among the tested samples, PI/TiO2-3 mL hydrochloric acid-160 °C-14 h (PI/TiO-3-160-14) (100%) exhibited a superior photocatalytic degradation rate compared to pure PI (84.0%) and TiO2(62.2%). The enhancement of the photocatalytic performance was attributed to the Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism. When the interface was irradiated by simulated sunlight, the band edge bending, built-in electric field, and Coulomb interaction synergistically facilitated the separation and transport of electron–hole pairs in the heterojunction. This enhanced the oxidation and reduction abilities of the valence and conduction bands of PI/TiO2. These results were adequately verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses and radical trapping experiments. Additionally, PI/TiO2microfibers also demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue (MB, 81.4%), methyl orange (MO, 95.9%), and malachite green (KG, 98.9%), underscoring the versatile applicability of PI/TiO2. Further supplementary investigations illustrated that PI/TiO2microfibers also possess excellent photostability during our extensive recycling photocatalytic experiments.

Colloidal stability is an important consideration when developing high concentration mAb formulations. PEG-induced protein precipitation is a commonly used assay to assess the colloidal stability of protein solutions. However, the practical usefulness and the current theoretical model for this assay have yet to be verified over a large formulation space across multiple mAbs and mAb-based modalities. In the present study, we used PEG-induced protein precipitation assays to evaluate colloidal stability of 3 mAbs in 24 common formulation buffers at 20 and 5 °C. These prediction assays were conducted at low protein concentration (1 mg/mL). We also directly characterized high concentration (100 mg/mL) formulations for cold-induced phase separation, turbidity, and concentratibility by ultrafiltration. This systematic study allowed analysis of the correlation between the results of low concentration assays and the high concentration attributes. The key findings of this study include the following: (1) verification of the usefulness of three different parameters (Cmid, μB, and Tcloud) from PEG-induced protein precipitation assays for ranking colloidal stability of high concentration mAb formulations; (2) a new method to implement PEG-induced protein precipitation assay suitable for high throughput screening with low sample consumption; (3) improvement in the theoretical model for calculating robust thermodynamic parameters of colloidal stability (μBand εB) that are independent of specific experimental settings; (4) systematic evaluation of the effects of pH and buffer salts on colloidal stability of mAbs in common formulation buffers. These findings provide improved theoretical and practical tools for assessing the colloidal stability of mAbs and mAb-based modalities during formulation development.

The nitration of toluene with mixed acid is one of the most representative nitration reactions. Accurate kinetic study is essential for controlling the reaction and designing reactors. Due to the characteristics of fast rate, high exothermicity and heterogeneity in toluene nitration, the effects of mass and heat transfer may result in inaccurate determination of kinetics. In this work, the adiabatic temperature rises of the reaction system were studied to provide precise ranges of experimental conditions for accurately controlling the reaction rate and heat release rate in a liquid–liquid microflow system. The adiabatic temperature rise was successfully controlled to below 0.3 °C. The effects of mass and heat transfer on the reaction rate were completely eliminated, so that the kinetic study was carried out under the control of intrinsic kinetics only. The activation energy for toluene nitration was determined to be 28.00 kJ/mol. The activation energies for the formation of o-nitrotoluene and p-nitrotoluene were obtained for the first time, which were 25.71 and 31.91 kJ/mol, respectively. The obtained kinetic models can predict the reaction performance of toluene nitration very well.

Expected outcomes (e.g., expected survivorship after a cancer treatment) have improved decision‐making around treatment options in many clinical fields. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of expected values of 3 widely available total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes (risk of serious complications, time to revision, and improvement in pain and function at 2 years after surgery) on clinical recommendation of TKA. The RAND/University of California Los Angeles appropriateness criteria method was used to evaluate the role of the 3 expected outcomes in clinical recommendation of TKA. The expected outcomes were added to 5 established preoperative factors from the modified Escobar appropriateness criteria. The 8 indication factors were used to develop 279 clinical scenarios, and a panel of 9 clinicians rated the appropriateness of TKA for each scenario as inappropriate, inconclusive, and appropriate. Classification tree analysis was applied to these ratings to identify the most influential of the 8 factors in discriminating TKA appropriateness classifications. Ratings for the 279 appropriateness scenarios deemed 34.4% of the scenarios as appropriate, 40.1% as inconclusive, and 25.5% as inappropriate. Classification tree analyses showed that expected improvement in pain and function and expected time to revision were the most influential factors that discriminated among the TKA appropriateness classification categories. Our results showed that clinicians would use expected postoperative outcome factors in determining appropriateness for TKA. These results call for further work in this area to incorporate estimates of expected pain/function and revision outcomes into clinical practice to improve decision‐making for TKA.

