Search

Noninvasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) present in the spent blastocyst medium (SBM) of human blastocysts has emerged as an alternative for classical preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). The major benefit is to avoid possible damage to the trophectoderm and subsequently increase the implantation potential of the embryo. niPGT-A provides more information including the ploidy state of both trophectoderm and inner cell mass compared to invasive PGT-A in which only a few trophectoderm cells are assessed. This study was to report our first successful experience solely using niPGT-A to select embryos to transfer resulting in a successful delivery. This practical application is believed to be the first case report in Taiwan and can serve as an innovative model for other clinics to apply niPGT-A.

The electric assisted bicycle is the new transportation tool in the 21st century. The proposal of this article is to upgrade the fatigue safety factor for an electric assisted bicycle frame by integrating the uniform design, Kriging interpolation, entropy weighting method, grey relational analysis, and genetic algorithm. According to EN 15194 standard, the main objective function, the fatigue safety factor for an electric assisted bicycle frame is examined by ANSYS/Workbench software under three fatigue testing simulations. Five geometry parameters of an electric assisted bicycle frame are nominated to be the improved control factors. Since all control factors are continuous in the design space, the uniform design is certainly developed to construct a series of simulation experiments. For each model in the uniform design table, the fatigue finite element analysis is utilized to calculate the fatigue safety factor. Applying the multi-objective optimization procedure, the optimal design version of an electric bicycle frame has been obtained. For the fatigue safety factor, the revised design model has a maximum improvement of 19.59% when compared to the original design. Summery, the fatigue safety factor has been effectively elevated by executing the innovative multi-objective optimization procedure for an electric assisted bicycle frame system.

Drs Roeth and Kulasekararaj contributed equally as authors.

A series of blend films of cellulose and chitosan were prepared from 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazole acetate ([Emim] Ac) by coagulating with ethanol. Structure, mechanical properties, thermal stability and antibacterial properties were investigated. The results showed that there were strong interactions and good compatibility between cellulose and chitosan in blend films. The blend films possess good mechanical properties and thermal stability, and the existence of chitosan endows blend films with antimicrobial property.

The purpose of this study is to delineate clinical characteristics of urosepsis caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coliand Klebsiella pneumoniae(ESBL-EK) in different clinical settings, with an emphasis on community-acquired infections.

ABSTRACTA retrospective study was conducted at two medical centers in Taiwan to evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for mortality among patients treated with a carbapenem for bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms. A total of 251 patients with bacteremia caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coliand Klebsiella pneumoniaeisolates treated by a carbapenem were identified. Among these ESBL-producing isolates, rates of susceptibility to ertapenem (MICs ≤ 0.25 μg/ml) were 83.8% and 76.4%, respectively; those to meropenem were 100% and 99.3%, respectively; and those to imipenem were 100% and 97.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the critical illness rate (P= 0.1) or sepsis-related mortality rate (P= 0.2) for patients with bacteremia caused by ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae(140 isolates, 55.8%) and E. coli(111 isolates, 44.2%). Multivariate analysis of variables related to sepsis-related mortality revealed that the presence of severe sepsis (odds ratio [OR], 15.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.84 to 43.34; P< 0.001), hospital-onset bacteremia (OR, 4.65; 95% CI, 1.42 to 15.24; P= 0.01), and ertapenem-nonsusceptible isolates (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 2.04 to 12.88; P= 0.001) were independent risk factors. The patients receiving inappropriate therapy had a higher sepsis-related mortality than those with appropriate therapy (P= 0.002), irrespective of ertapenem, imipenem, or meropenem therapy. Infections due to the ertapenem-susceptible isolates (MICs ≤ 0.25 μg/ml) were associated with a more favorable outcome than those due to ertapenem-nonsusceptible isolates (MICs > 0.25 μg/ml), if treated by a carbapenem. However, the mortality for patients with bacteremic episodes due to isolates with MICs of ≤0.5 μg/ml was similar to the mortality for those whose isolates had MICs of >0.5 μg/ml (P= 0.8). Such a finding supports the rationale of the current CLSI 2011 criteria for carbapenems for Enterobacteriaceae.

Clinical information about bacteremia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens in cancer patients was limited. The study was aimed to identify the clinical manifestations and risk factors for mortality in ESBL-producer bacteremia in cancer patients.

Bio-inspired assembly of platelet particles and polyelectrolytes into ordered layered nanocomposites, which mimic the brick-and-mortar nanostructure found in the nacreous layer of mollusk shells, is of great technological importance in developing light-weight reinforced materials, separation membranes, and gas-barrier coatings. Unfortunately, the widely utilized layer-by-layer self-assembly technology is tedious in creating thick multilayered coatings. Here we report a simple filtration technology that enables the scalable production of inorganic nanoplatelets-polymer nanocomposites with layered structures. Water suspended montmorillonite (MTM) nanoclay platelets are pre-mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solution to make stable colloidal suspensions. By using a simple vacuum filtration setup, ordered layered MTM nanoclay-PVA nanocomposites with controlled thickness can be easily prepared. The resulting selfstanding films exhibit higher tensile strength and toughness than those of natural inorganic-organic nanocomposites including nacre, bone, and dentin.

This paper reports a simple colloidal templating technology for fabricating periodic binary nanostructures, including intercalated arrays of silica spheres and polymer posts, gold nanohole arrays with binary sizes, and biomimetic dimple−nipple antireflection coatings, which are not easily available by traditional top-down and bottom-up approaches. Double-layer, nonclose-packed colloidal crystals prepared by a spin-coating technology are used as etching masks to define the resulting binary crystalline structures. Contrary to conventional colloidal lithography, the polymer matrix between the self-assembled colloidal crystal has also been utilized as a sacrificial template. This bottom-up technique is compatible with standard top-down microfabrication, enabling scalable production of periodic binary nanostructures that have important technological applications ranging from plasmonic devices to broadband antireflection coatings for flat panel displays and efficient solar cells.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is a novel hemostatic agent originally developed to treat hemophilia patients who had developed inhibitors with bleeding. Its role in treating uncontrolled bleeding in patients without pre-existing coagulation abnormalities has not been well established. We herein report our experiences with its use in non-hemophilic patients.