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This study aimed to investigate the impact of ocular demodicosis on dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) across different age populations: young (20 to < 40), middle-aged (40 to < 60), and elderly (≥ 60), based on the retrospective medical chart review. In each age subgroup, Demodex infestation and its count were correlated with clinical parameters of DED and MGD. Among the total of 351 subjects, 52.7% had ocular demodicosis, with a mean of 2.31 ± 1.39 mites per four eyelashes (0.58 per lash) in a unilateral eye. In the age subgroup 1 (age < 40; N = 44), subjects with Demodex had significantly higher meibum quality grades. In subgroup 2 (40 ≤ age < 60; N = 122), subjects with Demodex had higher ocular surface disease index scores and higher MG expressibility grades. However, in subgroup 3 (age ≥ 60; N = 185), demographics and all parameters did not differ according to Demodex infestation. Moreover, the number of mites did not correlate with MGD severity in any of the subgroups. In conclusion, age may act as a significant confounding factor in the relationship between ocular Demodex infestation and clinical features of DED and MGD, despite older patients aged 60 years and above being at a higher risk of Demodex infestation and experiencing more severe MGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of concrete exposed to early frost damage and to examine the relationships between compressive strength and static and dynamic elastic moduli concerning its exposure to various frost environments. Frost initiation occurred at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 d, with duration of 12, 24, 36 h at − 10 ℃. Furthermore, electric arc furnace slag coarse aggregate (EFG) was used as coarse aggregate to compare its influence on the properties of natural crushed coarse aggregate (NCA). Compressive strength and static elastic modulus were measured, and a nondestructive evaluation method approach was employed to evaluate the dynamic elastic modulus. The experimental results confirmed that a significant decrease in compressive strength when the concrete is exposed to frost damage in the early stages, particularly for 24 h in low w/b. However, the early age frost damage did not significantly alter the static and dynamic elastic moduli compared to the change observed in the compressive strength. Moreover, considering the impact of early frost damage on both compressive strength and elastic modulus, a new stochastic equation was proposed. This equation can utilize the results of nondestructive evaluation to estimate the compressive strength of early frost damaged concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to propose a neural network (NN)-based method to evaluate thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) patient activity using orbital computed tomography (CT). Orbital CT scans were obtained from 144 active and 288 inactive TAO patients. These CT scans were preprocessed by selecting eleven slices from axial, coronal, and sagittal planes and segmenting the region of interest. We devised an NN employing information extracted from 13 pipelines to assess these slices and clinical patient age and sex data for TAO activity evaluation. The proposed NN's performance in evaluating active and inactive TAO patients achieved a 0.871 area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC), 0.786 sensitivity, and 0.779 specificity values. In contrast, the comparison models CSPDenseNet and ConvNeXt were significantly inferior to the proposed model, with 0.819 (p = 0.029) and 0.774 (p = 0.04) AUROC values, respectively. Ablation studies based on the Sequential Forward Selection algorithm identified vital information for optimal performance and evidenced that NNs performed best with three to five active pipelines. This study establishes a promising TAO activity diagnosing tool with further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) topological semimetals (TSMs) are a new class of Dirac materials that can be viewed as 3D graphene and are referred to as Dirac semimetals (DSMs) or Weyl semimetals (WSMs) depending on whether time reversal symmetry and/or inversion symmetry are protected, respectively. Despite some interesting results on Dirac- to Weyl-semimetal phase transitions under conditions of low temperature or strong magnetic field (B), all of them are reversible phenomena. Here, we report for the first time a possible permanent transition in a single TSM by ion implantation. A Dirac- to Weyl-semimetal phase transition in a Bi0.96Sb0.04 DSM results from inversion-symmetry breaking induced by implantation with nonmagnetic Au ions for implant fluences (ϕG) ≥ 3.2 × 1016 Au cm−2. This phenomenon is evidenced by the ϕG-dependent behavior of the Raman spectra and quantum-oscillation parameters extracted from magnetoresistance (MR) measurements, which show abrupt changes at ϕG ≥ 3.2 × 1016 Au cm−2. The verification of the transition is further supported by observations of negative MR in the longitudinal B // electric field orientation, indicating the existence of a chiral anomaly in Weyl fermions induced by implantation with nonmagnetic Au ions. In contrast, implantation with magnetic Mn ions exhibits no such particular behavior. Our findings demonstrate the first realization of a possible permanent DSM-to-WSM phase transition in a single material by the simple approach of implantation using nonmagnetic elements.