Laboratory experiments and point monitoring of reservoir sediments have proven that stable sulfate reduction (SSR) can lower the concentrations of toxic metals and sulfate in acidic groundwater for a long time. Here, we hypothesize that SSR occurred during in situ leaching after uranium mining, which can impact the fate of acid groundwater in an entire region. To test this, we applied a sulfur isotope fractionation method to analyze the mechanism for natural attenuation of contaminated groundwater produced by acid in situ leaching of uranium (Xinjiang, China). The results showed that δ34S increased over time after the cessation of uranium mining, and natural attenuation caused considerable, area-scale immobilization of sulfur corresponding to retention levels of 5.3%–48.3% while simultaneously decreasing the concentration of uranium. Isotopic evidence for SSR in the area, together with evidence for changes of pollutant concentrations, suggest that area-scale SSR is most likely also important at other acid mining sites for uranium, where retention of acid groundwater may be strengthened through natural attenuation. To recapitulate, the sulfur isotope fractionation method constitutes a relatively accurate tool for quantification of spatiotemporal trends for groundwater during migration and transformation resulting from acid in situ leaching of uranium in northern China.

Neuronal loss is a primary factor in determining the outcome of ischemic stroke. Oridonin (Ori), a natural diterpenoid compound extracted from the Chinese herb Rabdosia rubescens, has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and neuroregulatory effects in various models of neurological diseases. In this study we investigated whether Ori exerted a protective effect against reperfusion injury-induced neuronal loss and the underlying mechanisms. Mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), and were injected with Ori (5, 10, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) at the beginning of reperfusion. We showed that Ori treatment rescued neuronal loss in a dose-dependent manner by specifically inhibiting caspase-9-mediated neuronal apoptosis and exerted neuroprotective effects against reperfusion injury. Furthermore, we found that Ori treatment reversed neuronal mitochondrial damage and loss after reperfusion injury. In N2a cells and primary neurons, Ori (1, 3, 6 μM) exerted similar protective effects against oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury. We then conducted an RNA-sequencing assay of the ipsilateral brain tissue of tMCAO mice, and identified receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3) as the most significantly changed apoptosis-associated gene. In N2a cells after OGD/R and in the ipsilateral brain region, we found that RIPK3 mediated excessive neuronal mitophagy by activating AMPK mitophagy signaling, which was inhibited by Ori or 3-MA. Using in vitro and in vivo RIPK3 knockdown models, we demonstrated that the anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of Ori were RIPK3-dependent. Collectively, our results show that Ori effectively inhibits RIPK3-induced excessive mitophagy and thereby rescues the neuronal loss in the early stage of ischemic stroke.

Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience sleep disturbances, commonly attributed to joint pain. Sleep disturbances could also influence pain. One mechanism may be through dysregulated pain processing, manifested by enhanced pain sensitivity. The present study was undertaken to examine the role of pain sensitization, measured by quantitative sensory testing (QST), as a mediator in the pathway of sleep disturbance leading to subsequent pain. We used longitudinal data from 221 patients with active RA who were followed for 12 weeks after initiating a disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug. Baseline QST included pressure pain thresholds at articular (wrists, knees) and nonarticular (trapezius, thumbnails) sites, temporal summation (TS) at the wrist and forearm, and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Baseline sleep disturbance and subsequent pain intensity were assessed using the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). We evaluated correlations between sleep disturbance, QSTs, and subsequent pain intensity. Mediation analyses separately assessed each QST as a mediator, adjusting for baseline confounding factors. Sleep disturbance was correlated with all QST measures except wrist TS and CPM. Sleep disturbance significantly predicted subsequent pain (coefficient for a meaningful increase of 5 units in sleep disturbance = 0.32 (95% confidence interval 0.11, 0.50) in multiple regression. QST mediated 10–19% of this effect. Pain sensitization may be one mechanism through which sleep disturbance contributes to pain. The small magnitude of association indicates that unmeasured pathways may contribute to this relationship. Intervention studies are needed to establish causality and determine whether improving sleep can improve pain in patients with RA.

