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In smart factories, where humans collaborate with robots and machines, productivity can be optimized by minimizing the distance traveled by workpieces and workers. Previous studies on this subject have largely focused on the movement of the workpieces. Therefore, this study expands on this work by accounting for the movement of the workers. In this study, the facility layout of smart factories is optimized by minimizing the distances traveled by the workpieces and workers, which is accomplished through the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. In this algorithm, each arrangement of the factory elements constitutes a unique particle, and initial particles are generated randomly using rules to be used as seeds for optimization. PSO is then executed to generate a layout that minimizes the distances traveled by the workpieces and workers. This method produces layouts that are more optimal than those in which only the distance traveled by the workpieces is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the weapon target assignment problem is increasing as weapon systems are expected to become intelligent and unmanned on the future battlefield. This study discusses the weapon-target assignment in small-scale ground force combat, which has not been addressed much in other studies. In ground combat, target assignment means the start of an engagement, so assignment should be made taking into account not only the probability of killing an enemy but also the probability of surviving friendly forces. We introduce the WTAG (WTA ground) model that reflects these characteristics and describes methodologies for solving the problem including mixed integer nonlinear problems and Lagrangian relaxation approaches. Our finding is that the algorithm presented can efficiently provide the bounds of the problem in a practical size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A chemical tanker port call policy direction has been suggested. • A novel port call optimization model has been designed by reflecting the suggested policy direction. • Computational techniques have been suggested can solve large-scale problems. • The technical suitability and effectiveness of the proposed method have been verified. We study a novel chemical tanker port call optimization framework to improve the efficiency of waterway traffic control, in which chemical tankers load and unload cargoes while visiting multiple terminals. We formulate this problem as a mixed-integer program to minimize the total cost of vessel operations while compressing the schedule of cargo operations. The port call optimization framework integrates decentralized scheduling efforts by different stakeholders to minimize the traffic congestion satisfying policy, operational, and technical requirements, while embracing the current competitive scheduling discipline. Solving real-world problems can be computationally challenging. Hence we propose efficient solution techniques to promote fast convergence to optimum solutions. As we compare the vessel operational schedule from the proposed port call optimization model with monthly transit data in the past, terminal utilization is improved by more than 250% and the number of individual tanker's transit is reduced by 28%. Suggested computational techniques ensured the solving of real-world problems in approximately 10 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intensive care unit (ICU) staffing model affects clinical outcomes of critically ill patients. However, the benefits of a closed unit model have not been extensively compared to those of a mandatory critical care consultation model. Methods: This retrospective before-after study included patients admitted to the medical ICU. Anthropometric data, admission reason, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grade, survival status, length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, duration of mechanical ventilator care, and occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were recorded. The staffing model of the medical ICU was changed from a mandatory critical care consultation model to a closed unit model in September 2017, and indices before and after the conversion were compared. Results: A total of 1,526 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 64.5 years, and 954 (62.5%) patients were men. The mean LOS in the ICU among survivors was shorter in the closed unit model than in the mandatory critical care consultation model by multiple regression analysis (5.5 vs. 6.7 days; p = 0.005). Central venous catheter insertion (38.5% vs. 51.9%; p < 0.001) and VAP (3.5% vs. 8.6%; p < 0.001) were less frequent in the closed unit model group than in the mandatory critical care consultation model group. After adjusting for confounders, the closed unit model group had decreased ICU mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.65; p < 0.001) and shortened LOS in the ICU compared to the mandatory critical care consultation model group. Conclusion: The closed unit model was superior to the mandatory critical care consultation model in terms of ICU mortality and LOS among ICU survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the prediction of the effect of dilution on the ignition delay of syngas and hydrocarbon fuels from dimensionless parameters. In this regard, the dilution effect was categorized into two sub-effects. The first is a non-chemical effect, which mainly represents the effect of decreasing the fuel-air concentration and the effect of heat-release damping. The second is the chemical effect induced by participation of the diluent in the reaction pathway. Then, we derived the determining parameters of each sub-effect based on chemical kinetics. The non-chemical effect was found to be related to the normalized sensitivity of the ignition delay to the total concentration, n ˜ ; the