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Background: Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol consumption have both increased in recent years, and there is debate as to whether nonheavy alcohol use is safe in MASLD. We analyzed the association between different nonheavy alcohol use patterns and at‐risk liver fibrosis among individuals with MASLD. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 1072 eligible National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants with MASLD who reported nonheavy alcohol consumption. We used vibration‐controlled transient elastography to define the primary outcome of at‐risk liver fibrosis as >8.2 kPa (stage F2‐F4). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association of different alcohol consumption patterns (average drinks/day, drinking days/week, weekly alcohol intake, type of alcoholic beverage) and at‐risk hepatic fibrosis, controlling for demographic/socioeconomic, lifestyle/dietary, and metabolic risk factors. Results: Exclusive liquor or cocktail drinkers had a 5.02‐fold odds of at‐risk fibrosis (95% CI: 1.15–21.95) compared with non‐drinkers when controlling for potential confounders. While consuming an average of 2 drinks/day, ≥3 drinking days/week, or 1–3 drinks/week appeared to have a lower association with at‐risk fibrosis when controlling for demographic/socioeconomic risk factors, the association was not present after controlling for lifestyle/dietary and metabolic risk factors. Conclusions: There is an association between exclusive liquor/cocktail consumption and at‐risk liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD who report nonheavy alcohol consumption. In a nationally representative sample of US adults with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), exclusive liquor or cocktail consumption is associated with a 5.02‐fold increased risk of liver fibrosis among nonheavy alcohol users. Nonheavy alcohol use overall was not associated with F2 or greater liver fibrosis after adjusting for confounders. Our findings highlight the need to investigate subcategories of drinking behavior that may lead to liver fibrosis even among those without heavy drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has been a critical morbidity in preterm infants. To improve our definition and prediction of BPD is challenging yet indispensable. We aimed to apply machine learning (ML) to investigate effective models by using the recently-proposed and data-driven definition to predict late respiratory support modalities at 36 weeks' post menstrual age (PMA). We collected data on very-low-birth-weight infants born between 2016 and 2019 from the Taiwan Neonatal Network database. Twenty-four attributes associated with their early life and seven ML algorithms were used in our analysis. The target outcomes were overall mortality, death before 36 weeks' PMA, and severity of BPD under the new definition, which served as a proxy for respiratory support modalities. Of the 4103 infants initially considered, 3200 were deemed eligible. The logistic regression algorithm yielded the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). After attribute selection, the AUROC of the simplified models remain favorable (e.g., 0.801 when predicting no BPD, 0.850 when predicting grade 3 BPD or death before 36 weeks' PMA, and 0.881 when predicting overall mortality). By using ML, we developed models to predict late respiratory support. Estimators were developed for clinical application after being simplified through attribute selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) has attracted great interest in recent years due to its ability to produce intricate parts beyond the capabilities of traditional manufacturing processes. L-PBF processed biomedical implants are usually made of commercial pure titanium (CP-Ti) or its alloys. However, both alloys are naturally bio-inert, and thus reduce the formation of apatite as implants are put into the human body. Accordingly, in an attempt to improve the bioactivity of the materials used for making orthopedic implants, the present study decomposed fluorapatite material (FA, (Ca10(PO4)6F2)) into the form of nano-powder and mixed this powder with CP-Ti powder in two different ratios (99%Ti + 1%FA (Ti-1%FA) and 98%Ti + 2%FA (Ti-2%FA)) to form powder material for the L-PBF process. Experimental trials were conducted to establish the optimal processing conditions (i.e., laser power, scanning speed and hatching space) of the L-PBF process for the two powder mixtures and the original CP-Ti powder with no FA addition. The optimal parameters were then used to produce tensile test specimens in order to evaluate the mechanical properties of the different samples. The hardness of the various samples was also examined by micro-Vickers hardness tests. The tensile strength of the Ti-1%FA sample (850 MPa) was found to be far higher than that of the CP-Ti sample (513 MPa). Furthermore, the yield strength of the Ti-1%FA sample (785 MPa) was also much higher than that of the CP-Ti sample (472 MPa). However, the elongation of the Ti-1%FA sample (6.27 %) was significantly lower than that of the CP-Ti sample (16.17%). Finally, the hardness values of the Ti-1%FA and Ti-2%FA samples were around 63.8% and 109.4%, respectively, higher than that of the CP-Ti sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid 3 He is a Fermi liquid that undergoes a BCS-type phase transition to a spin-triplet superfluid, making it valuable for understanding interacting fermions. When the temperature approaches the transition temperature T c from above, physical properties can be modified by Cooper pair fluctuations, leading to deviations from the predictions of Fermi liquid theory. We use nonequilibrium Green's function theory to study the role of pair fluctuations on quasiparticle transport. The Boltzmann–Landau kinetic equation, which describes the transport properties of Fermi liquids, acquires corrections from the interaction of quasiparticles with pair fluctuations. As an application, we study the effects of pair fluctuations on the propagation of zero sound in liquid 3 He . We calculate the temperature-dependent correction to the zero sound velocity due to pair fluctuations and compare the result with existing experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses metakaolin, sodium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, and water content as the reaction variables in the application of the design of experiment (DOE) method. At the same time, the various component factors and their interactions were analyzed to understand how these factors affect the mechanical properties of a metakaolin-based geopolymer incorporated with SiC sludge (SCSGPs). The results of the statistical analysis showed that the compressive strength of SCSGPs was affected by the Na/Si molar ratio (NSR) (p-level = 0.000 <0.05), the Na/Al molar ratio (NAR) (p-level= 0.000 <0.05), and the interaction between the dissolution rate of Si (DRA). Within the design scope of this study, the maximum compressive strength of SCSGPs and the coefficients of the NSR, the NAR, and the DRA of SCSGPs was evaluated. The multiple regression analysis and the tested coefficient of r2 were also studied. The multiple regression analysis models provide an effective reference for the application of SCSGPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few researches have explored the self-regulation process in patients with extremity injuries. Knowledge about the role of coping in the postinjury self-regulation process remains scarce. Objectives: We examined the relationships between illness representations, coping, and quality of life (QoL) based on the self-regulation framework, assuming adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies play mediating roles between illness representation and QoL in patients with extremity injuries. