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Background: In rotator cuff repair, the long head of the biceps tendon (LHB) is commonly used as graft material. However, factors influencing LHB tear severity are poorly understood, and predicting grade II LHB tears is challenging. This study aimed to identify these factors preoperatively. Methods: The demographics, medical parameters, and pain severity of 750 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery from January 2010 to February 2021 were evaluated to determine the factors associated with LHB tear severity and grade II tears. Both overall and large-to-massive rotator cuff tear (RCT) cohorts underwent ordinal and binary logistic regression analyses. Predictive accuracy for grade II LHB tears was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: In the overall cohort, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) >1 mg/L (P<0.001), subscapularis tear (P<0.001), hypothyroidism (P=0.031), and the tangent sign (P=0.003) were significantly associated with LHB tear severity, and hs-CRP>1 mg/L, subscapularis tear, and Patte retraction degree were significantly associated with grade II LHB tears (P<0.001). In the large-to-massive RCT cohort, hs-CRP>1 mg/L, hypertension, and age ≥50 years (P<0.05) were significantly associated with LHB tear severity, and hs-CRP>1 mg/L (P<0.001) and hypertension (P=0.026) were significantly associated with grade II LHB tears. In both cohorts, hs-CRP >1 mg/L demonstrated good predictive accuracy for grade II LHB tears (AUCs: 0.72 and 0.70). Conclusions: Serum hs-CRP >1 mg/L is associated with LHB tear severity and serves as a reliable predictor of grade II LHB tears, facilitating preoperative assessment of the LHB as potential graft material in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Level of Evidence: III [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their discovery in 1981, quantum dots (QDs) have been the center of attention in optoelectronic fields owing to their excellent properties such as clearly discrete band structure, high luminous efficiency, and tunable energy bandgap via dot size control. Among them, the bandgap increase characteristic based on the quantum confinement effect opens a new horizon in the field of deep ultraviolet photodetectors (DUV PDs). Emerging applications such as risk monitoring, wireless optical communication, and chemical sensing with extremely low environmental interference raise the significance of DUV PDs. Nonetheless, the limited material selection for DUV absorption has been the main obstacle for further applications. Along this line, this review systematically revisits the recent advances in QD‐based DUV PDs, using bandgap‐widened QDs, with a focus on the synthetic method, device architecture, and interactions among constituent components. Various QDs categorized into carbon, oxide, sulfide, and nitride are reviewed with the specific characteristics of each substance. The future prospects of QD‐based DUV PDs in terms of practical applications and the current challenges are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally enhanced mesenchymal stromal cells participate in the repair of intervertebral disc. This study aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of intradiscal administration of matrilin-3-primed adipose-derived stromal cell (ASC) spheroids with hyaluronic acid (HA) in patients with chronic discogenic low back pain (LBP). In this single-arm, open-label phase I clinical trial, eight patients with chronic discogenic LBP were observed over 6 months. Each patient underwent a one-time intradiscal injection of 1 mL of 6.0 × 106 cells/disc combined with HA under real-time fluoroscopic guidance. Safety and feasibility were gauged using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores and magnetic resonance imaging. All participants remained in the trial, with no reported adverse events linked to the procedure or stem cells. A successful outcome-marked by a minimum 2-point improvement in the VAS pain score and a 10-point improvement in ODI score from the start were observed in six participants. Although the modified Pfirrmann grade remained consistent across all participants, radiological improvements were evident in four patients. Specifically, two patients exhibited reduced high-intensity zones while another two demonstrated decreased disc protrusion. In conclusion, the intradiscal application of matrilin-3-primed ASC spheroids with HA is a safe and feasible treatment option for chronic discogenic LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric materials are considered ideal for emerging memory devices owing to their characteristic remanent polarization, which can be switched by applying a sufficient electric field. However, even several decades after the initial conceptualization of ferroelectric memory, its applications are limited to a niche market. The slow advancement of ferroelectric memories can be attributed to several extant issues, such as the absence of ferroelectric materials with complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility and scalability. Since the 2010s, ferroelectric memories have attracted increasing interest because of newly discovered ferroelectricity in well‐established CMOS‐compatible materials, which are previously known to be non‐ferroelectric, such as fluorite‐structured (Hf,Zr)O2 and wurtzite‐structured (Al,Sc)N. With advancing material fabrication technologies, for example, accurate chemical doping and atomic‐level thickness control, a metastable polar phase, and switchable polarization with a reasonable electric field can be induced in (Hf,Zr)O2 and (Al,Sc)N. Nonetheless, various issues still exist that urgently require solutions to facilitate the use of the ferroelectric (Hf,Zr)O2 and (Al,Sc)N in emerging memory devices. Thus, ferroelectric (Hf,Zr)O2 and (Al,Sc)N are comprehensively reviewed herein, including their fundamental science and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, panel-based molecular diagnostics for the simultaneous detection of respiratory viruses and bacteria in nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens have been highlighted. We identified the distribution of bacterial species in NPS specimens collected from pediatric and adult patients by employing RT-PCR (Allplex respiratory panel 4, RP4, Seegene) to estimate its applicability in a panel-based assay for detecting respiratory viruses. Methods: We used 271 and 173 NPS specimens from pediatric and adult patients, respectively. The results of the Allplex RP4 panel using NPS (NPS-RP4) from adult patients were compared with those of the Seeplex PneumoBacter ACE Detection assay (Seegene), which used sputum for testing (sputum-Seeplex). Results: A total of 147 specimens (54.2%) were positive for the NPS-RP4 panel in pediatric patients. There were 94, 77, 10, 3, 3, and 2 specimens that were positive for Haemophilus influenzae (HI), Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP), Bordetella pertussis (BP), and B. parapertussis (BPP), respectively. Among 173 adult patients, 39 specimens (22.5%) were positive in the NPS-RP4. Thirty specimens were positive for HI, and 13 were positive for SP. One specimen tested positive for both MP and Legionella pneumophila (LP). CP, BP, and BPP results were all negative. However, 126 specimens (72.8%) had positive results with sputum-Seeplex (99 SP, 59 HI, three LP, and two MP), and the overall percentage of agreement between the two assays was 39.3% in the adult patients. Conclusions: Bacterial species in NPS from more than half of pediatric patients were detected. Performing the Allplex RP4 assay with NPS revealed additional respiratory bacteria that are not detected in current clinical practices, which do not include bacterial testing, demanding the use of sputum specimens. However, the use of NPS showed low agreement with standard assays using sputum in adult patients. Thus, more research is needed to develop a reliable RT-PCR method using NPS specimens in adult patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HfO2-based ferroelectric thin films have attracted significant interest for semiconductor device applications due to their compatibility with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. One of the benefits of HfO2-based ferroelectric thin films is