ratio of the molar constant volume specific heat of the diluent and the fuel-air mixture, c v , D * ; and the average Zel'dovich number during the ignition delay, Z ˜ e m , which represents the effect of temperature rise during the ignition delay on the reaction rate. Meanwhile, the extent of the chemical effect was found to be related to the sensitivity of the ignition delay to the reaction rate coefficient of the three-body reactions, S τ 0 − k j , multiplied by the sensitivity of the reaction rate coefficients to the third body concentration, S k j − [ M ] j , and the ratio of the collision efficiency of the diluent and the fuel-air mixture, η D , j *. Based on this relationship, we investigated the correlation between the extent of dilution effect and the aforementioned dimensionless parameters, n ˜ , c v , D * , Z ˜ e m , S τ 0 − k j , S k j − [ M ] j , and η D , j * , under the temperature range of 600–1400 K, pressure of 1–80 bar, and equivalence ratio of 0.5–2 with 13 different syngas or hydrocarbon fuels. Consequently, a strong correlation was found between the dilution effect and the dimensionless parameters, with the deterministic coefficient over 0.95. Furthermore, we suggested a proper form of the empirical correlation for the ignition delay that can cover a wide range of diluent concentrations, considering the extent of the chemical effect appropriately. This study presents the first dimensionless analysis for the dilution effect on ignition delay, developing a general framework for prediction of the effect based on the thermochemical characteristics of a fuel-air mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends regular bronchodilator therapy in all group A patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether regular inhaled treatment in group A patients with COPD improves their health outcomes, including exacerbations and symptoms. Methods: We recruited patients from 2 Korean prospective cohorts. Eligible COPD patients had a modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score of <2, a St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-C) total score of <25, and had no more than 1 exacerbation and no hospitalizations during the previous year. Incidence rates of exacerbations and changes in symptom scores were analyzed. Results: After propensity score matching, there were 107 patient pairs, with and without regular inhaled treatment, who were followed up for mean times of 2.6 and 3.1 years, respectively. The incidence rates of exacerbations in those with and without regular treatment were not significantly different (incidence rate ratio 1.24 [95% CI 0.68 to 2.25]). Significant differences in favor of regular treatment were observed at 6 and 12 months for the SGRQ-C total scores (mean between-group difference –4.7 [95% CI –7.9 to –1.6] and –4.8 [95% CI –7.9 to –1.7], respectively). Regular treatment with a long-acting bronchodilator was also associated with significantly better scores on the SGRQ-C (mean between-group difference –5.0 [95% CI –8.6 to –1.4]) compared to no regular treatment at 12 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Regular inhaled treatment in group A patients with COPD was associated with a symptomatic benefit but not with a reduction of exacerbation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonantly stabilized radicals (RSR's) such as allylic radicals typically have bond energies exceeding 45 kcal/mol and are therefore reasonably long-lived up to quite high temperatures. Consequently, kinetics of the unimolecular dissociations and bimolecular reactions of these long-lived RSR's assume significance in high temperature chemically reacting systems such as in flames. Our recent analyses (J. Cho et al., Proc. Comb. Inst. , 2022) of the uncertainty propagated by the energy transfer parameters for 1-methylallyl (1MA) dissociation to the laminar flame speed, indicates an intricate coupling between the kinetics of 1MA dissociation (chain propagation) and its reaction with H-atoms (chain-termination). This work extends such analyses to other C 3 – C 5 allylic radicals: allyl, 2-methylallyl, 1,1-dimethylallyl, 1,2-dimethylallyl, and 1,3-dimethylallyl. Theoretical kinetics for the C 3 – C 4 allylic radicals were taken from prior literature studies (J.A. Miller et al., J. Phys. Chem. , 2008; J. Cho et al., Proc. Comb. Inst. , 2022; R.S. Tranter et al., Proc. Comb. Inst. , 2017). Potential energy surfaces were newly computed for the dissociations of the larger C 5 allylic radicals and the reactions of these radicals with H-atoms. These PES's were then used to calculate rate constants for the relevant unimolecular and bimolecular reactions. Energy transfer has a crucial role to play in these pressure-dependent reactions and therefore the present kinetics calculations relied on a-priori predictions of collisional energy transfer parameters to best characterize the branching between chain propagating unimolecular dissociations of these allylic radicals and chain terminating bimolecular reactions of these RSR's with H-atoms. Prompt dissociations are now established to be a universal feature of free radical dissociations. Here we have also characterized the propensity for prompt dissociations in these more-stable allylic RSR's and their role in combustion simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the undesirable implications of maritime mishaps such as ship collisions and the consequent damages to maritime property; the safety and security of waterways, ports and other maritime assets are of the utmost importance to authorities and researches. Terrorist attacks, piracy, accidents and environmental damages are some of the concerns. This paper provides a detailed literature review of over 180 papers about different threats, their consequences pertinent to the maritime industry, and a discussion on various risk assessment models and computational algorithms. The