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a correlational model testing design was used. A sample of 192 patients with extremity injury was recruited before hospital discharge at trauma centers in Indonesia. Validated questionnaires were used to assess patients' illness representations, coping, and QoL. Hierarchical regressions were carried out, and multiple mediation analyses were used to identify the mediating role of coping. Results: Patients with extremity injuries who harbored negative illness representations were less focused on using adaptive coping strategies, were more focused on using maladaptive coping strategies, and tended to experience reduced QoL. The mediating effects of coping, which manifested as parallel mediations of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, could significantly explain the QoL variance. Discussion: In postinjury self-regulation, coping has a parallel mediating role that can facilitate the effect of illness representations and directly influence postinjury QoL. Enhancing adaptive coping strategies, reducing maladaptive coping techniques, and reframing negative illness representations during the early recovery phase could improve postinjury QoL. Early screening and preventive efforts using psychologically driven interventions may help redirect patients' focus toward adaptive coping strategies and reframe their illness representations before they transition back into the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cognitive impairment is an important non‐motor aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD). Amyloid‐β and tau pathologies are well‐established in Alzheimer's disease and commonly coexist with synucleinopathy in PD. However, the levels of these biomarkers in the plasma of patients with PD and their relationship with specific cognition domains remain to be clarified. The current study compared the motor severity and neuropsychological assessment of general and specific cognition, with plasma levels of α‐synuclein (α‐syn), amyloid‐β 42 (Aβ42), and total tau (t‐tau) in PD subjects. Methods: Plasma levels of α‐syn, Aβ42, and t‐tau were measured in 55 participants with PD through immunomagnetic reduction assay. The evaluation of motor severity and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment was performed in all participants. Results: The level of plasma α‐syn was negatively correlated with the scores of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III [r = (−.352), p =.008]. The level of plasma t‐tau was negatively correlated with the scores of digits recall forwards and digits recall backwards [r = (−.446), p =.001; r = (−.417), p =.002, respectively]. No correlations were found between the levels of α‐syn and Aβ42 and any neuropsychological tests. Conclusions: This study concluded a lower level of plasma α‐syn was correlated with motor dysfunction in PD patients, and a higher level of plasma t‐tau was correlated with lower cognitive performance, especially for attention and executive function. These results propose the possibility of using plasma biomarkers to predict specific cognitive performance in PD subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate age-related differences in the independent/combined association of added sugar intake from soda and body adiposity with hyperuricaemia in gender-stratified US adults.Design: Consumption of added sugar from soda was calculated from 24-h dietary interviews and categorised into none, regular and excessive consumption. Hyperuricaemia was defined as serum uric acid levels >417 mmol/l in men and >357 mmol/l in women. Multiple regression models with interaction terms and logistic models adjusted for covariates were conducted under survey-data modules.Setting: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2007-2016.Participants: 15 338 adults without gout, failing kidneys, an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 or diabetes were selected.Results: The age-stratified prevalence rate of hyperuricaemia was 18·8-20·4 % in males and 6·8-17·3 % in females. Hyperuricaemia prevalence of approximately 50 % was observed in young and middle age males who consumed excessive added sugar from soda. Excessive added sugar intake was observed to be associated with 1·5- to 2·0-fold and 2·0- to 2·3-fold increased risk of the probability of hyperuricaemia in young and middle age males and middle age females, respectively. Study participants, regardless of age or gender, who were obese and consumed excessive added sugar from soda had the highest risk of having hyperuricaemia.Conclusions: Our study revealed that the association between hyperuricaemia and consumption of excessive added sugar from soda may vary by age and gender. Obese adults who consumed excessive added sugar from soda had the highest risk of hyperuricaemia, a finding that was found across all age-specific groups for both genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We demonstrated the feasibility of using RUFA for the preparation of geopolymers. • We conducted in-depth analysis into the microstructure of RUFA geopolymers. • Sodium-hydroxide-activated geopolymer presented superior mechanical properties. • We produced RUFA geopolymer with compressive strength exceeding 97.6 MPa. This study used reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA) as the primary raw materials in the preparation of a novel RUFA geopolymer. Note that the solution to binder weight ratio was maintained at the same level by varying the concentration of the NaOH solution. Extensive analysis was conducted to characterize the flowability and mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), thermogravimetric (TG), and zeta potential analyses were used to examine the microstructure of RUFA geopolymers. Increasing the concentration of NaOH also led to an increase in compressive strength. A high NaOH concentration of 12 mol/L resulted in compressive strength of 97.6 MPa at 28 days. Finally, increasing the concentration of NaOH increased the formation of the primary reaction geopolymerization product, N-A-S-H gel, resulting in a denser microstructure with lower porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tantalum (Ta) has excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance. However, its application is limited by its high cost. Tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), a stable oxide of Ta, is a key role of Ta surface with excellent biological properties and corrosion resistance and has the advantage of a lower cost. In this study, Ta and Ta2O5 powders were pre-placed on titanium (Ti) substrates and irradiated by a diode laser to form single-layer single-pass coatings. The scanning process was performed using a range of laser powers (1000, 1500, and 2000 W) and scanning speeds (3–5, 4.5–7.5, and 6–10 mm/s). The Ta coatings showed no surface cracking. However, spherical pores were observed near the fusion line of the coating with the substrate in some samples. The porosity increased with a decreasing laser power and scanning speed. The formation of these pores was attributed mainly to the evaporation of the Ti substrate during the cladding process and the subsequent entrapment of the vapor bubbles within the coating. The Ta2O5 coatings showed almost no pores but exhibited a small number of transverse cracks on the coating surface because of the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the ceramic coating and the metallic substrate. For all of the coatings, the coating hardness was significantly higher than that of the substrate. The Ta2O5 coatings (580–700 HV) showed a higher hardness than the Ta coatings (350–400 HV). Moreover, the coating hardness remained approximately constant throughout the coating depth, whereas that of the Ta coatings decreased significantly with an increasing distance from the coating surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two industrial wastes – circulating fluidized bed combustion co-fired fly ash (CFA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) – were used as green materials instead of cementitious materials in controllable low strength material (CLSM). CLSM was used to backfill the pavement. CLSM should meet the compressive strength requirements of the CLSM specification (under 8.24 MPa), and it had the self-consolidating characteristics of fluidized concrete. In order to comply with the characteristics of self-consolidation, a mix design including superplasticizers, adhesives, and accelerators were used to ensure that the proportion could meet the requirements of both CLSM and the self-consolidating properties. The test methods included the slump flow test, ball drop test, strength activity index, compressive strength, mercury intrusion porosimetry, chlo-ride migration test, and scanning electron microscope. A water/cement ratio of 0.85 was used as the mix design for the CLSM requirements. The CFA and GGBS used in CLSM could replace 78 wt.% of the cement, and CLSM could effectively meet the requirements of the workability, strength and microscopic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Extract the silicon and aluminum sources rich from stone sludge and CRT waste panel glass. • Surfactant (CTAB) is grafted on the mesoporous material to control the humidity. • Effectively synthesize low-cost and environmentally friendly mesoporous materials. There is a growing need for economical methods by which to reuse industrial waste. This paper reports on the recycling of industrial waste in the preparation of amine functionalized mesoporous molecular sieves (Al-MCM-41), for use as a building material applicable to the energy-free regulation of indoor humidity. The preparation of amine functionalized Al-MCM-41 for experiments involved combining stone sludge, cathode ray tube panel waste glass, an alkali agent (sodium hydroxide), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide with aminopropyltriethoxysilane in various proportions. The water vapor adsorption of amine functionalized Al-MCM-41 (42.85 g/m2) far exceeded of amine functionalized Al-MCM-41 without surface grafting (28.64 g/m2). Al-MCM-41 with 2.5 vol% amine functional groups achieved the highest 24-h water vapor adsorption performance in compliance with JIS A 1470 standards. This research provides an economical approach to the recovery and recycling of industrial waste that is rich in silicon and