(Left, above) Schematic diagram describing the process of the Au implantation into the Dirac semimetal (DSM) Bi0.96Sb0.04. (Left, below) Positive longitudinal magnetic resistance (LMR) is observed in the crystal without ion implantation, but negative LMR behavior becomes apparent for ϕG ≥ 3.2 × 1016 Au cm−2 (≡ ϕC, critical implant fluence), and reaches a maximum for ϕG = 8.0 × 1016 Au cm−2. (Middle) Quantum oscillation parameters for the β Fermi pockets showing abrupt changes near ϕC, typical of phase transition. No such behavior is observed for the α Fermi pockets. (Right) A drastic change in the Raman spectra is observed for ϕG ≥ ϕC. In particular, a new peak appears at 85.7 cm−1, between the well-known Raman modes, suggesting that the inversion symmetry breaking in the crystal occurred for ϕG ≥ ϕC, resulting in the transition of the DSM to a Weyl semimetal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flash-spun nonwoven (FS-NW) is gaining attention in the PPE field due to its excellent barrier and mechanical properties resulting from its non-uniform diameter distribution and unique filament morphology. The unique network structure of flash-spun filaments (FSF) comprising the FS-NW can be controlled by phase separation behavior in the supercritical fluid (SCF) process. This study proposes a simple method to control the microstructure of FSFs by controlling the pressure-induced phase separation (PIPS) process in polymer/SCF solution. This phase separation behavior of an HDPE/SCF solution was confirmed by using a high-pressure view cell. A multistage nozzle allowing for phase-separated pressure to form different phases was also designed. HDPE-FSFs were synthesized by flash-spinning, and their morphology, crystallinity, and mechanical properties were investigated. The results demonstrated that the filaments obtained by PSP control at 220 °C and with an HDPE concentration of 8 wt% showed a network structure composed of strands, wherein the diameters ranged from 1.39 to 40.9 μm. Optimal FSF was obtained at 76 bar, with a crystallinity of 64.0% and a tenacity of 2.88 g/d. The PIPS method can thus effectively control the microstructure more feasibly than temperature- or solvent-induced techniques and can allow the effective synthesis of various products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moiré heterostructures produced by twisted heterojunction of transition-metal dichalcogenides are recognized as novel platforms for unique and tunable means of controlling the optical phenomena including photoluminescence (PL). Despite some interesting results on the PL peak shifts by the heterojunction at twist angles (θ) far from 0 or 60°, all of them are redshifts. Here, we first report blue shift of energy and strong enhancement of intensity in the PL by twisted heterojunction of MoS2 and WS2 monolayers (MLs) in a particular range of θ. The PL peak energy of the heterobilayer steeply increases (about 120 meV) as θ gets closer to 15 or 52° from 3 or 57°, respectively and reaches a plateau at around 2.01 eV in the θ range from 15 to 52°, higher than that of the separate MoS2 or WS2 ML. The PL intensity shows a similar θ-dependent behavior with its magnitude in the plateau being ∼4 or 80 times larger than that of the WS2 or MoS2 ML, respectively. These novel light-emission behaviors are well explained with reference to theoretical predictions on the avoided crossing between the intralayer and interlayer excitons. Our findings highlight extendable tuning and remarkable enhancement of light emission from two-dimensional semiconductors by a simple approach of twisted heterojunction in a proper θ range, very useful for their optoelectronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular detection of micro RNAs (miRNAs) expression is very important for cancer therapy because the expression of miRNA can regulate the chemoresistance in cancer cells. Several analysis techniques based on fluorescence have been developed for intracellular detection of miRNA, but based on those techniques it was hard to detect the low expression level of miRNA. In this study, a highly sensitive detection method of intracellular miRNA expression at the single-cell level was reported based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using conjugated nanoparticles. Each miRNA-detectable Raman active nanoparticle (mi-RAN) consisted of gold nanoparticles (AuNP), Raman reporter, and single-stranded DNA complementary to target miRNA (miR-200c). After the internalization of mi-RANs to different subtypes of breast cancer cells, SK-BR-3 and MCF-7, SERS intensity of Raman reporter on nanoparticles were enhanced by intracellular hybridization of nanoparticles with miR-200c. According to the detection results of SERS, the expression level of