methods are then categorized into three main groups: statistical, simulation and optimization models. Corresponding statistics of papers based on year of publication, region of case studies and methodology are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the oral administration of AD-lico™, a functional extract from Glycyrrhiza inflata in combination with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) could ameliorate the inflammatory symptoms in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rodents. This DSS rodent model is used to study drug candidates for colitis, as part of the spectrum of diseases falling under the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) category. Here, with oral AD-lico™ administration, there was a substantial disruption of the colonic architectural changes due to DSS and a significant reduction in colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, a marker of colitis. In the same samples, there were also reduced levels of colonic and serum IL-6 in the oral AD-lico™ treated rats. This study also addressed the possible mechanisms for AD-lico™ mediated changes on colonic inflammation markers. These included the observations that AD-lico™ dampened the IL-6 proinflammatory-signaling pathway in THP-1 human monocytic cells and reduced the TNFα-mediated upregulation of surface adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Finally, it was shown that AD-lico™ could be combined with 5-ASA in reducing the inflammatory markers for colorectal sites affected by colitis, a first study of its kind for a combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a plant model and model-based controller for a heat recovery system with a swirling flow incinerator located in South Korea. First, a plant model was designed to understand the dynamic characteristics of the system. The system was divided into three parts: incinerator, boiler, and steam drum. Then, each part was modeled with a multi-zone, zero-dimensional modeling scheme. Consequently, we found that the plant model followed the dynamic behavior of the target system, particularly for the seven important variables: boiler inlet temperature, superheater inlet temperature, boiler outlet temperature, oxygen mole fraction, steam production rate, steam pressure, and steam temperature. Then, we designed a multi-input multi-output controller for the system with a nonlinear control model. In the controller design, input variables were selected as air flow rate, fuel supply rate and steam valve opening area; while output variables were oxygen mole fraction of exhaust gas, steam production rate and steam pressure. A nonlinear control model was constructed by reducing the plant model. Then a linear quadratic regulator was applied while evaluating control gain at each time step. Finally, we validated the controller on the plant model, which adequately suppressed the disturbance on fuel composition and adjusted the steam production rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinomas remains controversial and the association between EGFR mutations and stage at the time of the initial diagnosis is debatable. In this study, we evaluated the association of EGFR mutations with stage at diagnosis in lung adenocarcinomas. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1004 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with lung adenocarcinomas and tested for EGFR mutations between June 2011 and December 2014. Results: EGFR mutations were detected in 49.2% of 1004 patients with lung adenocarcinomas. In multivariable analysis, EGFR mutations were significantly associated with early stage disease (stage I to II) at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.87; P = 0.003). When adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and screening, the adjusted proportion of EGFR mutations significantly decreased according to stage. The adjusted proportions of EGFR mutations were 57.6% (95% CI, 51.7%–63.3%) for stage I, 47.9% (95% CI, 36.9%–59.0%) for stage II, 47.5% (95% CI, 39.6%–55.5%) for stage III, and 43.4% (95% CI, 38.3%–48.6%) for stage IV (P = 0.0082). Conclusions: The presence of EGFR mutations is significantly associated with early stage disease at initial diagnosis in lung adenocarcinomas after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and screening. This finding implies that EGFR mutations may play a role as a positive prognostic marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has been known to play multiple biological roles. However, role of PTEN in astrocyte activation is not clear yet. In the present study, the expression pattern of PTEN in the process of reactive gliosis was immunohistochemically examined in intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injected kainic acid mouse hippocampus. Mice were grouped into three; 30 min, 1 day and 7 days after kainic acid i.c.v. injection. Thirty minutes after kainic acid i.c.v. injection, astrocytes were activated and PTEN was weakly expressed in immature astrocytes. Seven days after kainic acid i.c.v. injection, PTEN expression was decreased in highly activated astrocytes showing extensively spindled shape. Immunofluorescence double labeling experiment showed that PTEN was expressed in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes. These findings suggest that PTEN might have a role in early stage of reactive astrogliosis in vivo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel α-tubulin gene (α6) was cloned from a genomic library of Naegleria gruberi strain NB-1 and characterized. The open reading frame of α6 contained 1359 nucleotides encoding a protein of 452 amino acids (aa) with a calculated molecular weight of 50.5 kDa. The nucleotide sequence of the open reading frame of α6 showed considerable divergence (68.4% identity) when compared with previously cloned N. gruberi α-tubulin genes, which share about 97% identity in DNA