• PCs prepared by bottom-up self-assembly method have the advantages of low cost, easy processability and large production batch. • In this review, we attempt to summarize the novel colloidal building blocks and their synthesis methods. • The latest bottom-up self-assembly methods and their applications are discussed. • Photonic crystals (PCs) show great potential for new sensors, anti-counterfeiting inks, displays, smart glass, textiles. Inspired by special color-forming organisms in nature, photonic crystal materials with structural color function have been developed significantly with great potential applications for displays, sensors, anti-counterfeiting inks, etc. This review aims to summarize the functions, self-assembly modes, and applications of different kinds of photonic crystal materials. The preparation methods and characteristics of monodisperse inorganic nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, inorganic/organic core-shell nanoparticles, and MOFs are discussed. Subsequently, we summarize the method of assembling colloidal particles into photonic crystals, which is a template induction method, inkjet printing method, drop coating method, etc. Moreover, the potential application of structural color is presented including humidity response and magnetic field response in sensors fields, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of anti-counterfeiting, fabric coloring, displays, smart windows, and Biomedical Applications. Finally, we present the development prospects and key problems of photonic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To externally validate the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Frailty Index (SLICC‐FI) in a prevalent systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort and to assess the ability of the SLICC‐FI to predict organ damage accrual among individuals with longstanding SLE. This was a secondary analysis of data from the Study of Lupus Vascular and Bone Long‐Term Endpoints (SOLVABLE) cohort, which consists of adult women from the Chicago Lupus Database who met the 1997 revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE. There were 185 patients with SLE enrolled, of whom 149 patients were included in a 5‐year follow‐up analysis. The SLICC‐FI and SLICC/ACR Damage Index (SDI) scores were calculated at baseline and 5‐year follow‐up. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models estimated the association of baseline SLICC‐FI scores (per 0.05 increase) with damage accrual at 5‐year follow‐up. At enrollment the mean ± SD age of the 149 patients was 43.30 ± 10.15 years, the mean ± SD disease duration was 11.93 ± 8.46 years, and the mean ± SD SDI score was 1.64 ± 1.83. At baseline, the mean ± SD SLICC‐FI score was 0.18 ± 0.08, and 36% of participants were categorized as frail (SLICC‐FI score >0.21). In a model adjusted for age, race, and disease duration, each 0.05‐unit increase in the baseline SLICC‐FI score was associated with 28% higher odds of subsequent damage accrual (odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.63). In a prevalent cohort of women with established SLE, higher baseline SLICC‐FI scores were associated with a higher risk of subsequent damage accrual at 5‐year follow‐up.

ObjectiveTo determine if the degree of baseline fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as indicated by the Fibromyalgia Survey Questionnaire (FSQ) score, predicts RA disease activity after initiation or change of a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).MethodsOne hundred ninety-two participants with active RA were followed for 12 weeks after initiation or change of DMARD therapy. Participants completed the FSQ at the initial visit. The Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) was measured at baseline and follow-up to assess RA disease activity. We evaluated the association between baseline FSQ score and follow-up DAS28-CRP. As a secondary analysis, we examined the relationship between the 2 components of the FSQ, the Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), with follow-up DAS28-CRP. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for clinical and demographic variables.ResultsIn multiple linear regression models, FSQ score was independently associated with elevated DAS28-CRP scores 12 weeks after DMARD initiation (B = 0.04, P= 0.01). In secondary analyses, the WPI was significantly associated with increased follow-up DAS28-CRP scores (B = 0.08, P= 0.001), whereas the SSS was not (B = −0.03, P= 0.43).ConclusionHigher levels of FM symptoms weakly predicted worse disease activity after treatment. The primary factor that informed the FSQ’s prediction of disease activity was the spatial extent of pain, as measured by the WPI.

