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This article presents the findings of a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan on the epidemiology and risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). The study used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients with AIIRDs and matched control subjects. The results showed that patients with AIIRDs had a higher rate of CMV disease compared to the control group, with patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) exhibiting the highest risk. Comorbidities and certain medications, such as mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporin, were associated with an increased risk of CMV disease. The study highlights the importance of early detection and differentiation of CMV disease in patients with AIIRDs. [Extracted from the article]

Gallium telluride (GaTe) is a two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor that has received considerable attention due to its potential applications in solid state optics and electronics, particularly as a sensing material in field-effect transistor (FET) photodetectors. However, there are limited reports that show its capability as a passive-type photodetector. In this work, high-quality van der Waals (vdW) layered GaTe single crystals were grown and used as the sensing material for small light power density photodetection. The vdW layered GaTe-based passive photodetector was evaluated over a wide range of power densities at various wavelengths. The measured response and decay times are ∼1.1 s and 2.6 s, which are better than those of previously reported two-terminal passive GaTe photodetectors, and the calculated responsivities are up to 15.15, 17.67, and 17.81 A W−1 under 630 nm, 530 nm, and 460 nm irradiation, respectively. The vdW layered GaTe-based photodetector was also tested at various bias voltages to determine its performance efficiency. Although operated at a small bias voltage of 0.2 V, it is nonetheless able to detect signals as low as 0.05 W m−2, demonstrating high efficiency photodetection capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS) explores the physical, psychological, and social experiences of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). This initiative is now being expanded to Taiwan as the Taiwanese Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (TMAS). We aim to provide rheumatologists with insights into the perspectives of Taiwanese patients, enabling physicians to better understand the unmet needs of these patients and optimize their management. Materials and Methods: The TMAS is a cross-sectional study gathering data through an online survey of axSpA patients, promoted by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Caring Society of R.O.C. (ASCARES), conducted from July 2017 to March 2018 by Ipsos, and analyzed by the Health & Territory Research (HTR) group of the University of Seville. The questionnaire includes 99 questions that cover domains such as patient profile, diagnosis, habits/lifestyle, employment status, physical/psychological health status, social support, use of healthcare services, and treatments. Results: A total of 112 axSpA patients were included in this survey. The mean age was 38.6 years and 75.0% were male. The average diagnostic delay was 3 years, and 19.6% reported extra-articular manifestations. Out of the 49 respondents who reported HLA-B27 information, 35 were HLA-B27-positive. The disease burden was high, with a mean BASDAI score of 4.9 and 75.9% having a mild to moderate degree of spinal stiffness. Furthermore, they were socially and psychologically burdened, with 88.4% experiencing work-related issues and 25.9% suffering from anxiety. Conclusions: The TMAS sheds light on the overall perspective of axSpA patients in Taiwan. The TMAS shows shorter diagnostic delay compared to patients from the EMAS. However, high disease activity and significant psychological distress still trouble the patients, causing functional impairments and even leading to career failures. Understanding the perspective of axSpA patients can help rheumatologists adjust treatment strategies to their unmet needs and improve their disease outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two–dimensional (2D) 4H‐polytype tin disulfide (SnS2) flakes are synthesized using the chemical vapor transport technique. The weak Van der Waals force between the 2D SnS2 layers offers an easy exfoliation of flakes down to a bilayer of thickness ≈2.02 (±0.1) nm using a mechanical exfoliation technique. The optical and field effect transistor (FET) characteristics of the exfoliated 2D 4H‐SnS2 layers are studied. The exfoliated layers are used to fabricate the ≈13‐layered SnS2 FET. The 4H‐SnS2 exhibits a high on/off ratio of ≈106 and mobility ≈1–4 cm2 V−1 s−1. The low mobility of the 4H‐SnS2 FET devices shows an insulating state concordant with the 2D Motts variable range hopping mechanism at varying temperatures. Moreover, it is found that the optical bandgap of the 2D SnS2 single‐crystal layers is largely widened for the bilayers and tri‐layers. The optical bandgap energies vary in the range of 2.56–1.99 eV. The significant alteration in bandgap energies of ≈0.57 eV offers downscaling of the 2D nanoscale semiconducting devices. Such layer‐sensitive changes in optical transmittance, absorbance, and bandgap energies are reflected in Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity, showing the distinct color of transmittance through various 2D 4H‐SnS2 layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-efficiency multimode Li-Ion battery charger with variable current source and controlling previous-stage supply voltage is presented in this paper. Using variable current source can achieve the goal of constant-current mode to charge the battery and control previous-stage supply voltage which could increase the efficiency of the multimode battery charger. Moreover, the charging mode adopted in this charger is applied by two types of dual-mode strategy decided by the value of the equivalent series resistance of the Li-Ion battery. This technique will reduce the damage of Li-Ion battery. The Li-Ion battery charger is designed with 0.35-[micro]m CMOS double-poly four-metal processes. The experimental results show that the charger works well and the theoretical analysis can be confirmed. The average power efficiency of the multimode Li-Ion battery charger can be up to 91.2% under the average power of 1.24 W, and the accuracy of the adaptive reference voltage is up to 97.3%. The chip area is only 1.32 X 0.95 [mm.sup.2]. Index Terms--Adaptive reference voltage, Li-Ion charger, variable current source.