sequences. The deduced aa sequence of α6-tubulin was 61.9% identical to that of α13-tubulin, which was cloned from the same strain, and showed similar identities to those of α-tubulins from other species (54∼62%). These data showed that α6-tubulin is one of the most divergent α-tubulins so far known. α6-tubulin was found to be expressed in actively growing cells and repressed quickly when these cells were induced to differentiate. Immunostaining with an antibody against α6-tubulin showed that α6-tubulin is present in the nuclei and mitotic spindle-fibers but absent in flagellar axonemes or cytoskeletal microtubules. These data finally established the presence of an α-tubulin that is specifically utilized for spindle-fiber microtubules and distinct from the flagellar axonemal α-tubulins in N. gruberi, hence confirmed the multi-tubulin hypothesis in this organism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A method for the synthesis of C-3 alkenylated phosphachromones was developed using a direct intermolecular C-3 alkenylation with activated and non-activated alkenes through C–H activation under aerobic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-hygroscopic crystal of TlAlF 4 was grown by self seeded vertical Bridgman technique. The crystalline phase was confirmed through powder X-ray diffraction measurement and compared with reference data. The effective atomic number (Z eff) of the TlAlF 4 compound was calculated about 70.77. The X-ray induced emission spectrum having a very strong luminescence band at 390 nm. Thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curve measurement shows the peak maximum at 430 K. The kinetic parameters for the main TSL peak were studied using various standard methods. The mean activation energy (E) is calculated to be 0.93 eV and the frequency factor is 4.79 × 1011 s−1. The dose response of the sample was studied using X-ray exited luminescence and TSL glow curves. The sample shows good linearity for measured dose range from 17 to 50 R/min. Thermal fading of the sample was checked over a long period of time and also the reusability of the sample was examined. The main TSL peak at high temperature with high sensitivity to ionizing radiation, good consistency in reusability of TSL signals, linear dose response against delivered X-ray doses in a wide dose range and moderate fading effect are some desirable properties of TlAlF 4 crystal for considering radiation dosimetric applications. • Single crystals of TlAlF 4 has been grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. • X-ray luminescence of the sample exhibits a very strong intrinsic emission at 390 nm. • TSL kinetic parameters were studied using various standard methods. • The sample shows good linearity for measured dose range from 17 to 50 R/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No studies on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have investigated the prognostic impact of extrapulmonary cancers in patients with IPF. We aimed to determine the prognostic impact of malignancies in patients with IPF. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with IPF between 2001 and 2015. Patients were divided into three groups: IPF without cancer (n = 440), IPF with lung cancer (n = 69), and IPF with extrapulmonary cancer (n = 70). Of the 579 patients with IPF, 139 (24%) had cancer; the three most common types were lung (11.9%), gastric (2.4%), and colorectal (1.9%). Survival was significantly worse in patients with lung cancer than in those without cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35–2.48) or those with extrapulmonary cancer (HR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.14–2.54). The rate of hospitalisation for cancer-related complications was significantly higher in IPF patients with lung cancer than in those with extrapulmonary cancer. The annual rates of decline in percent predicted forced vital capacity and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide did not differ among the groups. Physicians should pay attention to the development and progression of cancer and its prognostic impact in patients with IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of patients at a high risk of having OSA by using a screening questionnaire and to investigate whether the questionnaire can predict patients who are at risk of cardiopulmonary events occurring during a bronchoscopy under sedation. We prospectively enrolled consecutive adult patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopies under moderate sedation. The snoring, tiredness, observed apnea, high blood pressure-body mass index, age, neck circumference and gender (STOP-Bang) questionnaire was used to identify patients at a high (score ≥ 3 of 8) or low risk (score < 3 of 8) of having OSA. The cardiopulmonary events included hypoxemia and hypotension. Multivariable logistic regression was performed with variables selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The prevalence of a STOP-Bang score of ≥ 3 was 67.2% (195/290), and 36.9% (107/290) experienced cardiopulmonary events. The multivariable analysis adjusting for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, baseline SpO2, and procedure time revealed that a STOP-Bang score of ≥ 3 was significantly associated with cardiopulmonary events in a subgroup of patients without a history of cerebrovascular disease (adjusted odds ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–3.54). The STOP-Bang questionnaire can predict cardiopulmonary events occurring during this procedure. Trial registration: NCT03325153. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymer binder, poly(imide-co-siloxane) (PIS), was synthesized and applied to form a thin cathode layer of composites for a thermal battery that has an unusually high operating temperature of 450 °C. The PIS was prepared through cross-linking of the polyimide with polysiloxane. The morphology of FeS2/PIS composites showed that FeS2 particles was coated with the PIS cross-linked gel. The FeS2/PIS composites enabled to fabricate mechanically stable thin cathode layer that was 10–20% of the thickness of a conventional pellet-type cathode. The FeS2/PIS composites were stable up to 400 °C and maintained their morphology at this temperature. PIS coating layers decomposed at 450 °C, and a new residue was generated, which was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the compositional change was analyzed. The FeS2/PIS composites showed enhanced thermal stability over that of FeS2 in thermogravimetric analysis. The thermal battery with the PIS polymer binder showed a 20% discharge capacity increase when compared to a conventional pellet-type cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite the significant influences of the rigid cyclic ring structure on the good thermal and mechanical characteristics of poly (1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), steric hindrance by the cyclohexylene group interferes with glycolysis, an important chemical recycling route for poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) derivatives. To confirm the effects of chemical structure on the reaction, bis(4-hydroxymethyl)cyclohexylmethyl terephthalate (BHCHT), a model compound for PCT, was synthesized and compared with bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), a model compound for PET, in transesterification reactions under zinc catalytic conditions. The rate of transesterification of BHCHT was 1/3 of that of BHET, and this retarded reaction rate was dramatically increased by up to 4 times when a catalytic amount of alkoxy species was combined with the zinc catalyst. The conditions of alkoxide combined with the zinc catalyst were applied to the glycolysis of PCT; the glycolytic reaction rate was three times higher than that with the conventional zinc acetate and the glycolysis product was produced with 82% yield. Highlights • Effective glycolysis process for PET derivatives with sterically hindered substituent. • Enhanced catalytic condition for glycolysis was achieved through model compound studies. • Combined catalytic conditions with alkoxy species was found to be highly reactive in transesterification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-3 alkenylated phosphachromones (III) are synthesized using a direct C-3 alkenylation with activated and non-activated alkenes (II) through C-H activation under aerobic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure, fatal infectious complications have been reported. However, adequate preventive strategies have not been determined. We aimed to investigate the effect of chlorhexidine mouthrinse on the prevention of microbial contamination during EBUS-TBNA. Methods: In this single-center, assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned adult participants undergoing EBUS-TBNA using a convex probe to gargle for 1 minute with 100 mL of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate before EBUS-TBNA or to receive usual care (no chlorhexidine mouthrinse). Aspiration needle wash samples were collected immediately after completion of EBUS-TBNA by instilling sterile saline into the used needle. The primary outcome was colony forming unit (CFU) counts per mL of needle wash samples in aerobic cultures. Secondary outcomes were CFU counts per mL of needle wash samples in anaerobic cultures, fever within 24 hours after EBUS-TBNA, and infectious complications within 4 weeks after EBUS-TBNA. Results: From January 2021 to June 2021, 106 patients received either chlorhexidine mouthrinse (n = 51) or usual care (n = 55). The median CFU counts of needle wash samples in aerobic cultures were not significantly different in the two groups (10 CFU/mL vs 20 CFU/mL; P = 0.70). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding secondary outcomes, including median CFU counts in anaerobic cultures (P = 0.41) and fever within 24 hours after EBUS-TBNA (11.8% vs 5.6%, P = 0.31). There were no infectious complications within 4 weeks in both groups. Conclusions: Chlorhexidine mouthrinse did not reduce CFU counts in needle wash samples of EBUS-TBNA. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04718922. Registered on 22/01/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li 3 Sc(BO 3) 2 , an orthoborate polycrystalline compound, was synthesised using the solid-state synthesis method as a pure and Dy 2 O 3 -doped material. Dy3+ ions were used in various concentrations (from 1 to 6 mol. %). The experimental powder X-ray diffraction data and calculated Rietveld refined data are found to be in good agreement, verifying the effectiveness of the synthesis procedure. The luminescence studies were performed under the excitations of X-ray, proton beam, and UV light. The success of radioluminescence studies verifies the prospects of the Dy3+-doped compound for its application as a radiation scintillator in imaging. The experimental study of cross-relaxation processes confirms the lack of potential evidence of the quenching of the emission peak at 765 nm through the absorption via 6H 15/2 → 6F 3/2 electronic transition cross-relaxation channel −1. The CIE 1931 colour coordinates and correlated colour temperatures were determined for all doped samples under X-ray, proton beam, and photoluminescence excitations. The obtained combined emission colour appeared in the warm white region, unlike many other Dy3+-doped phosphors that suffer suppression of luminescence through the cross-relaxation process. • Pure and Dy3+ doped Li 3 Sc(BO 3) 2 phosphors were synthesised. • The phase purity was revealed by the Rietveld refining method. • The estimated optical bandgap is 3.13 eV for the pure Li 3 Sc(BO 3) 2. • Obsolete cross-relaxation at CRC-1 allow a moderately intense emission peak at 765 nm. • CIE 1931 coordinates and CCT identify the emission colour tone as warm white. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"EBUS-TBNA -> EBUS, TBNA" 3) B Results b , I Characteristics of participants and procedure i , third paragraph: The sentence "Cytopathology examinations revealed that 24.5 and 17.9% of the LNs or masses were malignant in the chlorhexidine group and usual care group, respectively." should be corrected to: "Cytopathology examinations revealed that 24.5% and 17.9% of the LNs or masses were malignant in the chlorhexidine group and usual care group, respectively." A total of 203 bacteria in the chlorhexidine mouthrinse group and 289 bacteria in the usual care group were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. [Extracted from the article]

