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Meta-aramid insulating paper, comprising precipitated fibers as the matrix and chopped fibers as the reinforcing skeleton, exhibits tremendous potential as a next-generation insulating material in high-voltage systems. However, its insulating performance is hampered by severe interface defects, thus limiting its industrial applications. To address this issue, an interface modification method is proposed based on the tunable electrical polarity of chopped fibers, achieved through a practical PDDA treatment, which converts the originally negative potentials of chopped fibers in pulp water to a positive state. As a result, a compact and cross-connected paper structure is formed, wherein the precipitated fibers and chopped fibers exhibit opposite electrical polarities, promoting strong intermolecular attraction and significantly reducing interface defects. We systematically investigate the electrical insulation and mechanical tensile properties of the modified papers, demonstrating remarkable improvements of up to 31% for breakdown strength and 35% for tensile strength. In addition, molecular simulations reveal enhanced compatibility at the fiber interface, driven by the modification of electrical polarity. This study presents an effective approach for designing high-performance meta-aramid paper, while also opening up possibilities for interface modification in various fiber-reinforced composite materials.

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.

In cargo logistics, a key performance measure is transport risk, defined as the deviation of the actual arrival time from the planned arrival time. Neither earliness nor tardiness is desirable for customer and freight forwarders. In this paper, we investigate ways to assess and forecast transport risks using a half-year of air cargo data, provided by a leading forwarder on 1,336 routes served by 20 airlines. Interestingly, our preliminary data analysis shows a strong multimodal feature in the transport risks, driven by unobserved events, such as cargo missing flights. To accommodate this feature, we introduce a Bayesian nonparametric model--the probit stick-breaking process mixture model--for flexible estimation of the conditional (i.e., state-dependent) density function of transport risk. We demonstrate that using alternative methods can lead to misleading inferences. Our model provides a tool for the forwarder to offer customized price and service quotes. It can also generate baseline airline performance to enable fair supplier evaluation. Furthermore, the method allows us to separate recurrent risks from disruption risks. This is important, because hedging strategies for these two kinds of risks are often drastically different. Funding: This research was supported, in part, by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71390331]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1612. Keywords: Bayesian statistics * big data * disruptions and risks * empirical * international air cargo logistics * nonparametric * probit stick-breaking mixture model, 1. Introduction Global trade has grown considerably in recent decades; many companies now have overseas facilities and supply chain partners. International cargo logistics management thus plays an increasingly important role [...]

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.

Abstract. We consider a single-item continuous-review (r, q) inventory system with a renewal demand process and independent, identically distributed stochastic lead times. Using a stationary marked-point process technique and a [...]

Abstract. We study inventory control of serial supply chains with continuous, Markov-modulated demand (MMD). Our goal is to simplify the computational complexity by resorting to certain approximation techniques, and, in [...]

Abstract. We consider a single-product, two-source inventory system with Poisson demand and backlogging. Inventory can be replenished through a normal supply source, which consists of a two-stage tandem queue with [...]

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.

The importance of soil and groundwater in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and supporting various human activities cannot be overlooked. However, in recent years, the continuous development of the economy and society has led to the generation of industrial emissions, automobile exhaust, and household waste, introducing a large number of pollutants into the soil and groundwater environment. These pollutants include organic pollutants such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), which have a long history of presence, are toxic and carcinogenic, and pose a serious threat to the surrounding ecosystem and human health. However, most of the current research work on BTEX pollution focuses on the above-ground or surface water environment and rarely considers the pollution and the negative effect of BTEX on the deep soil and groundwater environment. In addition to the influence of a single factor, the synergistic or antagonistic effects between different factors should not be ignored. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects and extent of adsorption-desorption and translocation transformations of a single environmental factor, BTEX, in soil and groundwater. On this basis, this paper also further discusses how the interactions between multiple environmental factors affect BTEX migration and transformation, filling the research gap in this section, it also provides some theoretical and scientific basis for the prevention and containment of BTEX pollution in soil and groundwater environment, and puts forward new ideas and suggestions for the development of remediation and treatment technologies for contaminated sites.

The soft-hard tissue interface of the human periodontium is responsible for periodontal homeostasis and is essential for normal oral activities. This soft-hard tissue interface is formed by the direct insertion of fibrous ligaments into the bone tissue. It differs from the unique four-layer structure of the fibrocartilage interface. This interface is formed by a combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors. The physiological functions of this interface are regulated by different signaling pathways. The unique structure of this soft-hard tissue interface has inspired scientists to construct biomimetic gradient structures. These biomimetic systems include nanofiber scaffolds, cell sheets, and hydrogels. Exploring methods to repair this soft-hard tissue interface can help solve clinically unresolved problems. The present review examines the structure of the soft-hard tissue interface of the periodontium and the factors that influence the development of this interface. Relevant regulatory pathways and biomimetic reconstruction methods are also presented to provide ideas for future research on interfacial tissue engineering. The soft-hard tissue interface of the human periodontium is responsible for periodontal homeostasis. This interface is regulated by a combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors as well as signaling pathways. Understanding the regulatory mechanism helps reconstruct this soft-hard tissue interface.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2010.06.017 Byline: Pengfei Guo (a), Jing-Sheng Song (b), Yulan Wang (c) Abstract: We consider a three-tier supply chain consisting of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), a contract manufacturer (CM) and a supplier. We analyze and compare three outsourcing structures that are currently implemented by top-tier OEMs: (1) inhouse consignment, under which the OEM signs independent contracts with the CM and the supplier; (2) turnkey with integration, under which the OEM contracts with an alliance of the CM and the supplier; and (3) turnkey, under which the OEM contracts with the CM, and the CM then subcontracts with the supplier. The OEM is a Stackelberg leader who decides how much of the end product to produce. All parties use take-it-or-leave-it wholesale-price contracts. Both the CM and the supplier have private information about their own production costs. The OEM has prior information about these costs, but this prior information depends on the specific outsourcing structure. Each party's optimal decision is characterized. We then compare each party's profits across the three outsourcing structures and identify which benefits and when. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (b) Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA (c) Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Article History: Received 28 January 2008; Accepted 15 June 2010