their ability to be scaled to thicknesses as low as 10 nm while retaining their ferroelectric properties; a feat that has been difficult to accomplish with conventional perovskite-based ferroelectrics using CMOS-compatible processes. However, reducing the thickness limit of HfO2-based ferroelectric thin films below the sub 5 nm thickness regime while preserving their ferroelectric property remains a formidable challenge. This is because both the structural factors of HfO2, including polymorphism and orientation, and the electrical factors of HfO2-based devices, such as the depolarization field, are known to be highly dependent on the HfO2 thickness. Accordingly, when the thickness of HfO2 drops below 5 nm, these factors will become even more crucial. In this regard, the size effect of HfO2-based ferroelectric thin films is thoroughly discussed in the present review. The impact of thickness on the ferroelectric property of HfO2-based thin films and the electrical performance of HfO2-based ferroelectric semiconductor devices, such as ferroelectric random-access-memory, ferroelectric field-effect-transistor, and ferroelectric tunnel junction, is extensively discussed from the perspective of fundamental theory and experimental results. Finally, recent developments and reports on achieving ferroelectric HfO2 at sub-5 nm thickness regime and their applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cancer‐selective self‐reporting sensor based on a redox‐responsive mineralized conductive hydrogel (M‐Hydrogel) is proposed with cancer‐specific viscosity, adhesive strength, stretchability, tunable conductivity, and fluorescence. The redox‐triggered release of carbonized polydopamine (cPDA) from the loaded disulfide‐crosslinked polymer dots (PD@cPDA) in the hydrogel matrix modulates the macroporous structure responsible for self‐recognizable cancer sensing and photothermal activity for cancer therapy. The self‐reporting nature of the M‐Hydrogel sensor is highlighted when in vicinity of a high glutathione (GSH) level owing to the controllable pore size and H‐bonding by cPDA, as confirmed by experiments on cancer cells (HeLa, PC3, B16‐F10‐GFP, and SNU‐C2A) and normal cells (CHO‐K1). The lower viscosity during syringe test along with the exceptional adhesiveness and stretchability with various cancer cells, combined with a high wireless pressure‐sensing response absent in normal conditions, confirms the dependence of self‐recognizable behavior on the cancer microenvironment. The M‐Hydrogel demonstrates excellent ex situ sensing with tumor ablation, after implantation in mice xenografted with HeLa cells, with the wireless sensing system, enabling real‐time analysis coupled with the upregulation of pro‐apoptotic markers P53 and BAX in the tumor. Therefore, this self‐reporting sensor may facilitate a strategy for innovative and convenient cancer diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal-based binary and ternary compound arrays were directly grown on a porous Ni foam substrate using a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Transition metals are considered ideal electrode materials for faradaic capacitors because they exhibit a wide range of oxidation states enabling effective redox charge transfer. Furthermore, compounds in which two or more transition metals react can help increase the number of active sites for charge–discharge reactions and provide more valence changes for improved charge transfer. In this work, we fabricated ternary electrodes with Ni, Cu, and Zn ions, exhibiting a larger surface area and higher entropy than those made with binary compounds. The NixCuyZnz-based ternary electrode had a shorter diffusion path for the electrolyte ions owing to its larger surface area. Ternary compounds can increase the entropy of the electrode because of the reaction between atoms of different sizes, bringing about a synergistic effect for high characteristic electrochemical values. The optimized Ni x Cu y Zn z (CO3)(OH)2 compound showed a maximum specific capacity of 344 mA h g−1 at a current density of 3 A g−1, which was remarkably higher than that of the binary electrode, and a cycling stability of 84.9% after 5000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor produced with this compound as the positive electrode and graphene as the negative electrode exhibited a high energy density of 36.2 W h kg−1 at a power density of 103.1 W kg−1 and a current density of 2 A g−1. The asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated using the Ni x Cu y Zn z (CO3)(OH)2 compound as the positive electrode exhibited excellent electrical properties when used in an illuminated LED device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas detectors have attracted considerable attention for monitoring harmful gases and air pollution because of industry development and the ongoing interest in human health. On the other hand, conventional high−temperature gas detectors are unsuitable for safely detecting harmful gases at high activation temperatures. Photo−activated gas detectors improve gas sensing performance at room temperature and enable low−power operation. This review presents a timely overview of photo−activated gas detectors that use illuminated light instead of thermal energy. Illuminated light assists in gas detection and is classified as visible or ultraviolet light. The research on photo−activated gas detectors is organized according to the type of gas that can be intensively detected. In addition, a development strategy for advancing photo−activated gas detectors is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy forecasting is a key for efficient resource use in terms of power generation and safe grid control. In this study, we investigated a short-term statistical forecasting model with 1 to 3 h horizons using photovoltaic operation data from 215 power plants throughout South Korea. A vector autoregression (VAR) model-based regional photovoltaic power forecasting system is proposed for seven clusters of power plants in South Korea. This method showed better predictability than the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. The normalized root-mean-square errors of hourly photovoltaic generation predictions obtained from VAR (ARIMA) were 8.5–10.9% (9.8–13.0%) and 18.5–22.8% (21.3–26.3%) for 1 h and 3 h horizon, respectively, at 215 power plants. The coefficient of determination, R2 was higher for VAR, at 4–5%, than ARIMA. The VAR model had greater accuracy than ARIMA. This will be useful for economical and efficient grid management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen trapping and micromechanical behaviors of additively manufactured CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) using the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) technique in the as-built and pre-strained states were explored through nanoindentation and micro-tensile experiments combined with thermal desorption analysis. To analyze the influence of pre-straining, both global pre-strains, imposed using the interrupted tensile tests, and local strain levels, estimated using the digital image correlation measurements, were employed. It was revealed that pre-straining (which increases the dislocation density in the alloy) does not enhance the hydrogen effects on the micromechanical performance of the L-PBF HEA. To understand this, rather unexpected, result, we investigated the trapping behavior of diffusional hydrogen in detail, through thermal desorption analysis combined with the Ag decoration technique. The results are discussed in terms of the hydrogen contents and trapping sites in the L-PBF HEA. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: To determine the analgesic effect of pretreatment topical bromfenac instillation in patients undergoing intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. (2) Methods: A prospective, non-randomized pilot study was conducted in patients scheduled to receive repeated intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at a single tertiary hospital. Before the planned second injection, the patients received topical bromfenac eye drops twice a day for 3 days. At 1, 6, and 24 h after the first and second injections, the post-injection pain scores were determined using the numerical rating scale (NRS) telephonically. (3) Results: A total of 28 patients were enrolled in this study. After the first intravitreal injection, the NRS pain scores were 4.04 ± 1.90 at 1 h, 1.57 ± 1.75 at 6 h, and 0.93 ± 1.27 at 24 h. The pain scores after the second intravitreal injection significantly decreased at each measurement time point (p = 0.002, 0.055, and 0.004, respectively) compared to the first injection. (4) Conclusions: The use of topical bromfenac eye drops before intravitreal injection can lead to a significant improvement in injection-related pain scores, which is the basis for a future large-scale randomized comparative study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrophysiological signals are collected to characterize human health and applied in various fields, such as medicine, engineering, and pharmaceuticals. Studies of electrophysiological signals have focused on accurate signal acquisition, real-time monitoring, and signal interpretation. Furthermore, the development of electronic devices consisting of biodegradable and biocompatible materials has been attracting attention over the last decade. In this regard, this review presents a timely overview of electrophysiological signals collected with biodegradable polymer electrodes. Candidate polymers that can constitute biodegradable polymer electrodes are systemically classified by their essential properties for collecting electrophysiological signals. Moreover, electrophysiological signals, such as electrocardiograms, electromyograms, and electroencephalograms subdivided with human organs, are discussed. In addition, the evaluation of the biodegradability of various electrodes with an electrophysiology signal collection purpose is comprehensively revisited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the human lifespan, healthcare monitoring devices that diagnose diseases and check body conditions have attracted considerable interest. Commercial AgCl-based wet electrodes with the advantages of high conductivity and strong adaptability to human skin are considered the most frequently used electrode material for healthcare monitoring. However, commercial AgCl-based wet electrodes, when exposed for a long period, cause an evaporation of organic solvents, which could reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of biosignals and stimulate human skin. In this context, we demonstrate a dry electrode for a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-based blended polymer electrode using a combination of PEDOT:PSS, waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and ethylene glycol (EG) that could be reused for a long period of time to detect electrocardiography (ECG) and electromyography (EMG). Both ECG and EMG are reliably detected by the wireless real-time monitoring system. In particular, the proposed dry electrode detects biosignals without deterioration for over 2 weeks. Additionally, a double layer of a polyimide (PI) substrate and fluorinated polymer CYTOP induces the strong waterproof characteristics of external liquids for the proposed dry electrodes, having a low surface energy of 14.49 mN/m. In addition, the proposed electrode has excellent degradability in water; it dissolves in hot water at 60 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The overall survival of patients with close margins was no different than that of others when appropriate postoperative adjuvant and/or salvage treatment were/was prescribed. However, we could not determine the impact of close margins on locoregional recurrence given various biases in our study setting. Introduction. Mucosal margins exhibit a mean shrinkage of 30–40% after resection of oral and oropharyngeal cancers, and an adequate in situ surgical margin frequently results in a pathological close margin. However, the impact on prognosis remains unclear. We investigated the impact of a pathological close margin on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological data of 418 patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity or oropharynx who underwent initial surgery (with curative intent) at our institute between 2010 and 2016. Results. Of the total population, the pathological marginal status of 290 (69.4%) patients was reported as clear (>5 mm), 61 (14.6%) as close (>1 mm, ≤5 mm), and 67 (16.0%) as positive (≤1 mm). The 5-year DFSs were 79.3%, 65.1%, and 52% in patients in the negative margin (group 1), close margin (group 2), and positive margin (group 3) groups, respectively. The difference between groups 1 and 2 was not significant (p = 0.213) but the difference between groups 2 and 3 was (p = 0.034). The 5-year OSs were 79.4%, 84%, and 52.3% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The difference between groups 1 and 2 was not significant (p = 0.824) but the difference between groups 2 and 3 was (p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, older age, advanced T stage, and a positive margin were independently prognostic of the 5-year DFS and OS. Conclusion. In conclusion, the OS of patients with close margins was no different than that of others when appropriate postoperative adjuvant and/or salvage treatment were/was prescribed. However, we could not determine the impact of close margins on locoregional recurrence given various biases in our study setting. A future prospective study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the synthesis of novel, highly luminescent, and nearly monodisperse zero-dimensional (0D) cesium lanthanide chloride (Cs3LnCl6; Ln = Y, Ce, Gd, Er, Tm, Yb) colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) is reported for the first time. The Cs3LnCl6 NCs are synthesized using a heating-up method and exhibit highly uniform size and shape. The monoclinic-phase Cs3LnCl6 NCs contain completely isolated [LnCl6]3- octahedral units, resulting in 0D ternary metal halide structures. Therefore, these NCs exhibit deep-blue photoluminescence under ultraviolet excitation, and this photoluminescence can be tuned by changing the lanthanide cations within the [LnCl6]3- octahedral units. High photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 60% and 90% are observed for the Cs3YbCl6 and Cs3YCl6 NCs, respectively, at room temperature and under ambient conditions. The Cs3LnCl6 NCs exhibit characteristic optical and magnetic properties owing to the f-orbitals of the lanthanide elements. For example, near-infrared-to-visible upconversion luminescence appears when Cs3LnCl6 NCs are doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ ions. In addition, the Cs3GdCl6 NCs demonstrate paramagnetic properties owing to the unpaired electrons within the f-orbitals of the trivalent gadolinium ions. This study provides guidance for the rational design and synthesis of novel lanthanide-based 0D metal halide NCs, which can potentially be used as highly efficient, multifunctional NC emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients with choroidal tuberculoma. Methods: In this retrospective, observational case series, the medical records of five patients with choroidal tuberculoma who were followed up at a university hospital for at least 6 months were analyzed. Results: Of five patients, one was male and four were female. The overall mean age was 38.0 ± 9.4 years (mean follow-up: 41.2 ± 33.8 months). Tuberculin skin test was performed in three patients, and it was positive in two of them. Interferon-gamma assay was performed in two patients and was positive in all two. Three patients had systemic tuberculosis involving the lung or other organs. Five patients were treated with antitubercular therapy for a period of 9.6 ± 8.6 months. Systemic corticosteroid treatment was performed in 3 patients, with a period of 3.5 ± 0.7 months. One patient with a recurrent vascularized tuberculoma was successfully treated with single intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Conclusion: Choroidal tuberculoma can develop without evidence of systemic tuberculosis and can recur despite antitubercular treatment. High index of suspicion is important in early detection, and management of choroidal tuberculoma. In cases of suspected choroidal tuberculoma, positive results on immunological tests would be sufficient to initiate antitubercular therapy even if radiological evidence of systemic tuberculosis is not found. Antitubercular therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids provided favorable results. Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor may be considered for highly vascularized choroidal tuberculoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prostatic urethral lift (PUL) can be performed under local anesthesia in patients normally at high risk for general anesthesia due to multiple comorbidities. However, the clinical efficacy of PULs in patients with multiple comorbidities remains unknown. Therefore, in this this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the PUL in patients with a high number of comorbidities by comparing its clinical efficacy in these patients with that in healthy individuals. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study, in which patients who underwent a PUL between December 2016 and January 2019 at a single tertiary care center were categorized into two groups: healthy individuals who wanted to preserve sexual function (Group 1) and patients with a high number of comorbidities who were at high risk for general anesthesia, based on an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of ≥3 (Group 2). The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual urine (PVR) were obtained preoperatively and compared throughout the 2-year follow-up. A total of 66 patients were enrolled, of whom 36 patients were included in Group 1 and 30 in Group 2. In Group 1, IPSS, IPSS quality of life (QoL), and Qmax significantly improved and were then maintained during follow-up, whereas, in Group 2, improvements in these parameters were not maintained during follow-up, except for IPSS QoL. Eleven patients (36%) in Group 2 required additional treatment for the recurrence of lower urinary tract symptoms. In conclusion, patients with a high number of comorbidities had a low therapeutic effect after PUL, suggesting a high rate of treatment failure. Therefore, comorbidity status should be considered when evaluating the potential benefits of the PUL procedure during preoperative counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA double-strand break (DSB) induction is one of the phenotypes of cellular damage from radiation exposure and is commonly quantified by γ-H2AX assay with the number of excess fluorescent foci per cell as the main component. However, the number of foci alone may not fully characterize the state of DNA damage following exposures to different radiation qualities. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing the focus size distribution and dephosphorylation rate of γ-H2AX to identify the type of causative radiation and dose. Human lung epithelial cells and mouse vascular endothelial cells were used to observe the expression changes of γ-H2AX foci due to alpha particle and X-ray exposures. Results showed that the average number of excess foci per cell linearly increased with the dose. The focus size distribution showed a consistent pattern depending on the causative radiation type. Three criteria for the identification of causative radiation type were derived from experimental focus size distributions and were validated in blind testing with correct identification of 27 out of 32 samples. The dose could be estimated based on the proportionality constant specific to the identified radiation type with a difference of less than 15% from the actual value. The different dephosphorylation rates of γ-H2AX produced from alpha particle and X-ray exposures were effectively utilized to determine the individual dose contributions of alpha particles and X-rays under mixed beam exposure. Individual doses were estimated to have differences of less than ~ 12% from actual values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Probiotics have been shown to prevent various allergic diseases by producing extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the role of EVs in allergic asthma has not yet been completely determined. Methods: Gut microbial composition, mainly genera related to probiotics, was investigated in allergic asthmatic mice. Moreover, EVs were isolated from Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis, a selected bacterium) and EV proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. EV functions in immune responses were evaluated in vivo or ex vivo. Furthermore, the levels of specific IgG antibodies (an alternative marker for EV quantification) to L. lactis‐EVs were measured by ELISA in the sera of 27 asthmatic patients and 26 healthy controls. Results: Allergic asthmatic mice showed a lower proportion of Lactococcus compared to healthy mice. L. lactis was cultured and its EVs abundantly contained pyruvate kinase. When allergic asthmatic mice were intranasally treated with EVs, airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil number, cytokine secretion, and mucus production were significantly decreased. Moreover, L. lactis‐EV treatment shifted immune responses from Th2 to Th1 by stimulating dendritic cells to produce IL‐12. In addition, significantly lower levels of serum specific IgG4 (but not IgG1) to L. lactis‐EVs were noted in asthmatic patients than in healthy controls. A positive correlation between the levels of EV‐specific IgG4 and FEV1 (%), but a negative correlation between the levels of EV‐specific IgG4 and IL‐13 were observed. Conclusion: These findings suggest that L. lactis‐EVs may have immune‐regulating effects on airway inflammation mediated by dendritic cell activation, providing a potential benefit for allergic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of hydrogen (H) on the mechanical properties of 316L austenitic stainless steel (316L) additively manufactured using laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF), tensile, nanoindentation, and micropillar compression tests were performed on samples in both the as-built (AB) and H-charged (HC) conditions. Microstructural characterization revealed that the electrochemical H charging exerted marginal effects on grains, phases, and overall dislocation densities of L-PBF 316L. However, the dislocation networks inherent to L-PBF 316L appear to disentangle upon H charging and are distributed more homogeneously through the matrix. Mechanical test results showed that H charging results in a marginal reduction in hardness and strength, indicating H-induced softening, possibly due to the elastic shielding effects of H that weaken the interactions between dislocations. The elastic shielding effect and the enhanced slip planarity, facilitate the H accumulation along slip bands and twins, promote H-enhanced localized plasticity, resulting cracking when a critical H concentration is reached. This, in turn, aids in H embrittlement mechanism that results in a significant loss in ductility upon H charging. A detailed discussion of all these micromechanisms is presented. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bed structure according to flow regime of CNT agglomerates was investigated. • Pressure drop fluctuation of CNT agglomerates was influenced by hydrodynamics. • CNT agglomerates have movement in homogeneous expansion regime. In this study, the bed structure according to the flow regime of fine particles in gas–solid fluidized beds was studied by measuring the pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient. Two types of carbon nanotube (CNT) agglomerates with behavior similar to Geldart A and Geldart B and two types of glass bead (GB) particles corresponding to Geldart A and Geldart B classification were used. CNTs fluidized in the form of agglomerates, and in some CNT agglomerates, a homogeneous expansion regime with suppressed generation of bubbles, were observed. In the homogeneous expansion regime of CNT agglomerates, the relationship between superficial velocity and voidage was consistent with the Richardson–Zaki equation, and had a higher n value than that of Geldart A particles and fumed silica agglomerates. In this regime, small-diameter channels coexisted, and due to unstable fluidization at low superficial velocity, intermittent bed collapse occurred. In the homogeneous expansion regime of GB particles, the heat transfer coefficient remained constant, and as bubbles were generated, the heat transfer coefficient increased. On the other hand, as the superficial velocity increased, the heat transfer coefficient of CNT agglomerates continuously increased, regardless of the flow regime transition. In