aluminum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lethal toxin (LT) is the critical virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. One common symptom observed in patients with anthrax is thrombocytopenia, which has also been observed in mice injected with LT. Our previous study demonstrated that LT induces thrombocytopenia by suppressing megakaryopoiesis, but the precise molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unknown. In this study, we utilized 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced megakaryocytic differentiation in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells to identify genes involved in LT-induced megakaryocytic suppression. Through cDNA microarray analysis, we identified Dachshund homolog 1 (DACH1) as a gene that was upregulated upon TPA treatment but downregulated in the presence of TPA and LT, purified from the culture supernatants of B. anthracis. To investigate the function of DACH1 in megakaryocytic differentiation, we employed short hairpin RNA technology to knock down DACH1 expression in HEL cells and assessed its effect on differentiation. Our data revealed that the knockdown of DACH1 expression suppressed megakaryocytic differentiation, particularly in polyploidization. We demonstrated that one mechanism by which B. anthracis LT induces suppression of polyploidization in HEL cells is through the cleavage of MEK1/2. This cleavage results in the downregulation of the ERK signaling pathway, thereby suppressing DACH1 gene expression and inhibiting polyploidization. Additionally, we found that known megakaryopoiesis-related genes, such as FOSB, ZFP36L1, RUNX1, FLI1, AHR, and GFI1B genes may be positively regulated by DACH1. Furthermore, we observed an upregulation of DACH1 during in vitro differentiation of CD34–megakaryocytes and downregulation of DACH1 in patients with thrombocytopenia. In summary, our findings shed light on one of the molecular mechanisms behind LT-induced thrombocytopenia and unveil a previously unknown role for DACH1 in megakaryopoiesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the effects of using different teaching sequences on knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, self‐directed learning and teamwork in a nursing administration project. Background: Compared to other professional courses, nursing administration is relatively difficult, and it is important for nursing administration students to spend long hours working in hospitals. As such, better teaching strategies utilizing proper sequencing may yield better learning outcomes for students. Methods: A longitudinal quasi‐experimental design was used. A total of 129 students were assigned to two groups with which different teaching sequences were used. The investigated learning outcomes were knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, self‐directed learning and teamwork. Generalized estimating equations were used to measure the learning outcomes. Results: There was no significant difference between the two teaching sequences in terms of learning effects. One teaching strategy, problem‐based learning (PBL), yielded effective student learning outcomes. Conclusion: PBL increased the students' self‐directed learning and teamwork. This strategy can be applied to side‐by‐side co‐teaching and post‐graduate year training programmes. Implications for Nursing Management: The results from this study may help hospitals retain nurses and find potential nursing leaders. Instructors and nurse managers should discuss learning goals with students in advance to enhance the students' learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • This is a recycled cementitious material. • Calcium fluoride sludge has the potential instead of cementing materials. • Calcium fluoride sludge has the cementitious capacity. • Sludge replacement cement was suggested to be limited below 10%. Abstract This study was aimed to investigate calcium fluoride sludge waste resource reuse, and explore the feasibility of calcium fluoride sludge in cement-based materials used to replace the cement. The mechanical properties and durability of cement-based materials containing calcium fluoride sludge were performed using resistance test, absorption test, initial surface absorption tests, dry shrinkage test, compressive strength test, mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy observation. The results indicated that partially replacing cement with calcium fluoride sludge improved the compressive strength, permeability and pore-structure, as well as 10% replacement of cement seems to give superior mechanical properties and durability due to the denser microstructures. Such dense microstructures observed in scanning electron microscopy images and narrow pore size distribution determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The outcome of species interactions may manifest differently at different spatial scales; therefore, our interpretation of observed interactions will depend on the scale at which observations are made. For example, in ladybeetle–aphid systems, the results from small‐scale cage experiments usually cannot be extrapolated to landscape‐scale field observations. To understand how ladybeetle–aphid interactions change across spatial scales, we evaluated predator–prey interactions in an experimental system. The experimental habitat consisted of 81 potted plants and was manipulated to facilitate analysis across four spatial scales. We also simulated a spatially explicit metacommunity model parallel to the experiment. In the experiment, we found that the negative effect of ladybeetles on aphids decreased with increasing spatial scales. This pattern can be explained by ladybeetles strongly suppressing aphids at small scales, but not colonizing distant patches fast enough to suppress aphids at larger scales. In the experiment, the positive effects of aphids on ladybeetles were strongest at three‐plant scale. In a model scenario where predators did not have demographic dynamics, we found, consistent with the experiment, that both the effects of ladybeetles on aphids and the effects of aphids on ladybeetles decreased with increasing spatial scales. These patterns suggest that dispersal was the primary cause of ladybeetle population dynamics in our experiment: aphids increased ladybeetle numbers at smaller scales because ladybeetles stayed in a patch longer and performed area‐restricted searches after encountering aphids; these behaviors did not affect ladybeetle numbers at larger spatial scales. The parallel experimental and model results illustrate how predator–prey interactions can change across spatial scales, suggesting that our interpretation of observed predator–prey dynamics would differ if observations were made at different scales. This study demonstrates how studying ecological interactions at a range of scales can help link the results of small‐scale ecological experiments to landscape‐scale ecological problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) and insulin resistance (IR) are clinical parameters associated with cardiometabolic diseases. The mediating and modifying roles of IR on children’s susceptibility to cardiometabolic disorders are undetermined. This study investigated the mediating and modifying effects of the homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA‐IR) on the relationship between the serum RBP4 level and clustering of pediatric cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: We assessed the diet, physical activity, cardiometabolic risk factors, and clinical parameters of 272 randomly selected adolescents from a large‐scale cross‐sectional study (n = 2727). Two HOMA‐IRs (HOMA1‐IR and HOMA2‐IR) were used to evaluate the designated effects. Results: Levels of serum RBP4 positively correlated with the levels of the 2 HOMA‐based‐IRs, and HOMA‐IR correlated to all components of pediatric metabolic syndrome (MetS), the number of abnormal components, and a body‐weight‐weighted principal component score extracted from 12 cardiometabolic risk factors. Increased RBP4 levels had positive effects on waist circumference (WC), triglyceride, and the number of abnormal MetS components (0.310 cm, 1.384 μg/dL, and 0.021 item elevations, respectively), and the HOMA‐IRs explained 17.7% to 21.9%, 11.8% to 27.6%, and 23.8% to 25.0% of these effects. The association of WC and the number of abnormal MetS components with the serum RBP4 level was enhanced by higher HOMA‐IR (β for interaction, 0.13 and 0.01 for HOMA1‐IR, and 0.32 and 0.02 for HOMA2‐IR, respectively). Conclusions: HOMA‐IR is associated with the circulating RBP4 level and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Pediatric HOMA‐IR may have mediating and modifying effects on the positive correlations between RBP4 and the clustering of MetS components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlN nanopyramids with semipolar facets are grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on the AlN substrate attained with compressed AlN powders. Surface qualities of the polycrystalline substrate are improved with an AlN buffer layer deposited by sputtering, followed by appropriate post annealing. It is found that a pulsed flow condition of ammonia (NH3) during the MOCVD growth can effectively enhance morphologic uniformity and crystallinity of the nanopyramids. The semipolar AlN nanopyramids serve as a promising template for ultraviolet emitters, considering their increased surface area and reduced polarization fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive glass (BG) is a potential material for treating dentin hypersensitivity owing to its high solubility. In this study, we synthesized 80S-BG bioactive glass samples using a sol–gel technique and mixed with various hardening agents. The obtained material could be used in human dentinal dentinal tubule occlusions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements were employed to investigate the physiochemical properties and dentinal dentinal tubule occlusion efficiency by mixing the 80S bioactive glass (80S-BG) with various hardening agents. The major crystallite phase obtained on mixing 80S-BG with phosphoric acid (PA) was Ca(H 2 PO 4 ) 2 ·H 2 O. The mixture of 80S-BG powders and 20, 30, or 40 wt% PA acted as a hardening agent and achieved a dentinal tubule penetration depth of 30.7–62.6 µm. 80S-BG on mixing with suitable PA agents exhibited a short reaction time and good operability, making it feasible for use in occluding dentinal tubules. 