miR-200c in SK-BR-3 cells was 5 times higher than that in MCF-7 cells, which was confirmed by the result of gene analysis. Moreover, treatment of mi-RAN on cancer cells was enhance chemoresistance with consumption of miR-200c. The proposed mi-RAN technique can be applied to in situ intracellular analysis platform for other miRNAs expression at the single-cell level. Moreover, mi-RAN can provide a tool to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatment by regulating the activity of chemoresistance-related miRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) Janus transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are highly attractive as an emerging class of 2D materials, but only a few methods are available for fabricating them. These methods rely on the initial growth of 2D TMDCs in one process, followed by an additional plasma or high-temperature (T) process. To overcome these drawbacks, we employ the new approach of NaCl-assisted single-process chemical vapor deposition, which consists of three steps that proceed only by altering the temperature in situ. In the first step, MoS2 is deposited onto a SiO2/Si substrate with the Mo and S atoms activated in different temperature zones. In the second step, S vacancies are formed in the upper layer of the grown MoS2 by annealing. In the third step, the vacancies are filled with activated Se atoms. Throughout the steps, NaCl lowers the melting point of the constituent atoms, while the T in each zone is properly controlled. The growth mechanism is clarified by a separate annealing experiment that does not involve a supply of activated atoms. These results highlight a simple and cost-effective approach for growing Janus MoSSe, which is more useful for fundamental studies and device applications.(Left) Schematic diagrams describing a single in-situ chemical-vapor-deposition process for growing two-dimensional Janus MoSSe without initial or follow-up treatments and the growth mechanism consisting of three steps; 1) growth of a MoS2 layer, 2) formation of vacancies on the top MoS2 layer by an annealing effect, and filling of Se atoms in the vacancies. (Right) Optical-microscopy and photoluminescence-mapping images for a typical two-dimensional Janus sample showing that the central MoSSe region is distinguished from the peripheral MoSe2 region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a complex disease that is reportedly associated with insomnia. However, the causal directionality of this association is still unclear. We used asthma and insomnia-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics to test the causal directionality between insomnia and asthma via Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. We also performed a cross-trait meta-analysis using UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics and a gene–environment interaction study using data from UK Biobank. The interaction of genetic risk score for asthma (GRSasthma) with insomnia on asthma was tested by logistic regression. Insomnia was a risk factor for the incidence of asthma, as revealed by three different methods of MR analysis. However, asthma did not act as a risk factor for insomnia. The cross-trait meta-analysis identified 28 genetic loci shared between asthma and insomnia. In the gene–environment interaction study, GRSasthma interacted with insomnia to significantly affect the risk of asthma. The results of this study highlight the importance of insomnia as a risk factor of asthma, and warrant further analysis of the mechanism through which insomnia affects the risk of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the reliability and validity of the 5-scale grading system to interpret the point-of-care immunoassay for tear matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. Six observers graded red bands of photographs of the readout window in MMP-9 immunoassay kit (InflammaDry) two times with 2-week interval based on the 5-scale grading system (i.e. grade 0–4). Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients. The interobserver agreements were analyzed according to the severity of tear MMP-9 expression. To validate the system, a concentration calibration curve was made using MMP-9 solutions with reference concentrations, then the distribution of MMP-9 concentrations was analyzed according to the 5-scale grading system. Both intraobserver and interobserver reliability was excellent. The readout grades were significantly correlated with the quantified colorimetric densities. The interobserver variance of readout grades had no correlation with the severity of the measured densities. The band density continued to increase up to a maximal concentration (i.e. 5000 ng/mL) according to the calibration curve. The difference of grades reflected the change of MMP-9 concentrations sensitively, especially between grade 2 and 4. Together, our data indicate that the subjective 5-scale grading system in the point-of-care MMP-9 immunoassay is an easy and reliable method with acceptable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermotropic liquid crystal copolyester (TLCP) was synthesized