We study a single-item (r, q) inventory system, where r is the reorder point and q is the order quantity. The demand is a compound-Poisson process. We investigate the behavior [...]

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been widely applied in many fields as a sensitive vibrational fingerprint technique. However, SERS faces challenges in quantitative analysis due to the heterogeneity of hot spots. An internal standard (IS) strategy has been employed for correcting the variation of hot spots. However, the method suffers from limitations due to the competitive adsorption between the IS and the target analyte. In this work, we combined the IS strategy with the 3D hybrid nanostructures to develop a bifunctional SERS substrate. The substrate had two functional units. The bottom self-assembly layer consisted of Au@IS@SiO2nanoparticles, which provided a stable reference signal and functioned as the calibration unit. The top one consisted of appropriate-sized Au octahedrons for the detection of target analytes, which was the detection unit. Within the 3D hybrid nanostructure, the calibration unit improved the SERS performance of the detection unit, which was demonstrated by the 6-fold increase of SERS intensity when compared with the 2D substrate. Meanwhile, the reproducibility of the detection was greatly improved by correcting the hot spot changes through the calibration unit. Two biomedical molecules of cotinine and creatinine in ultrapure water and artificial urine, respectively, were sensitively determined by the 3D hybrid substrate. We expect that the developed bifunctional 3D substrate will open up new ways to advance the applications of SERS.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects that the Al on blood pressure and the effect of hypertension in aluminum-induced cognitive impairment in electrolytic aluminum worker.

To explore the effects of occupational aluminum exposure on workers’ cognitive function and blood glucose concentration, and to analyze whether blood glucose concentration can mediate the cognitive changes caused by aluminum.

For optimizing the lattice strain and electron effect of Pt catalysts toward boosting their intrinsic electrocatalytic properties, we herein report the building of ultrathin Pt nanoshells in subnanoscale on the fine AgPd alloy cores, which are produced by alloying Pd atoms into the Ag nanoparticles through galvanic replacement reaction (GRR). Because of the smaller lattice expansion and modified electron effect of the ultrathin Pt shells in core–shell AgPd@Pt nanoparticles relative to those in core–shell Ag@Pt counterparts, the d-band center of core–shell AgPd@Pt nanoparticles locates at a lower position, favorable for weakening the adsorption of hydrogen and promoting their electrocatalysis for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an acidic medium. Specifically, the core–shell AgPd@Pt nanoparticles with an appropriate Pt shell thickness not only show the lowest overpotential of 15.8 mV at 10 mA cm–2in comparison with 27 mV of core–shell Ag@Pt nanoparticles, and 35 mV of commercial Pt/C catalyst, but also possesses the highest mass activity (1092.6 A g–1) at the overpotential of 25 mV, which is 1.58 times higher than that of core–shell Ag@Pt nanoparticles (693.5 A g–1) and 6.74 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C (162 A g–1). Moreover, alloying Pd into Ag cores also endows the ultrathin Pt shells with excellent electrocatalytic durability for HER. The concept of both lattice strain and electronic engineering through a core–shell construction may provide guidance for designing other highly catalytic and cost-effective nanostructures for a myriad of electrochemical reactions.

As the first native Chinese scientist to win a Nobel Prize in science, Tu Youyou, who is a researcher of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, is an iconic figure in the Chinese scientific community. Tu's story in Chinese and Western media reports has aroused heated discussion, creating a great opportunity for China to increase its voice in international communications. Through content analysis of relevant reports in Chinese and Western media, we found that, when reporting on the personal character of scientists, Western media politicize scientific and technological events. On the other hand, Chinese media tend to focus on the scientific research and stress a communal spirit among researchers, but the reports have the problem of similar contents and style. Based on this analysis, we proposed several suggestions on how to best tell China's story through reporting on scientists.

We consider a multiperiod inventory system of a perishable product with unobservable lost sales. Demand distribution parameters are unknown and are updated periodically using the Bayesian approach based on the [...]

We consider two models of stochastic serial inventory systems with economies of scale for which the forms of optimal policies are known. In the first model, each stage has a [...]

We consider a finite-horizon, periodic-review inventory model with demand forecasting updates following the martingale model of forecast evolution (MMFE). The optimal policy is a state-dependent base-stock policy, which, however, is [...]