80S-BG mixed with hardening agents exhibited a greater potential for treating dentin hypersensitivity as compared to the 80S-BG not mixed with any hardening agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterborne polyurethane resins (WPUs) were synthesized with polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG), dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), triethylamine (TEA) and ethylenediamine (EDA) as the raw materials of polyol, internal emulsifier, isocyanate, neutralizer and chain extender, respectively. The NCO/OH molar ratios used for the pre-polymerization were set as 1.6/1, 1.8/1 and 2.0/1. Furthermore, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was added to the WPUs to prepare the WPU/silica organic-inorganic hybrids by the sol-gel process. The characteristics of WPUs prepared with different NCO/OH molar ratios, and the properties of WPU and WPU/silica films were investigated. The results show that WPUs prepared with higher NCO/OH molar ratios have suspensions with lower viscosity, smaller average particle size and smaller average molecular weight, and lead the films to have more urea and amide structure, better solvent resistance, higher tensile strength, modulus and break energy, lower molecular chain activity, and smaller damping peak height, but weaker thermal resistance. The network structure of silica can limit the activity of the soft-segment, increase the stiffness of the hard-segment and enhance the thermal resistance of WPUs films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new cementless binder is developed from CFA, ggbs and DG. • Innovative cementless mixtures can be used as a binder for pervious concrete. • Reasonable amount of DG content can effectively improve the strength. • Main hydration reactants of cementless binders are C-S-H and AFt crystals. • Cementless pervious concrete has a compressive strength of 12 MPa. In this study, alkali-free activator-type ternary cementless binders were developed using ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), co-fired fly ash (CFA), and desulfurization gypsum (DG). The properties of cementless binders were verified and used to investigate the feasibility of application to pervious concrete. The results indicated that including CFA in cementless binders increased the initial and final setting times. The addition of DG shortened the setting time and the addition exceeded 7 wt% resulting in a rapid setting, which did not meet the ASTM C150 specification. A binary cementless binder with a CFA-GGBS mix achieved a maximum compressive strength up to 54% of the cement group, and the optimum mixture was 70% GGBS with 30% CFA. DG increased the SO 3 content of the binder and promoted the production of ettringite (AFt), resulting in an effective increase in compressive strength up to 92% of the cement group. The optimum proportion of cementless binders to meet the setting times was 70% GGBS, 25% CFFA, and 5% FGDG, resulting in maximum compressive strength up to 79% of the cement group. During the hardening period of the cementless pastes, the generation of AFt affected the internal pore structures of the C-S-H colloids, resulting in higher capillary pores. DG also accelerated the production of AFt, causing an increase in capillary pores. In addition, the maximum compressive strength of cementless pervious concrete developed in this study reached 12 MPa, and the permeability coefficient was up to 0.156 cm/s. It can meet the requirements of the general pervious pavement specification in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study developed a novel ternary geopolymer with solid wastes. • Ternary (RM-RUFA-RP) geopolymers were cured at ambient environment and saturated lime water. • The recycled powder has a significant effect on the modified ternary geopolymer gel structure and its genus. To find cementitious composites that can be suitable for superseding Portland cement and alleviate the demerits of it for the environment, this study develops newly cementless ternary geopolymer composites of red mud (RM)-reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA)-recycled powder (RP) activated by sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, and using different mixing ratios as well as curing conditions. Then, the microstructural properties, pore structures, mechanical properties and geopolymerization reactions of them were studied systematically. Herein, we successfully synthesize cementless ternary geopolymers with the excellent workabilities and mechanical properties, which could be comparable to traditional cement. Their compressive strength can reach up to 46 MPa and the strength enhancements were mainly attributed to gel products such as N -A S H, C S H and (N, C)-A S H being found in specimens, which were interwoven to form a dense microstructure. Besides, the disparities of RM and RP contents in matrix would result in the transformation of gel products: C-A S H and Fe-silicate gels were mainly presented in specimens with high RM, N -A S H gels in specimens with high RUFA, and (N, C)-A S H gels specimens in specimens with high RP. These gels facilitated to reduce of dry shrinkage by refining the pore size. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the chemical properties of alkali-activated materials and facilitate their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study developed a novel ternary geopolymer with solid wastes. • Ternary (RM-RUFA-RP) geopolymers were cured at ambient environment and saturated lime water. • The recycled powder has a significant effect on the modified ternary geopolymer gel structure and its genus. To find cementitious composites that can be suitable for superseding Portland cement and alleviate the demerits of it for the environment, this study develops newly cementless ternary geopolymer composites of red mud (RM)-reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA)-recycled powder (RP) activated by sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, and using different mixing ratios as well as curing conditions. Then, the microstructural properties, pore structures, mechanical properties and geopolymerization reactions of them were studied systematically. Herein, we successfully synthesize cementless ternary geopolymers with the excellent workabilities and mechanical properties, which could be comparable to traditional cement. Their compressive strength can reach up to 46 MPa and the strength enhancements were mainly attributed to gel products such as N -A S H, C S H and (N, C)-A S H being found in specimens, which were interwoven to form a dense microstructure. Besides, the disparities of RM and RP contents in matrix would result in the transformation of gel products: C-A S H and Fe-silicate gels were mainly presented in specimens with high RM, N -A S H gels in specimens with high RUFA, and (N, C)-A S H gels specimens in specimens with high RP. These gels facilitated to reduce of dry shrinkage by refining the pore size. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the chemical properties of alkali-activated materials and facilitate their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Prior meta-analyses included small samples and very limited non-Caucasian populations. Studies to determine the relationship between transcription factor 7 like-2 (TCF7L2) rs7903146 polymorphism and risk of GDM in Hispanics/Latinos are recently available. The present meta-analysis was to estimate the impact of allele variants of TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism on GDM susceptibility in overall population and racial/ethnic subgroups. Methods: Literature was searched in multiple databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE (Ovid SP), Airiti Library, Medline Complete, and ProQuest up to July 2015. Allelic frequency for TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism in GDM and control subjects was extracted and statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) 2.0 statistical software. The association between TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism and GDM risk was assessed by pooled odd ratios (ORs) using five gene models (dominant, recessive, homozygote, heterozygote, and allele). Stratified analysis based on race/ethnicity was also conducted. The between-study heterogeneity and contribution of each single study to the final result was tested by Cochran Q test and sensitivity analyses, respectively. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s linear regression test. Results: A total of 16 studies involving 4,853 cases and 10,631 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Significant association between the T-allele of rs7903146 and GDM risk was observed under all genetic models, dominant model (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.19–1.74), recessive model (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.08–1.70), heterozygous model (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.12–1.53), homozygous model (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.31–2.12), and allele model (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.12–1.53). Stratified analysis by race/ethnicity showed a statistically significant association between rs7903146 polymorphism and susceptibility to GDM under homozygous genetic model (TT versus CC) among whites, Hispanics/Latinos and Asians. Sensitivity analysis showed that the overall findings were robust to potentially influential decisions of the 16 studies included. No significant evidence for publication bias was observed in this meta-analysis for overall studies and subgroup studies. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed that the T allele of TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism was associated with susceptibility of GDM in overall population in white, Hispanic/Latino and Asian sub-groups. Asians with homozygous TT allele of rs7903146 polymorphism have highest risk of GDM (OR = 2.08) followed by Hispanics/Latinos (OR = 1.80) and whites (OR = 1.51). The highest and lowest frequency of T allele of rs7903146 was found in Malaysia and South Korea, respectively. Future studies are needed to profile genetic risk for GDM among high risk Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the family of the Smale-Williams solenoid attractors parameterized by its contraction rate can be characterized as solutions of a set of differential equations. The exact formula describing the attractor can be obtained by solving the differential equations subject to explicitly given initial conditions. Using the formula, we present in this note a simple and explicit proof of the result that the dynamics on the solenoid is topologically conjugate to the shift on the inverse limit space of the expanding map t ↦ mt mod 1 for some integer m ≥ 2 and to a suspension over the adding machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid synthesis method for preparing homogeneous and submicrometer-sized cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce: YAG) particles was proposed in this work. Instead of precipitating the YAG amorphous precursor prior to the solvothermal process, cerium, yttrium, and aluminum nitrates were dissolved in alcoholic solvents to form transparent and clear solutions that were directly transferred into the stainless autoclave to undergo the solvothermal reaction. Four different alcohol solvents, that is, ethanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol, were used as the reaction medium. The crystallization mechanisms in correlation with the alcohol solvent properties, such as the supercritical point and the dielectric constant, were discussed. The interaction between the alcohol solvent and the precursor salts were also investigated. Well-dispersed and spherical Ce: YAG particles in size ranging from 200 to 350 nm were obtained in one pot via solvothermal reaction at 285°C from 5 to 8 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with septic arthritis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and tried to identify the risk factors for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) arthritis. Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2011, patients with septic arthritis caused by S. aureus were identified from the computerized databases of a regional hospital and a medical center in southern Taiwan. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 93 patients with S. aureus arthritis were identified, and MRSA arthritis was found in 38 (40.9%) cases. The mean age of the patients was 58 years, and 86 (92.5%) episodes were classified as community-acquired infections. Diabetes mellitus (n = 41, 44.1%) was the most common underlying disease, followed by chronic kidney disease and liver cirrhosis. Patients with MRSA arthritis were more frequently elderly and found in the setting of healthcare-associated infection than patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infections. No other significant differences in clinical manifestations and outcomes were noted between these two groups of patients. Overall, the in-hospital mortality rate was 5.4%, and diabetes mellitus was the only risk factor for mortality. Conclusions: MRSA is emerging in the setting of community-acquired septic arthritis. MRSA septic arthritis is more likely to develop in the elderly and in healthcare-associated infections than MSSA septic arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The knowledge about short-term outcomes of nonagenarians undergoing surgery for hip fracture in Asian is limited. Methods: The patients with hip fractures who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty and open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) for management during the period from 2008 to 2012 were identified and their medical record was retrospectively reviewed. Results: During the study period, a total of 101 patients underwent surgery for management of hip fractures, and the age of patients ranged from 90 to 96 years. The sites of hip fracture were intertrochanteric (n = 57, 56.4%) and the neck of the femur (n = 44, 43.6%). Most of the patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists scores of 3(n = 55) or 4 (in 44 patients). 80.2% (n = 81) underwent the operation within one day after admission; however, there were 13 patients (12.9%) that underwent surgery 48 or more hours later. ORIF and hemiarthroplasty were performed for 63 (62.4%) and 38 (37.6%) patients, respectively. Overall, the 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 9.9% (10/101) and 17.3% (13/75), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the 30-day mortality was significantly associated only with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (Odds ratio, 11.13, 95% confidence interval, 1.275–97.881, P = .029). Conclusions: The short-term outcome of surgical management for Asian nonagenarians with hip fractures is favorable in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the bacteriology and associated patterns of antibiotic resistance Fournier gangrene. Methods: Patients with Fournier's gangrene from 2008 to 2012 were identified from the computerized database in a medical center in southern Taiwan. The medical records of all patients with Fournier's gangrene were reviewed retrospectively. Results: There were 61 microorganisms, including 60 bacteria and one Candida spp, isolated from clinical wound specimens from 32 patients. The most common isolates obtained were Streptococcus spp. (n=12), Peptoniphilus spp. (n=8), Staphylococcus aureus (n=7) , Escherichia coli (n=7) , and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=7). Among 21 strains of gram-negative bacilli, five (23.8%) were resistant to fluoroquinolones, and three isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone. Two E. coli strains produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Four of the seven S. aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant. Among 15 anaerobic isolates, nine (60%) were resistant to penicillin, and eight (53.3%) were resistant to clindamycin. Four (26.7%) isolates were resistant to metronidazole. The only independent risk factor associated with mortality was inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment (p=0.021). Conclusion: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are emerging in the clinical setting of Fournier gangrene. Clinicians should use broad-spectrum antibiotics initially to cover possible antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing need for high specification requirements for the latest manufacturing processes and optical designs of glass lenses, the technical requirements for lens polishing have increased. The manufacturing parameters must be adjusted in a timely manner to meet the required specifications. We use a Fizeau interferometer to classify and analyze interference fringes measured in the actual polishing process of glass lenses. Given the low incidence