ObjectiveAlthough pain affects the assessment of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pain is not always directly related to peripheral joint inflammation. Peripheral and central nervous system regulatory mechanisms also affect pain perception. We used regression tree methodology to identify mechanisms most predictive of disease activity after disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment.MethodsDisease activity was evaluated using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) in 176 patients with RA, before and after starting a DMARD. Quantitative sensory testing (QST), including pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation (CPM), were used to assess pain mechanisms. Regression tree methodology was used to determine the QST modalities most predictive of DAS28 after DMARD treatment.ResultsThis analysis identified 4 groups defined by baseline DAS28 category and either knee PPT (a combined measure of peripheral and central nervous system dysregulation) or CPM (a measure of descending pain inhibition). Among patients starting with low/moderate disease activity, lower knee PPT (PPT ≤ 4.65 kgf) most strongly predicted higher posttreatment disease activity (group 1 mean DAS28 2.8 [SD 1.0] vs group 2 mean DAS28 3.5 [SD 1.0]). Among patients starting with high baseline disease activity, less efficient descending pain modulation (CPM ≤ 1.55) most strongly predicted higher posttreatment disease activity (group 3 mean DAS28 3.4 [SD 1.4] vs group 4 mean DAS28 4.6 [SD 1.1]).ConclusionThese results highlight the importance of identifying and treating aberrant peripheral and central pain regulation in patients with RA starting or switching DMARD therapy.

In order to realize the intelligent energy management of the complex ship energy system, achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal and reduce the ship carbon emissions and ship operating costs, this paper proposes a distributed energy management method for ships entering and leaving ports based on polymorphic network considering computing power resources. Firstly, a polymorphic network-based energy management system for ships entering and leaving ports is proposed to enhance the information exchange between ship computing power, power and port power, simultaneously improve the communication quality and communication security among different modes. Secondly, in order to reduce the ship operating costs and port carbon emissions, the energy management model of ships entering and leaving ports is constructed considering computing power resources. Then, according to the ship’s berthing and departing operation modes, this paper uses the distributed algorithm to solve the energy management problem, and explores the impact on the ship microgrid when the ship’s data load changes. Finally, simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Clinical trials for systemic lupus erythematosus (“lupus”) under enroll Black individuals despite higher disease prevalence, morbidity, and mortality among Black compared to White individuals. To begin to address this disparity, we leveraged community–academic partnerships in 2 US cities (Boston and Chicago) to train popular opinion leaders (POLs) to disseminate information about clinical trials in predominantly Black communities. The team of community and academic partners collaboratively developed a 5‐module curriculum about clinical trials, barriers, facilitators, and structural racism in research. We enrolled POLs in Boston and Chicago to participate virtually in the curriculum and assessed knowledge gained by comparing pre‐ and post‐test scores. We described the POLs' ability to disseminate information about clinical trials through their communities. We enrolled 19 POLs in Boston and 16 in Chicago; overall, 71% reported a lupus diagnosis, 94% were female, and 80% self‐identified as Black or African American. The program was adapted to virtual formats due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. POLs demonstrated significant improvement comparing pre/post scores for the conduct of clinical trials and history of racism in clinical research. Fifteen POLs (43%) reported their dissemination of information about clinical trials. Information reached 425 community members in Boston (90% virtually) and 1,887 in Chicago (95% virtually). By leveraging community–academic partnerships, we developed and implemented a curriculum to promote familiarity with clinical trials, leading to information dissemination by POLs in predominantly Black communities that are underrepresented in lupus clinical trials. The program successfully transitioned to a virtual model during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Superconductivity (SC) was experimentally observed for the first time in antimony polyhydride. The diamond anvil cell combined with a laser heating system was used to synthesize the antimony polyhydride sample at high pressure and high temperature. In-situhigh pressure transport measurements as a function of temperature with an applied magnetic field were performed to study the SC properties. It was found that the antimony polyhydride samples show superconducting transition with critical temperature Tc116 K at 184 GPa. The investigation of SC at magnetic field revealed the superconducting coherent length of ∼40 Å based on the Ginzburg Landau (GL) equation. Antimony polyhydride superconductor has the second highest Tcin addition to sulfur hydride among the polyhydrides of elements from main groups IIIA to VIIA in the periodic table.Antimony hydride was successfully synthesized and discovered to host superconductivity with Tc about 116 K that is the second highest among the experimentally reported covalently bonded polyhydrides