using a melt polymerization method, with a molar ratio composition of 2,5-diethoxy terephthalic acid (ETA), hydroquinone (HQ), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) of 1:1:3. TLCP exhibited nematic liquid crystalline mesophase and maintained nematic textures under all heat treatment conditions applied. The synthesized TLCP was processed into fibers using a capillary rheometer. The liquid crystalline mesophase, thermo-mechanical properties, and morphology of TLCP fibers obtained under various heat treatment conditions were investigated. The thermo-mechanical properties of the heat-treated fibers were improved compared to those of the as-spun fibers. The best results were obtained for TLCP fibers annealed at 230 °C for 9 h. The heat-treated fibers showed a well-developed microfiber morphology compared to the as-spun fibers. In the spun fibers, a skin–core morphology was observed regardless of the heat treatment conditions, and a well-developed fiber morphology better than the core area was observed in the skin area. The diameter of the fiber heat-treated at 230 °C for 9 h was approximately 60–110 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are motivated by our laboratory experiment on the flocking behavior of termites. To test for the existence of flocking behavior, we revisit the problem to test uniform samples (with the samples uniformly distributed) on the circle. Unlike most existing works, we assume that the samples are exchangeably dependent. We consider the class of normalized infinitely divisible distributions for the spacings of the samples, which form uniform samples on the circle. To test the uniformity, we study a test (Kuiper's test) based on spacings of the samples and compute the asymptotic null distribution of the test statistic as the scaled Kolmogorov distribution. We apply the procedure to our experimental data and justify the flocking behavior of termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple environmental factors could interact with a single genetic factor to affect disease phenotypes. We used Struct-LMM to identify genetic variants that interacted with environmental factors related to body mass index (BMI) using data from the Korea Association Resource. The following factors were investigated: alcohol consumption, education, physical activity metabolic equivalent of task (PAMET), income, total calorie intake, protein intake, carbohydrate intake, and smoking status. Initial analysis identified 7 potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that interacted with the environmental factors (P value < 5.00 × 10−6). Of the 8 environmental factors, PAMET score was excluded for further analysis since it had an average Bayes Factor (BF) value < 1 (BF = 0.88). Interaction analysis using 7 environmental factors identified 11 SNPs (P value < 5.00 × 10−6). Of these, rs2391331 had the most significant interaction (P value = 7.27 × 10−9) and was located within the intron of EFNB2 (Chr 13). In addition, the gene-based genome-wide association study verified EFNB2 gene significantly interacting with 7 environmental factors (P value = 5.03 × 10−10). BF analysis indicated that most environmental factors, except carbohydrate intake, contributed to the interaction of rs2391331 on BMI. Although the replication of the results in other cohorts is warranted, these findings proved the usefulness of Struct-LMM to identify the gene–environment interaction affecting disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High torsional strength fibers are of practical interest for applications such as artificial muscles, electric generators, and actuators. Herein, we maximize torsional strength by understanding, measuring, and overcoming rheological thresholds of nanocarbon (nanotube/graphene oxide) dopes. The formed fibers show enhanced structure across multiple length scales, modified hierarchy, and improved mechanical properties. In particular, the torsional properties were examined, with high shear strength (914 MPa) attributed to nanotubes but magnified by their structure, intercalating graphene sheets. This design approach has the potential to realize the hierarchical dimensional hybrids, and may also be useful to build the effective network structure of heterogeneous materials. Fibers with high torsional strength are of practical interest for artificial muscles, electric generators, actuators, etc. Here, the authors optimize torsional strength by overcoming rheological thresholds of nanocarbon (nanotube/graphene oxide) dopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous ceramic plates were prepared from clay and wood charcoal powder at 900 and 1100 °C and their porous properties, water absorption and the cooling effect of porous plates were investigated to produce eco-friendly porous ceramics for cooling by the evaporation of absorbed water. Porous properties were dependent on the firing temperature, and total pore volume, average pore size and porosity, which were 0.38-0.39 cm3/g, 0.15-0.17 μm and 49-50%, respectively at 900 °C and 0.31-0.33 cm3/g, 2.47-2.59 μm and 43-44%, respectively at 1100 °C. By the