of interference fringes in practice, the training dataset contained a disproportionate ratio of data for each data type. To reduce the manufacturing cost and data collection time, this study focused on three common types of interference fringes in the manufacturing processes and integrated a deep convolutional generative adversarial network with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for fringe type classification. The deep convolutional generative adversarial network was used to establish a data augmentation generator, and Jensen–Shannon divergence was employed to identify the epoch number that yielded distributions of interference fringe numbers closest to the real distributions; this approach could achieve the diversity of interference fringes in the generated images. Finally, the generated data were used to train the CNN models, and the accuracy of image recognition reached above 86%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mixed alloy Cu–In–Ga precursors were deposited from Cu–Ga alloy and Indium targets by the DC magnetron co-sputtering method. There were four crystallization phases, In, CuIn2, Cu11In9 and Cu3Ga, identified in the precursor after deposition. A large grain-size CIGS film was achieved by controlling the annealing period for selenization and utilizing a two-stage selenization process for secondary crystallization during rapid thermal annealing process. As the annealing temperature increased, the phase transitions moved toward the Cu-rich inter-metallic phases. In addition, the phase transition, stoichiometric ratio and surface-morphology were modified by Ar-ion plasma etching process of the precursors. The results show that after the ion etching process, the precursors can be transferred into a single Cu11In9 crystallization phase and the number of crevices increased due to the soft texture of indium on the surface of the precursors. Finally, CIGS films with good crystalline properties were achieved after a suitable selenization process of only 1-stage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The metabolic effect of fructose in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) has been linked to de novo lipogenesis and uric acid (UA) production. Objectives: This study investigated the biological effects of SSB consumption on serum lipid profiles and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) among Taiwanese adolescents. Methods: We evaluated the anthropometric parameters and biochemical outcomes of 200 representative adolescents (98 boys and 102 girls) who were randomly selected from a large-scale cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using multiple regression models adjusted for covariates. Results: Increased SSB consumption was associated with increased waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI) values and serum UA, triglyceride (TG) and RBP4 levels. Adolescents who consumed >500 ml/day of beverages half-to-heavily sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) exhibited TG and RBP4 levels 22.7 mg/dl and 13.92 ng/ml higher than non-drinkers, respectively. HFCS drinkers with hyperuricemia had higher TG levels than HFCS drinkers with normal UA levels (98.6 vs. 81.6 mg/dl). The intake of HFCS-rich SSBs and high value of BMI (≥24) interactively reinforced RBP4 levels among overweight/obese adolescents. Circulating RBP4 levels were significantly correlated with weight-related outcomes and TG and UA concentration among HFCS drinkers (r = 0.253 to 0.404), but not among non-drinkers. Conclusions: High-quantity HFCS-rich beverage consumption is associated with higher TG and RBP4 levels. Hyperuricemia is likely to intensify the influence of HFCS-rich SSB intake on elevated TG levels, and in overweight and obese adolescents, high BMI may modify the action of fructose on higher circulating levels of RBP4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rock wool is an inorganic fibrous substance produced by steam blasting and cooling molten glass. As with other industrial by-products, rock wool particles can be used as cementitious materials or ultra fine fillers in cement-based composites. This study investigated the microstructure of mortar specimens produced with cement-based composites that include various forms of rock wool particles. It conducted compressive strength testing, rapid chloride penetration tests, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and scanning electronic microscopy to evaluate the macro- and micro-properties of the cement-based composites. Test results indicate that inclusion of rock wool particles in composites improved compressive strength and reduced chloride ion penetration at the age of 91days due to the reduction of calcium hydroxide content. Microscopic analysis confirms that the use of rock wool particles contributed to the formation of a denser, more compact microstructure within the hardened paste. In addition, X-ray diffraction analysis shows few changes in formation of pozzolanic reaction products and no new hydrations are formed with incorporating rock wool particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process was used to prepare hydroxyapatite-containing flower-like structure coatings on commercially pure titanium substrates with various values of the applied voltage (330, 390, 450 V), applied current (0.4, 0.5, 0.6 A), and duration time (1, 3, 5 min). It was found that the surface morphology of the coatings was determined primarily by the applied voltage. A voltage of 330 V yielded a flower-like/plate-like structure, while voltages of 390 V and 450 V produced a flower-like structure and a porous morphology, respectively. The applied current and duration time mainly affected the coating formation speed and petal size of the flower-like structures, respectively. The coatings prepared using voltages of 330 V and 390 V (0.6 A, 5 min) both contained Ti, TiO2-A (anatase), TiO2-R (rutile), DCPD (CaHPO4·2H2O, calcium hydrogen phosphate), and hydroxyapatite (HA). However, the latter coating contained less DCPD and had a higher HA/DCPD ratio and a Ca/P ratio closer to the ideal value of HA. The coating prepared with a voltage of 450 V consisted mainly of Ti, TiO2-A, TiO2-R, and CaTiO3. For the coatings prepared with a voltage of 390 V, the flower-like structures consisted mainly of HA-containing compounds. DCPD plate-like structures were observed either between the HA-containing flower-like structures (330 V samples) or within the flower-like structures themselves (390 V samples). The coating surfaces with flower-like/plate-like or flower-like structures had a greater roughness, which increased their hydrophilicity and resulted in superior bioactivity (SBF immersion) and biocompatibility (MG-63 cell culture). The optimal biomedical performance was found in the 390 V coating due to its flower-like structure and high HA/DCPD ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the environmental perspective, wooden structures are favorable insulators that are suitable for carbon fixation and wooden-related products are considered the most sustainable material. Research has indicated that wooden structures have superior energy-saving performance compared to reinforced concrete (RC) structures. In this study, a CLT-based hybrid structure system that potentially improves the efficiency of energy consumption is proposed. The proposed hybrid structure system, which preserved original RC beams, columns and replaced CLT floors and walls, has less building weight compared to the original RC building. Additionally, less energy required for the manufacturing of building materials in the renovation of the aged building is achieved, compared to building a new CLT building. The energy consumptions for buildings with heights of 10 stories were compared. CLT and RC were selected as benchmark building materials to compare the energy-saving efficiencies with the proposed hybrid structure system. In addition, to examine the energy consumption differences at different latitudes, the energy consumptions in Taipei, Tokyo, Harbin, and Singapore were compared as well. The simulation results indicate the proposed hybrid structure system, which comprises RC beams and columns and CLT floors and walls, and has an energy-saving efficiency close to that of a CLT structure, by approximately 3–5% higher, however, had a superior energy consumption performance to the RC structure. In general, the proposed hybrid structure system can be effectively used for old building renewal in the selected Asian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the corrosion behavior of cement-based composites containing polyolefin fibers and supplementary cementitious materials by the impressed voltage corrosion test and the impressed current corrosion test. Material variables included the addition of polyolefin fiber (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 %), the dosage of ultrafine slag (40 and 60 %), the dosage of fumed silica (2 and 5 %) and mixed cementitious materials (35 % slag plus 5 % fumed silica and 55 % slag plus 5 % fumed silica). The test results indicate that a small amount of polyolefin fibers extends the time