the homogeneous expansion regime of CNT agglomerates, unlike Geldart A particles, movement of agglomerates within the bed was confirmed, and a dynamic bed structure was present, in which the movement increased according to the superficial velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uveal effusion is a rare disease that is characterized by exudative detachment of the ciliary body and choroid. Herein, we report a rare case of uveal effusion associated with viral encephalitis, which resolved following the treatment of the viral encephalitis and administration of corticosteroids. A 67-year-old man who was hospitalized for viral encephalitis was referred to our clinic. He had been treated for herpes zoster ophthalmicus in his left eye 3 weeks previously. Choroidal detachment and uveal effusion between the ciliary body and sclera were observed. He was prescribed oral and topical steroids and cycloplegics to treat uveal effusion, and an antiviral agent (Acyclovir) to treat viral encephalitis. After 4 weeks, the choroidal detachment resolved completely. Uveal effusion syndrome can develop in association with viral encephalitis and be treated successfully with oral and topical steroids; we suggest that medical treatment should be attempted prior to surgery. ADEM: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; BCVA: Best corrected visual acuity; CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid; CT: Computed tomography; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; WBC: White blood cell [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established a method to produce differently shaped polymeric nanoneedle arrays using silica microparticles by using multistep plasma etch processes. The etching conditions of each step were determined by exploring etching parameters such as power, bias power, gas composition and amount, pressure and time. The silica microparticles became unstable and irregular nanoneedle arrays were formed due to difference of etching rates between silica and polymer when silica microparticles were etched continuously in one step. Through the introduction of stabilization step in which selective etching is done on silica microparticle to reduce the diameter of silica microparticles and hence to move the center of mass of the silica microparticle inward, the instability of silica mask was removed and irregularity of nanostructures was minimized. As a result, multistep etching process to fabricate polymeric nanoneedle arrays was established. Depending on the conditions of each step, polymeric nanostructure arrays with various morphology were fabricated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectricity in fluorite-structured ferroelectrics such as HfO2 and ZrO2 has been attracting increasing interest since its first publication in 2011. Fluorite-structured ferroelectrics are considered to be promising for semiconductor devices because of their compatibility with the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor technology and scalability for highly dense information storage. The research on fluorite-structured ferroelectrics during the first decade of their conceptualization has been mainly focused on elucidating the origin of their ferroelectricity and improving the performance of electronic devices based on such ferroelectrics. Furthermore, as is known, to achieve optimal performance, the emerging biomimicking electronic devices as well as conventional semiconductor devices based on the classical von Neumann architecture require high operating speed, sufficient reliability, and multilevel data storage. Nanoscale electronic devices with fluorite-structured ferroelectrics serve as candidates for these device systems and, thus, have been intensively studied primarily because in ferroelectric materials the switching speed, reliability, and multilevel polarizability are known to be strongly correlated with the domains and domain dynamics. Although there have been important theoretical and experimental studies related to domains and domain dynamics in fluorite-structured ferroelectrics, they are yet to be comprehensively reviewed. Therefore, to provide a strong foundation for research in this field, herein, domains, domain dynamics, and emerging applications, particularly in neuromorphic computing, of fluorite-structured ferroelectrics are comprehensively reviewed based on the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this longitudinal follow-up study was to investigate the risk of ischemic stroke nationwide in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls who were matched in age and sex. Patient data were collected from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Health Screening (HEALS) cohort. Using the International Classification of Diseases code M05 (seropositive RA), with a prescription of any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), RA was identified. A total of 2,765 patients and 13,825 control subjects were included in our study. The 12-year incidence of ischemic stroke in each group was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The risk ratio of ischemic stroke was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Sixty-four patients (2.31%) in the seropositive RA group and 512 (3.70%) in the control group experienced ischemic stroke (P < 0.001) during the follow-up period. The hazard ratio of ischemic stroke in the seropositive RA group was 1.32 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02–1.73) after adjusting for age and sex. The adjusted hazard ratio of ischemic stroke in the seropositive RA group was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.07–1.82) after adjusting for demographics and comorbid medical disorders. According to the subgroup analysis, the hazard ratios of ischemic stroke risks in the female and hypertensive subgroups were 1.44 (95% CI, 1.05–1.97) and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.16–2.38), respectively. In the non-diabetes and non-dyslipidemia subgroups, the corresponding hazard ratios of ischemic stroke were 1.47 (95% CI, 1.11–1.95) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.07–1.91). Seropositive RA patients have an increased risk of ischemic stroke. In female, hypertension, non-diabetes, and non-dyslipidemia RA subgroups, even without the traditional risk factors for stroke (except for hypertension), increased the risk, which could be potentially attributed to RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the post-drawn annealed CoCuFeMnNi high-entropy wires with distinct dual phase structure and B2 nanoprecipitates. The exceptional hardness observed of the post-drawn annealed CoCuFeMnNi wires can be attributed to the synergetic effect of the ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure and nanoscale precipitation/heterogeneity in the post-drawn annealed CoCuFeMnNi wires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, tracheotomy under emergency situation is considered a high-risk procedure that causes probable expose to aerosolized secretion.Summary: We reviewed our case and previous reports, and summarized a detailed protocol that is needed to protect medical staffs who perform tracheotomy under the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the patient's condition, experience of medical staff members, and available facilities and equipment. Key Messages: For efficient protection of medical staff who perform tracheotomy under the COVID-19 pandemic period, we suggest that the following needs to be considered: assessment of patient's condition (COVID-19 infection and the airway problem), route (safest route to the operating room), experienced surgical team, negative-pressure isolation facility and appliance (personal protective equipment) availability, and safe and appropriate post-tracheotomy care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have investigated the relationship between the anion gap, including the corrected anion gap, and patient mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) without restricting the analysis to specific diseases or medical specialties. Our primary objective was to investigate the association between the anion gap and ICU mortality using multiple open-access databases. Methods: We identified 4229 subjects from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, whose entries