addition of wood charcoal powder, the cooling rate of porous plate fired at 1100 °C was 1.7 times faster than that of the plate fired at 900 °C and the cooling temperature difference (∆T) was around 2.3 °C at 22.5 °C and 52-54% of relative humidity and around 3.2 °C at 29 °C and 77-80% of relative humidity. The porous ceramic plates developed here are potential materials for cooling buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a supplement containing Pueraria lobata/Rehmannia glutinosa (PR) root extracts on bone turnover in ovariectomized (OVX) rats (a model for postmenopausal osteoporosis). Female Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were randomized into eight groups: sham-operated rats with low-fat control diet + vehicle, OVX rats with low-fat control diet + vehicle, OVX rats with high-fat diet (HFD) + vehicle, OVX rats with HFD + vehicle + exercise, OVX rats with HFD + PR (400 mg/kg body weight/day p.o.), OVX rats with HFD + PR + exercise, OVX rats with HFD + 17β-estradiol (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day p.o.), OVX rats with HFD + 17β-estradiol + exercise. Bone microarchitecture, bone turnover markers (e.g., plasma alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin), expressions of osteogenic and resorptive gene markers in the bone were measured. Eight weeks of PR and/or aerobic exercise improved cortical microarchitecture of the femur and decreased markers of bone turnover and expression of skeletal osteoclastogenic genes in the femur. PR supplementation combined with exercise preserved bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and should be investigated further as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses a low damage-transfer method using epoxy bonding. In this method, first, graphene/metal film and a target substrate are bonded using epoxy; etching of the metal substrate follows. This method is free of organic particles caused by PMMA, and no cracks are spotted, which cracks are a major concern in the PMMA-transfer method. Raman data show that the epoxy-transferred graphene films have a higher 2D/G intensity ratio and a narrower 2D FWHM than those of films transferred by PMMA, if the epoxy is cured optimally. The Raman spectrum of the epoxy-transferred graphene showed G band splitting, probably due to the strain effect. This method is useful for the transfer of large area-graphene films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of hydrogen gas flow rate in the cooling step of CVD on graphene film. We discovered that hydrogen gas in the cooling step influences the quality of graphene. The D peak (defects of graphene) intensity of the Raman spectrum tends to increase with an increasing hydrogen flow rate. Whether methane gas as a hydrocarbon source is maintained during the cooling step or not, the hydrogen flow rate during the cooling step strongly affects the quality of CVD-grown graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper films having thickness 600 nm were prepared on TiN using chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The deposited films were annealed at various temperatures (350–550°C) in Ar and H2(10%)-Ar ambients. The changes in the grain size of the films upon annealing were investigated. Annealing in an H2(10%)-Ar ambient produced normal grain growth; annealing in an Ar ambient caused grain growth to stop at 550°C. The grain size followed a monomodal distribution and the mean size increased in proportion to the square root of the annealing time, indicating the curvature of the grain is the main driving force for grain growth. Upon annealing at 450°C for 30 min in an H2(10%)-Ar ambient, the average grain size of the film increased from 122 nm to 219 nm, and the resistivity decreased from 2.35 μΩ cm to 2.12 μΩ cm at a film thickness of 600 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitors with two kinds of lower electrodes were fabricated and their effects evaluated on the electrical characteristics of oxide–nitride–oxide (ONO) film. One of the electrodes was made of amorphous silicon film chemically deposited using a gas mixture of Si2H6–PH3; the other was made of poly-Si film deposited by SiH4 decomposition and doped by As+ ion implantation. The ONO thin dielectric layer was composed of natural oxide, CVD silicon nitride and thermal oxide formed on the silicon nitride. The capacitance, the leakage current, the dielectric breakdown field and the time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) were tested to evaluate the electrical properties of the capacitors. The leakage current and the dielectric breakdown voltage showed similar values between the two capacitors, whereas the TDDB under negative bias showed a great difference. This indicates that, with respect to electrical properties, the integrity of the oxide grown on the in situ P-doped amorphous silicon is better than the oxide grown on the As+ ion-implanted poly-Si. What is more, phosphorus in the amorphous silicon did not lead to any problems with junction depth, even after post heat treatment at 950°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]