that a chlorine ion reaches to the surface of the rebar and decreases the corrosion rate of rebar. Nevertheless, the fiber is not very useful for the corrosion resistance of steel when the chlorine ions reach the surface of the rebar and corrode it. In addition, the inclusion of ultrafine slag or fumed silica can arrest the rebar corrosion and improve the compactness through pozzolanic reactivity and pore filling effects. According to the corrosion behavior and economy performance of the concrete structure, the combination of 55 % ultrafine slag, 5 % fumed silica and 0.8 % polyolefin fibers provides the best corrosion resistance of the tested cement-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theories and empirical evidence suggest that random dispersal of organisms promotes species coexistence in spatially structured environments. However, directed dispersal, where movement is adjusted with fitness-related cues, is less explored in studies of dispersal-mediated coexistence. Here, we present a metacommunity model of two consumers exhibiting directed dispersal and competing for a single resource. Our results indicated that directed dispersal promotes coexistence through two distinct mechanisms, depending on the adaptiveness of dispersal. Maladaptive directed dispersal may promote coexistence similar to random dispersal. More importantly, directed dispersal is adaptive when dispersers track patches of increased resources in fluctuating environments. Coexistence is promoted under increased adaptive dispersal ability of the inferior competitor relative to the superior competitor. This newly described dispersal-mediated coexistence mechanism is likely favored by natural selection under the trade-off between competitive and adaptive dispersal abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study evaluated the mechanical properties of cement-based composites produced with added polyolefin fibers and silica fume. Material variables included the water-cementitious ratio, the dosage of silica fume, and the length and dosage of polyolefin fiber. Researchers conducted tests on compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, direct tensile strength, resistivity, rapid chloride penetration, and initial surface absorption, and performed microscopic observation. Test results indicate that the specimens containing silica fume have higher compressive strength than the control and specimen made with fibers. The specimens with polyolefin fiber and silica fume have considerably higher tensile strength and ductility than the control and specimens made with silica fume. The specimens containing silica fume and polyolefin fiber demonstrated better resistance to chloride penetration than composites with polyolefin fiber or silica fume. For a given volume fraction, short polyolefin fiber performs better than its long counterpart in improving the properties of concrete. Specimens containing silica fume demonstrated a significant increase in resistivity and decrease in the total charge passed and absorption. Scanning electron microscopy illustrates that the polyolefin fiber acts to arrest the propagation of internal cracks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As wind power retains a significant proportion of generation mix in the electric system, we foresee that less fossil fuel units will be on service. Under this situation, it may impact system's frequency security due to the lack of frequency support from units. To make up for such a system change, wind turbines should actively provide frequency response upon request. For wind turbines to achieve this goal, active power output of the wind turbine should be controllable so that the generating margin could be preserved for frequency response. Therefore, the presentation of this paper will begin with the demonstration of the control scheme for the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the methodology in regulating wind power upon operator's request, while stability is assured under variant wind speeds. Following that, this paper will explore several operating strategies for DFIGs to support system frequency with less sacrifice in the wind energy production. Simulation results show that the proposed strategies can enhance regulation performance in the high wind penetrated power system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This study investigates the properties of cement-based composites with addition of various rock wool wastes. The rock wool wastes are an insulating material. This study used rock wool waste with a cylindrical size distribution ranging from 17 to 250μm, 30% of which is less than 150μm. Rock wool waste can be used as a suitable substitute for coarse and fine aggregates, saving on the cost of natural aggregates and minimizing the environmental impact of solid waste disposal. In addition, because the composition of rock wool waste is similar to other pozzolan materials such as fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and silica fume, it can be considered as a supplementary cementitious material. Experimental results show that partially replacing natural aggregates with rock wool wastes improves the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, abrasion resistance, absorption, resistance to potential alkali reactivity, resistivity, and chloride-ion penetration of cement-based composites. These improved properties are the result of the dense structure achieved by the filling effect of pozzolanic product. Pozzolanic strength activity index (PSAI) results and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations confirm these findings. Therefore, rock wool wastes can act as either a cementitious material or inert filler in cement-based composites, depending on the particle size. The critical size appears to be 75μm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on a study related to use of ceftaroline for treating older patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Topics include the randomized controlled trials showing that ceftaroline being non-inferior to ceftriaxone in terms of clinical efficacy, the safety profile in the treatment of community acquired pneumonia in both adult and pediatric patients, and the clinical evaluation population defining as modified intention-to-treat population.

Abstract: A recombinant vaccine strain SL3261/pLT105 of attenuated aroA Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL3261 strain expressing a secreted dengue virus type 2 non-structural NS1 and Yersinia pestis F1 (Caf1) fusion protein, rNS1:Caf1, was generated. Immunological evaluation was performed by prime-boost vaccine regimen. Oral immunization of mice with 1×109 cfu of SL3261/pLT105 only induced low levels of NS1-specific antibody response and protective immunity following dengue virus challenge. The parenteral NS1 protein priming-oral Salmonella boosting protocol enhanced both NS1-specific serum IgG response and protective efficacy as compared to mice immunized with each type vaccine alone. Addition of an antifungal antibiotic amphotericin B (AmB) to Salmonella vaccine further enhanced the synergic effects of prime-boost vaccine regimen on the elicited NS1-specific serum IgG response and the protective efficacy. Together, the results demonstrated that the rNS1:Caf1 producing Salmonella SL3261/pLT105 strain fails to provide effective protection as an oral vaccine alone despite co-administration of AmB as an adjuvant capable of enhancing the immune responses, and moreover, the protein priming-oral Salmonella vaccine boosting approach in combination with AmB as an immunization regimen may have the potential to be further explored as an alternative approach for dengue vaccine development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The concept of ecology, historically rooted in the economy of nature, currently needs to evolve to encompass the intricate web of interactions among humans and various organisms in the environment, which are influenced by anthropogenic forces. In this review, the definition of ecology has been adapted to address the dynamic interplay of energy, resources, and information shaping both natural and artificial ecosystems. Previously, 3D (and 4D) printing technologies have been presented as potential tools within this ecological framework, promising a new economy for nature. However, despite the considerable scientific discourse surrounding both ecology and 3D printing, there remains a significant gap in research exploring the interplay between these directions. Therefore, a holistic review of incorporating ecological principles into 3D printing practices is presented, emphasizing environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and innovation. Furthermore, the 'unecological' aspects of 3D printing, disadvantages related to legal aspects, intellectual property, and legislation, as well as societal impacts, are underlined. These presented ideas collectively suggest a roadmap for future research and practice. This review calls for a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted impacts of 3D printing and the development of responsible practices aligned with