were from between 2008 and 2019. For each patient, the anion gap and corrected anion gap were calculated, and the study sample was divided into tertile groups (T) according to these levels. The association between the anion gap and in-hospital mortality was assessed using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Besides MIMIC-IV, we also incorporated study samples from two other databases (MIMIC-III and electronic ICU) to calculate summary HRs using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Within MIMIC-IV, 1015 patients (24%) died during an average follow-up period of 15.5 days. The fully adjusted HRs and 95% CIs for T2 and T3, relative to T1, were 1.31 (95% CI 1.08–1.58) and 1.54 (95% CI 1.24–1.90), respectively. When grouped by corrected anion gap, the results remained statistically significant. In the meta-analysis, the summary HRs and 95% CIs for T2 and T3 were 1.24 (95% CI 1.08–1.43) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.33–1.82), respectively. Conclusions: Both the anion gap and corrected anion gap were associated with in-hospital mortality regardless of specific diseases or medical specialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti6Al4V (Ti64) is a versatile material, finding applications in a wide range of industries due to its unique properties. However, hydrogen embrittlement (HE) poses a challenge in hydrogen-rich environments, leading to a notable reduction in strength and ductility. This study investigates the complex interplay of solute hydrogen (SH) and hydride phase (HP) formation in Ti64 by employing two different current densities during the charging process. Nanoindentation measurements reveal distinct micro-mechanical behavior in base metal, SH, and HP, providing crucial insights into HE mechanisms affecting macro-mechanical behavior. The fractography and microstructural analysis elucidate the role of SH and HP in hydrogen-assisted cracking behaviors. The presence of SH heightens intergranular cracking tendencies. In contrast, the increased volume of HP provides sites for crack initiation and propagation, resulting in a two-layer brittle fracture pattern. The current study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of HE in Ti6Al4V, essential for developing hydrogen-resistant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A close association has been reported between depression and migraine. However, information concerning the impacts of migraine on the clinical presentation and prevalence of depression in a population-based study is currently limited.Methods: Data from the Korean Headache-Sleep Study, a nationwide survey about headache and sleep for adults aged 19-69 years were used. Depression was defined when Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10.Results: Of 2,695 participants who included in this study, 116 (4.3%), 143 (5.3%), and 1130 (41.9%) had depression, migraine, and non-migraine headache, respectively. Migraine (24/116 [20.5%] vs. 119/2579 [4.7%], p < 0.001) and non-migraine headache (67/116 [58.1%] vs. 1063/2579 [41.3%], p < 0.001) was more prevalent in the group of participants with depression than among participants without depression. Among participants with depression, there was no statistically differences in total Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores among migraine, non-migraine headache, and non-headache groups (median with interquartile range, 12.0 [10.2-18.0] vs. 13.0 [11.0-16.0] vs. 12.0 [10.0-15.2], p = 0.514). Among subcomponent scores of PHQ-9, all subcomponent scores did not significantly differ by headache status except feeling tired or having little energy scores (non-migraine headache 2.0 [2.0-3.0] vs. non-headache 2.0 [1.0-2.0], p = 0.010).Limitations: Diagnosis of depression based on PHQ-9 questionnaire and small sample size in subgroup analyses.Conclusions: Participants with depression exhibit an increased risk of migraine and non-migraine headache compared with participants without depression. Among participants with depression, the severity of depression did not significantly differ on the basis of headache status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although not as common as hip or knee arthroplasty, shoulder arthroplasty is becoming a more common procedure. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is known to be an effective surgical procedure for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears, comminuted proximal humerus fractures, and revision shoulder arthroplasty. The utilization of RTSA has been increasing, and although complications following reverse arthroplasty have been reported, there are few reports in the literature that focus on the imaging features of RTSA. Herein, we demonstrate the biomechanics of RTSA, prosthesis components, indications, and imaging features of the normal postoperative appearance and various complications after RTSA. Familiarization with the normal and abnormal imaging appearances after RTSA can be helpful for appropriate management of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety, depression, and insomnia are highly prevalent among migraineurs and are associated with negative health consequences. Anxiety and depression, however, unlike insomnia, are usually underdiagnosed, due to less self-reporting of these two conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the risk of anxiety and depression in migraineurs with self-reported insomnia, using a general population-based sample. We used data from a nationwide population-based survey on headache and sleep, the Korean Headache-Sleep Study. Of all 2,695 participants, 143 (5.3%), 268 (10.0%), 116 (4.3%), and 290 (10.8%) were classified as having migraine, anxiety, depression, and self-reported insomnia, respectively. The risk of anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 7.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.0–16.7) and depression (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.3–8.5) was significantly increased in migraineurs with self-reported insomnia. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for anxiety in migraineurs with self-reported insomnia were 46.5%, 89.0%, 64.5%, and 79.5%, respectively. For depression, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 41.7%, 82.4%, 32.3%, and 87.5%, respectively. Self-reported insomnia is likely to be comorbid with anxiety and depression in migraineurs and could thus be a useful predictor of anxiety and depression in migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian mature cystic teratomas comprise tissues derived from all three germ layers. In rare incidences, malignant tumors may arise from ovarian mature cystic teratoma, which occurs in 0.2-1.8% of cases. A variety of tumors can arise within mature cystic teratoma, among which malignant melanoma is exceedingly rare.Case Presentation: A 42-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed mixed echogenic cystic masses in both ovaries. Her serum cancer antigen (CA19-9) level was elevated at 29,770 U/ml. Surgical excision was performed. Histologic examination showed infiltrating nests of pleomorphic cells with prominent nucleoli and black pigments in the background of a mature cystic teratoma. These pleomorphic cells showed strong immunoreactivity for Melan-A and HMB-45. The patient was re-evaluated and the possibility of a melanoma at any other site was ruled out. Based on these findings, we concluded that the malignant melanoma originated from the ovarian mature cystic teratoma.Conclusion: We report a rare case of primary malignant melanoma derived from an ovarian mature cystic teratoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Meningitis is an inflammatory process involving meninges. It is difficult to diagnose because of the absence of a diagnostic biomarker. We first report here the possibility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) as a new biomarker for the diagnosis of meningitis.Methods: This prospective study enrolled a total of 102 subjects (58 patients with non-neurologic disease, 17 patients with meningitis, and 27 patients with other neurologic diseases) from 2017 to 2018. CSF and blood samples were collected in pairs. Total 25(OH)D in CSF and serum and VDBP levels in serum were measured. GC genotyping was also performed to determine polymorphisms of rs4588 and rs7041. CSF total 25(OH)D and VDBP levels were compared with serum total 25(OH)D and VDBP levels according to disease (meningitis vs. non-meningitis). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the diagnosis of meningitis using CSF VDBP level was performed.Results: Mean CSF VDBP and serum VDBP levels of all patients were 1.48 ± 1.32 and 181.28 ± 56.90 μg/mL, respectively. CSF VDBP level in the meningitis disease group (3.20 ± 1.49 μg/mL) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that in other disease groups. According to ROC curve analysis, the appropriate cut-off value for CSF VDBP was 1.96 μg/mL, showing sensitivity of 82.4% and specificity of 85.9%. AUC of CSF VDBP was 0.879 (95% CI: 0.789-0.962).Conclusions: CSF VDBP level showed very good diagnostic performance. It could be used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of meningitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel method to estimate hydrogen diffusivity via nanoindentation was proposed. • CoCrNi MEA shows 0.7 times higher hydrogen diffusivity than SS316L. • The high Ni content in CoCrNi MEA enhances the hydrogen diffusivity. • Hydrogen-vacancy interaction caused hardening-softening competition in CoCrNi MEA. Hydrogen diffusivity is one of the important factors affecting the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement of metals and alloys. Here, we proposed a novel approach to estimate hydrogen diffusivity in FCC alloys by performing nanoindentation experiments with continuous stiffness measurement. In consideration of the plastic zone size around the indentation, the relationship between hydrogen-induced hardness change and the depth from the sample surface was established for two typical FCC alloys—316L stainless steel (SS) and CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy (MEA)—subjected to hydrogen-charging and subsequent room-temperature aging. By combining with the estimation of the through-thickness distribution of hydrogen concentration, hydrogen diffusivity values were successfully determined, which agreed well with the literature data. It was revealed that CoCrNi MEA exhibited a hydrogen diffusivity ∼0.68 times higher than that in SS316L, and that hydrogen-induced softening upon long-term aging (at room temperature) was observed in CoCrNi but not in SS316L. The underlying mechanisms for the distinct hydrogen-related phenomena in CoCrNi MEA were elucidated based on the density functional theory calculations of hydrogen solution energy and vacancy formation energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel technique for the measurement of noise wave correlation matrix (NWCM) of a two-port network using measured noise power ratios. The ratio of two measured noise powers is observed to show significantly reduced fluctuations compared with absolutely measured noise powers. Based on this observation, the equations to compute the NWCM are formulated using the noise power ratios. Since the NWCM has four unknowns, five absolute output noise powers of a device under test (DUT) are measured to obtain four noise power ratios. The conventional noise parameters can then be obtained by converting the NWCM. In order to demonstrate this technique, we measured the NWCM of an active DUT with a noise figure of less than 1 dB. The noise parameters resulting from the measured NWCM show minimal fluctuations as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The possibility of further enhancing the strength of a (CoCrFeNi) 94 Ti 2 Al 4 high-entropy alloy (HEA), which is already strengthened by Ni 3 (Ti,Al) second-phase particles, by grain refinement through high-pressure torsion (HPT) is examined. Concomitant with nanograin formation, HPT was found to induce particle dissolution and structural transformation of the remnant particles. Nanoindentation experiments of nanocrystalline HEA, with and without particles in the pre-HPT microstructure, suggests that grain boundary strengthening is the dominant strengthening mechanism. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological investigations have suggested that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level has significantly inverse associations with various neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about 25(OH)D level in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine correlations of 25(OH)D level in CSF with serum total, bioavailable, and free 25(OH)D levels. This observational study enrolled a total of 117 subjects (58 patients with non-neurologic disease and 59 patients with neurologic disease) from 2017 to 2018. CSF and blood samples were collected in pairs. Total 25(OH)D levels in CSF and serum and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) levels in serum were measured. We also performed GC genotyping for polymorphisms of rs4588 and rs7041 to calculate bioavailable and free 25(OH)D levels. CSF total 25(OH)D levels were compared with serum total, bioavailable, and free 25(OH)D levels. Mean total 25(OH)D concentrations in CSF and serum of all patients were 37.14 ± 7.71 and 25.72 ± 12.37 ng/mL, respectively. The mean total 25(OH)D concentration in CSF was generally 1.4-fold higher than that in the serum. Total 25(OH)D concentrations in CSF showed weakly positive but significant correlations with serum total, bioavailable, and free 25(OH)D concentrations (P = 0.022, P = 0.033, and P = 0.026, respectively). Serum total 25(OH)D concentration was also correlated with serum VDBP concentration (P = 0.017). However, total 25(OH)D levels in CSF of non-neurologic disease group and neurologic disease group were similar. Total 25(OH)D level in CSF has weakly positive but significant correlations with serum total, bioavailable, and free 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in the Korean population. The distribution of CSF total 25(OH)D in Korean neurologic and non-neurologic disease patients was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergy effects of phosphorus modifier on highly ordered mesoporous binary metal oxides of Co3O4−Al2O3 (m‐CoAl), prepared by nanocasting method using a hard template of KIT‐6, were observed by an enhanced catalytic and structural stability of the m‐CoAl during CO hydrogenation to hydrocarbons. The enhanced structural stability of the ordered mesoporous structures on the phosphorous‐modified m‐CoAl at an optimal amount of phosphorous modifier below 0.3 wt%P (P(3)/m‐CoAl) was attributed to the partial formation of thermally stable metal phosphates under a reductive Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction condition. The positive effects of the phosphorous modifier were originated from the partially formed SiO2‐like AlPO4 phases on the outer surfaces of the m‐CoAl, as well as from partially formed irreducible and thermally stable spinel‐type cobalt aluminates (CoAl2O4). The hydrophobic SiO2‐like tridymite AlPO4 surfaces on the ordered matrices of the P/m‐CoAl also effectively prevented the heavy wax (or coke precursors) depositions. The structural instability of the P/m‐CoAl was observed at a higher phosphorous content above 0.5wt%P by preferentially forming the largely segregated mixed metal oxides such as Co3O4−CoAl2O4−Co3(PO4)2 through the phase transformations of the surface excess AlPO4. Phosphorus modifier on an ordered mesoporous Co3O4−Al2O3 binary metal oxides revealed an enhanced catalytic activity and structural stability even under a reductive Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction condition due to the partially formed SiO2‐like hydrophobic AlPO4 as well as cobalt aluminate (CoAl2O4) phases with a less deposition of coke precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoindentation experiments in the temperature ( T ) range of 298 and 573 K were performed to determine the activation energy ( Q ) for the plastic flow in a nanocrystalline CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy, which was synthesized using high-pressure torsion. A marked increase in Q from ~0.5 to ~1.8 eV was observed when T is increased from 473 to 523 K, which correspond to ~0.3 and ~0.34 T m ( T m : melting temperature), respectively. Detailed analysis reveals that this transition is associated with the additional activation of the grain boundary diffusion mechanism in enhancing plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the risk factors for retinal microvascular impairment on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in type 2 diabetic patients without clinical diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: This retrospective and cross-sectional study enrolled 74 diabetic patients without clinically evident DR for the study group and 34 healthy subjects for the control group. OCT-A parameters were measured to determine vascular density (VD) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP/DCP) of the retina. Clinical data were collected on sex, age, diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), hypertension, dyslipidemia, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and smoking status. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to represent the associated clinical variables with OCT-A parameters in diabetic patients. Results: In comparison between the study and control groups, the VD in the SCP and DCP were significantly lower in diabetic patients compared to the controls (P = 0.022 and 0.003, respectively). The FAZ size in the SCP and DCP were significantly greater in diabetic patients compared to the controls (P = 0.035 and <0.001, respectively). In age- and sex-adjusted multiple regression analyses for the diabetic patients, dyslipidemia and hypertension were negatively associated with SCP-VD (β = -0.357, P = 0.002; β = -0.239, P = 0.039, respectively). Current smoking was correlated with lower DCP-VD (β = -0.255, P = 0.043). Greater SCP-FAZ size was associated with dyslipidemia and greater LDL-C (β = 0.254, P = 0.013; β = 0.232, P = 0.029, respectively), and greater DCP-FAZ size, with lower eGFR and greater LDL-C (β = -0.355, P = 0.004; β = 0.235, P = 0.037, respectively). Conclusions: Diabetic patients without clinical DR showed lower VD and greater FAZ size in the SCP and DCP compared to healthy controls. In diabetic patients without clinical DR, dyslipidemia and/or high LDL-C were important risk factors for retinal microvascular impairment. Hypertension, current smoking and lower eGFR also contributed to microvascular impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been closely linked with skeletal muscle atrophy in many studies, but to date no study has focused on the paraspinal muscle.Purpose: To verify paraspinal muscle changes according to serum vitamin D level.Study Design: A cross-sectional study of patients who visited our hospital and an in vivo animal study.Methods: We measured serum vitamin D concentration in 91 elderly women and stratified them according to their vitamin D status in three groups, control, vitamin D insufficiency, and VDD, and obtained magnetic resonance imaging data of the lumbar spine and evaluated the quality and quantity of the paraspinal muscles. Additionally, we designed experimental rat models for VDD and VDD replacement. Then, we analyzed the microcomputed tomography data and histologic data of paraspinal muscles, and the histologic data and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction data of intramyonuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) in paraspinal muscle through comparison with control rats (n=25, each group). This work was supported by a Biomedical Research Institute grant ($40,000), Kyungpook National University Hospital (2014).Results: In the human studies, a significant decrease was noted in the overall paraspinal muscularity (p<.05) and increase in fatty infiltration in the VDD group as compared with the other groups (p<.05). In the rat experiment, a decrease was noted in paraspinal muscle fiber size and VDR concentration and VDR gene expression level, and total muscle volume of the VDD rats as compared with the control rats (p<.05). Vitamin D replacement after VDD could partially restore the muscle volume, muscle fiber size, and intramyonuclear VDR concentration levels (p<.05) of the paraspinal muscles.Conclusions: VDD induces paraspinal muscle atrophy and decreases the intramyonuclear VDR concentration and VDR gene expression level in these muscles. Vitamin D replacement contributes to the recovery from atrophy and restoration of intramyonuclear VDR concentration in VDD status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this nationwide age- and sex-matched longitudinal follow-up study was to investigate the risk of developing ischemic stroke in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods: The data in this study, spanning from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014, was obtained from a database maintained by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. A total of 12,988 patients with a diagnosis of AS were enrolled. The control group consisted of 64,940 age-sex-stratified matching subjects without AS. The 6year ischemic stroke incidence rate for each group was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio of ischemic stroke.Results: During the follow-up period, 73 patients (0.56%) in the AS group and 250 patients (0.38%) in the control group developed ischemic stroke (p = 0.0041). The hazard ratio of ischemic stroke in the AS group was 1.46 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.13-1.90) after adjusting for age and sex. The adjusted hazard ratio of ischemic stroke in the AS group was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.04-1.75) after controlling for demographics and comorbid medical disorders. According to subgroup analysis, in female and diabetes and non-hypertension and dyslipidemia subgroups, ischemic stroke incidence rates were significantly higher in AS patients than those in control group.Conclusion: Our nationwide longitudinal study suggests an increased risk of ischemic stroke in AS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a resource-based task allocation algorithm for multi-robot systems. During mission operations, robots continuously consume their resources which must be refilled during their operations. Unlike other existing auction-based algorithms in which robots do not account for their resources in task allocations, the proposed algorithm considers the resources of the robots to generate their costs. In this algorithm, robots calculate the task performance estimation considering all the possibilities of visiting different combinations of refill stations based on their resource levels. This enables the robots to reduce unnecessary wastage of time and resources during the mission. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm with respect to task completion time, resource consumption, and communication overhead is theoretically analyzed and is also demonstrated from the simulation of the delivery mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H 3 PO 4 -doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes have been employed for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). Although a thinner PBI membrane is beneficial in enhancing power performance, the use of thin PBI membrane has been hindered by its poor mechanical property and consequent difficulty in membrane handling during membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication. Here, novel fabrication route to realize a thin PBI membrane (∼35 μm)-based HT-MEA is presented. The key feature of the process is to fabricate thin blend membrane of PBI and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and laminate the blend membrane to anode gas diffusion electrode (GDE) followed by H 3 PO 4 doping. The introduction of PEG to PBI film enables the tight bonding of the membrane to the GDE at a mild lamination temperature and mitigates the membrane expansion with the doping, preserving the tight interfacial bonding. Due to the lowered membrane thickness, the corresponding MEA exhibits a high power density of 264 mW cm -2  at 0.6 V. Therefore, the new fabrication strategy based on the blend of PBI/PEG is highly effective in improving both process and power performance of HT-MEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of pre-strain on the resistance to gaseous hydrogen embrittlement of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) was investigated through mechanical testing and thermal desorption analysis. The results reveal that prior plastic deformation does not affect either the hydrogen contents or the excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance of the HEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]