ecological goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to develop a machine learning-based predictor for early mortality and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very-low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants in Taiwan. We collected retrospective data from VLBW infants, dividing them into two cohorts: one for model development and internal validation (Cohort 1, 2016–2021), and another for external validation (Cohort 2, 2022). Primary outcomes included early mortality, severe IVH, and early poor outcomes (a combination of both). Data preprocessing involved 23 variables, with the top four predictors identified as gestational age, birth body weight, 5-min Apgar score, and endotracheal tube ventilation. Six machine learning algorithms were employed. Among 7471 infants analyzed, the selected predictors consistently performed well across all outcomes. Logistic regression and neural network models showed the highest predictive performance (AUC 0.81–0.90 in both internal and external validation) and were well-calibrated, confirmed by calibration plots and the lowest two mean Brier scores (0.0685 and 0.0691). We developed a robust machine learning-based outcome predictor using only four accessible variables, offering valuable prognostic information for parents and aiding healthcare providers in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic physical disease (CPD) makes life filled with many negative events in adolescents, but not all adolescents experiencing negative life events proceed to develop emotional distress, only those with low emotional distress tolerance (EDT). A valid and reliable scale to measure EDT in CPD adolescents is important for caring for their emotional distress. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to translate the 15‐item English version Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) into a Chinese version and then validate the scale for measuring EDT of adolescents with CPD. Methods: The 15‐item English version DTS was translated into a Chinese version using the translation guidelines for cross‐cultural research. Two cohorts of adolescents with CPD were recruited from four hospitals in southern Taiwan, with the first cohort including 124 adolescents with CPD employed to conduct exploratory factor analysis, corrected item‐total correlation and reliability testing, while the second cohort, consisting of 238 adolescents with CPD, was utilized to examine confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity. Results: The two‐factor nine‐item Chinese version DTS for Adolescents with CPD (C‐DTS‐A) was developed. Lower scores of the C‐DTS‐A were significantly associated with higher diabetes distress, poorer self‐management, and worse glycaemic control; their correlation coefficients sequentially were −.40,.17 and −.23. Cronbach's α and the test–retest reliability of the two‐factor C‐DTS‐A ranged from.81 to.87 and from.79 to.89, respectively. Conclusion: The two‐factor nine‐item C‐DTS‐A with good cross‐cultural translation quality was a reliable and valid scale to assess EDT for adolescents with CPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tocilizumab does not provide a survival benefit for patients with COVID-19. • Tocilizumab reduce the risk of mechanical ventilation and ICU admission. • Tocilizumab had no more adverse events compared with standard of care. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of tocilizumab for treating patients with COVID-19. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the preprint server of medRxiv.org were searched from their inception to February 20, 2021. Only RCTs that compared the treatment efficacy and safety of tocilizumab with the placebo or the standard of care for adult patients with COVID-19 were included in this meta-analysis. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. This meta-analysis included eight RCTs which enrolled a total of 6314 patients for randomization, in which 3267 and 3047 patients were assigned to the tocilizumab and control groups, respectively. The mortality at day 28 was 24.4% and 29.9% in patients in the tocilizumab and control groups, respectively, meaning there was no significant difference observed between these two groups (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.66–1.28; I2 = 62). This finding did not change in the subgroup analysis according to the initial use of MV or steroid while enrollment. The patients receiving tocilizumab had a lower rate of mechanical ventilation (MV) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission at day 28 compared with the control group (MV use: OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62–0.90; I2 = 11; ICU admission: OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28–0.92; I2 = 30). There were no significant differences between these two treatment groups in terms of the risk of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.71–1.49; I2 = 43), serious AEs (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.67–1.12; I2 = 0) or infection (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.63–1.20; I2 = 0). Tocilizumab does not provide a survival benefit for patients with COVID-19, but it may help reduce the risk of MV and ICU admission. In addition, tocilizumab is a safe agent to use for the treatment of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ultrasound was used to accelerate two-stage (esterification–transesterification) catalytic synthesis of biodiesel from used cooking oil, which originally had a high acid value (4.35 mg KOH/g). In the first stage, acid-catalyzed esterification reaction conditions were developed with a 9:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, sulfuric acid dosage at 2 wt %, and a reaction temperature of 60 °C. Under ultrasound irradiation for 40 min, the acid value was effectively decreased from 4.35 to 1.67 mg KOH/g, which was decreased to a sufficient level (<2 mg KOH/g) to avoid the saponification problem for the subsequent transesterification reaction. In the following stage, base-catalyzed transesterification reactions were carried out with a 12:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, a sodium hydroxide dosage of 1 wt %, and a reaction temperature of 65 °C. Under ultrasound-assisted transesterification for 40 min, the conversion rate of biodiesel reached 97.05%, which met the requirement of EN 14214 standard, i.e., 96.5% minimum. In order to evaluate and explore the improvement of the ultrasound-assisted two-stage (esterification–transesterification) process in shortening the reaction time, additional two-stage biodiesel synthesis experiments using the traditional mechanical stirring method under the optimal conditions were further carried out in this study. It was found that, under the same optimal conditions, using the ultrasound-assisted two-stage process, the total reaction time was significantly reduced to only 80 min, which was much shorter than the total time required by the conventional method of 140 min. It is worth noting that compared with the traditional method without ultrasound, the intensification of the ultrasound-assisted two-stage process significantly shortened the total time from 140 min to 80 min, which is a reduction of 42.9%. It was concluded that the ultrasound-assisted two-stage (esterification–transesterification) catalytic process is an effective and time-saving method for synthesizing biodiesel from used cooking oil with a high acid value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides (OJPs) have great anti-inflammation and immunomodulatory abilities. However, the low bioavailability of OJPs reduces its applicability in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Chitosan (CS) has excellent mucoadhesive properties and absorption-enhancing ability in oral administration. Casein hydrolysate (CL) has good interfacial diffusivity and emulsifying ability, and can interact with polysaccharides to form complexes combining the individual properties of both. Therefore, chitosan and casein hydrolysate are good candidates for developing nanoformulations for oral delivery. In this study, bioactive polysaccharides (OJPs), CS and CL, were combined to prepare CS/OJPs/CL co-assembled biodegradable nanoparticles. The interactions between polysaccharides (CS and OJPs) and peptide (CL) resulted in the formation of nanoparticles with an average particle size of 198 nm and high OJPs loading efficiency. The colloidal properties of the nanoparticles were pH-dependent, which were changed significantly in simulated digestive fluid at different pH values. OJPs released from the CS/OJPs/CL nanoparticles were greatly affected by pH and enzymatic degradation (trypsin and lysozyme). The nanoparticles were easily internalized by macrophages, thereby enhancing the OJPs' inhibitory ability against Ni2+-induced cytotoxicity and LPS-induced nitric oxide production. This study demonstrates that prepared polysaccharide/protein co-assembled nanoparticles can be potential nanocarriers for the oral delivery of bioactive polysaccharides with anti-inflammatory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]