Background: While extreme sleep duration negatively affects mortality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in general populations, the relationship remains uncertain in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: To evaluate the association between sleep duration and mortality and HRQOL in patients with COPD. Methods: We analyzed 3,349 participants with COPD enrolled in the 2007–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Participants aged 40 years or older with a smoking history and prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) <0.7 were eligible. The participants were categorized as short sleepers (<6 h), 6–8 h, and long sleepers (>8) according to self-reported sleep duration. The outcome variables were all-cause mortality and HRQOL. HRQOL was measured using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index. Results: During a median of 6.5 years, 386 (11.5%) participants died. In unadjusted Cox regression analysis, short sleepers with COPD had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.71). However, this association was not significant after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, BMI, FEV1, and comorbidities. In unadjusted and adjusted multiple linear regression, short sleepers had significantly worse HRQOL. The adjusted means of the EQ-5D index were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.87–0.89) for short sleepers, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.90–0.91) for 6- to 8-h sleepers, and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.87–0.91) for long sleepers (p = 0.01). Conclusions: In patients with COPD, sleep duration was not associated with all-cause mortality. However, short sleep duration was significantly associated with worse HRQOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to assess mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and overlap syndrome, and evaluate which polysomnographic indices-apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) or hypoxemic load measurements-better predict mortality within 10 years.Methods: Adults with symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea and airway disease who underwent both polysomnography and spirometry plus bronchodilator response tests between 2000 and 2018 were included and divided into four groups according to presence of COPD and moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI ≥15/h). We estimated mortality using a Cox model adjusted for demographic/anthropometric covariates and comorbidities; this was called clinical model. To evaluate prognostic performance, we compared the concordance index (C-index) between clinical model and extended models, which incorporated one of polysomnographic indices-AHI, sleep time spent with SpO2 < 90% (TS90), and mean and lowest SpO2.Results: Among 355 participants, patients with COPD alone (57/355, 16.1%) and COPD-OSA overlap syndrome (37/355, 10.4%) had increased all-cause mortality than those who had neither disease (152/355, 42.8%) (adjusted HR, 2.98 and 3.19, respectively). The C-indices of extended models with TS90 (%) and mean SpO2 were significantly higher than that of clinical model (0.765 vs. 0.737 and 0.756 vs. 0.737, respectively; all P < 0.05); however, the C-index of extended model with AHI was not (0.739 vs. 0.737; P = 0.15).Conclusions: In this cohort with symptoms of sleep apnea and airway disease, patients with overlap syndrome had increased mortality, but not higher than in those with COPD alone. The measurement of hypoxemic load, not AHI, better predicted mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Prone position ventilation improves oxygenation and reduces the mortality of patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, there is limited evidence about which patients would gain most survival benefit from prone positioning. Herein, we investigated whether the improvement in oxygenation after prone positioning is associated with survival and aimed to identify patients who will gain most survival benefit from prone positioning in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.Design: A retrospective cohort study.Setting: Medical ICU at a tertiary academic hospital between 2014 and 2020.Patients: Adult patients receiving prone positioning for moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.Interventions: None.Measurements and Main Results: The main outcomes were ICU and 28-day mortality. A total of 116 patients receiving prone positioning were included, of whom 45 (38.8%) were ICU survivors. Although there was no difference in PaO2:FIO2 ratio before the first prone session between ICU survivors and nonsurvivors, ICU survivors had a higher PaO2:FIO2 ratio after prone positioning than nonsurvivors, with significant between-group difference (p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the percentage change in the PaO2:FIO2 ratio between the baseline and 8-12 hours after the first prone positioning to predict ICU mortality was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.80-0.94), with an optimal cutoff value of 53.5% (sensitivity, 91.5%; specificity, 73.3%). Prone responders were defined as an increase in PaO2:FIO2 ratio of greater than or equal to 53.5%. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, prone responders (hazard ratio, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.05-0.25), immunocompromised condition (hazard ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.15-4.03), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.27) were significantly associated with 28-day mortality.Conclusions: The PaO2:FIO2 ratio after the first prone positioning differed significantly between ICU survivors and nonsurvivors. The improvement in oxygenation after the first prone positioning was a significant predictor of survival in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed a quantitative approach for measuring network resilience. • The network resilience is defined as a function of component resilience. • Developed a network resilience enhancement model under budget limit. This paper proposes a quantitative approach for measuring the resilience of the network components and the network itself. This study introduces a conceptual framework featuring the ability of the network system to adopt alternative plans when a component is disrupted. As a first step toward measuring network resilience, the component resilience is defined and quantified as a function of criticality, disruption frequency, disruption impact, and recovery capability. This quantification approach reflects the effect of component level disruption on the network. Hence, it is proposed that the network resilience is measured by the resilience of network component having the lowest resilience index. Efforts to enhance network resilience often require financial resources. Therefore, an optimization model is further introduced to maximize the network resilience under budget constraint through reinforcing the weakest components in the network. The proposed approach can help decision-makers assess the network resilience status and compare with it other networks, identify and improve components with low resilience, evaluate the cost of resilience improvement, and determine the extent of enhancement that can be achieved under a given budget limitation. Numerical experiments are conducted to illustrate our methodology using a supply chain network and a power network. Both examples show that considering the ability of the network to use alternative plans can enhance network resilience and result in lower demand loss when a disruption occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of prompt dissociation involves rovibrationally excited species (generally formed by exothermic reactions) which may dissociate or isomerize prior to thermalization via collisions with the bath gas. Treating such rovibrationally excited species (so-called "hot" species) with standard kinetic phenomenology may result in incorrect macroscopic representation of their reactivity. This work presents the first fully automated methodology for the calculation of prompt effects of a chosen species in a kinetic mechanism, including (i) reaction selection; (ii) theoretical calculation of rate constants and prompt branching fractions; and (iii) final rate constant fitting. The energy partition between hot fragments is estimated using a variety of statistical models, including a new physically sound microcanonical statistical model based on the rovibrational density of states of the fragments. The methodology is validated against literature data for the prompt dissociations of HCO and C 3 H 7 radicals. The microcanonical statistical model is in better agreement with trajectory simulations for larger species and is thus applicable for practical systems that typically involve large molecules, for which direct dynamics calculations are impractical. The automated workflow is applied to the evaluation of the effects of prompt dissociation for two isomeric radicals C 4 H 7 1-3 (1-methylallyl) and C 4 H 7 1-4 (3-buten-1-yl). Twelve H-atom abstraction reactions are selected and the corresponding rate constants are computed with first principles theory. The microcanonical statistical model predicts that prompt dissociations of C 4 H 7 1-3 and C 4 H 7 1-4 are already significant at 1000 K, resulting in differences of up to an order of magnitude at 2000 K with respect to the phenomenological thermal rate constants. To illustrate the effects of prompt dissociation on simulations of experimental data, the calculated prompt rate constants are implemented in both CRECK and C3MechV3.3 kinetic mechanisms. Simulations of experimental flame data illustrate the noticeable impact of prompt dissociation kinetics on the high-temperature combustion reactivity of C 4 H 8 -1 and C 4 H 8 -2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on simulation and analysis of the Houston Ship Channel vessel traffic and operation, through a discrete event model in Arena. The model is applied to mitigate the consequences of the channel closure for constructing a new bridge over the waterway. To evaluate different closure scenarios, real world data is analyzed, and a single factor ANOVA is used to find significant vessel waiting time differences. In addition, Fisher pairwise comparison method is applied to specify the best closure alternative. The results reveal that the best closure scenario will decrease waiting time up to 70%. The model can be used for assessing the performance of the system under different decision making frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluatein vivoboth the anti-Helicobacterand the gastric-relaxing effects of AD-lico/Healthy Gut™ in rat models. AD-lico/Healthy Gut™ is a specially prepared commercial formulation ofGlycyrrhiza inflataextract that is under clinical development for indications of gastrointestinal disease and inflammatory bowel disease. In the current study, the oral administration of AD-lico/Healthy Gut™ significantly reduced mucosal damage fromHelicobacter pyloriin rats and decreased the expression of the inflammatory markers iNOS and COX-2 in the test cells. AD-lico/Healthy Gut™ also reduced mucosal damage caused by water immersion stress in rats. The accelerated gastric emptying in normal rats was also seen with AD-lico/Healthy Gut™, providing relief in gastric relaxation in the test animals. The special formulation of AD-lico/Healthy Gut™ with reduced levels of component glycyrrhizin also has benefits in minimizing the potential side effects attributed to glycyrrhizin seen with similarGlycyrrhizaextracts in terms of induction of hypokalemia and muscle weakness. The preparation has a relatively high phenolic compound content relative to other methods of preparation and is indicative of lower glycyrrhizin levels. These results suggest that AD-lico/Healthy Gut™ may provide the necessary relief from a number of stomach discomfort issues faced by a large population of people. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: We performed this study to investigate the influences of soil pH and soil organic matter content on the sorption behaviors of veterinary pharmaceuticals (VPs; oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, and sulfathiazole) in two different soil types (silt loam and sandy loam). We evaluated both the Langmuir and Freundlich sorption isotherms and found that the Freundlich sorption isotherm fit the data better than did the Langmuir sorption isotherm because the coefficient of Freundlich sorption isotherm (> 0.8) was considerably greater than those of the Langmuir sorption isotherm (< 0.4). The sorption capacities of the VPs increased with decreasing soil pH and increasing soil organic matter content. The sorption capacities of the VPs in silt loam soil were greater than those in sandy loam soil. Furthermore, our results indicated that amoxicillin and sulfathiazole were highly mobile in soils and could therefore be rapidly transported to field drains and ultimately entered surface waters. However, oxytetracycline was highly sorbed in clay minerals under acidic and high soil organic matter conditions. Together, our results indicated that the sorption of VPs by soil was influenced by environmental factors such as soil pH, soil organic matter content, and soil texture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a growth factor-like phospholipid that elicits a variety of cellular responses in numerous cell types, including neurons, immune cells, and fibroblasts. In this report, we investigated the possibility that LPA activates the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein, CREB, in Rat-2 fibroblast cells. CREB is activated in many cells downstream of signaling events, such as growth factor and neurotrophin stimulation. We found that LPA rapidly stimulated phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133 in a time- and dose-dependent manner, as revealed by immunoblot analysis with a phospho-specific antibody recognizing CREB on Ser133. LPA-induced phosphorylation of CREB was dependent on the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD98059 and of p38 MAPK with SB203580 efficiently blocked LPA-mediated phosphorylation of CREB. The LPA-induced CREB phosphorylation was abolished by H89, an inhibitor of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase-1 (MSK1). Together, these data suggest that LPA stimulates nuclear transcription factor CREB via mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling components, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and MSK1 in Rat-2 fibroblast cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Direct CsPbBr 3 quantum dot crystallization inside a glass matrix is proposed. • Melting condition of glass shows the key factor for quantum dot crystallization. • All the glasses exhibit green emission. • The quantum dots exhibited stability at least for six months. [Display omitted] Although inorganic halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have promising photophysical properties and a wide range of applications, they suffer from some issues such as poor water and thermal stabilities. Here, we developed a simple strategy to embedded CsPbBr 3 QDs in a glass matrix by adopting conventional melt-quenching technique. We systematically presented the modified glass melting and quenching technique for the direct crystallization of CsPbBr 3 QDs inside a glass matrix. Crystallization of the QDs took place during the cooling of the quenched hot glass melt. The effect of the concentration of Cs 2 CO 3 , PbBr 2 and NaBr on the formation of CsPbBr 3 QDs size was also identified. The glasses containing CsPbBr 3 -embedded QDs showed photoluminescence emission stability without any alteration in their emission peaks and full-width at half-maximum for at least six months under ambient conditions. Our results provide new insights into rapid and convenient crystallization of QDs inside the protective glass matrix. The technique can be utilized to fabricate several rare earth ions co-doped QDs glasses for various color tunable lighting optical devices application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: All-cause mortality risk and causes of death in bronchiectasis patients have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the mortality risk and causes of death between individuals with bronchiectasis and those without bronchiectasis.Methods: Patients with or without bronchiectasis determined based on chest computed tomography (CT) at one centre between 2005 and 2016 were enrolled. Among the patients without bronchiectasis, a control group was selected after applying additional exclusion criteria. We compared the mortality risk and causes of death between the bronchiectasis and control groups without lung disease. Subgroup analyses were also performed according to identification of Pseudomonas or non-tuberculous mycobacteria, airflow limitation, and smoking status.Results: Of the total 217,702 patients who underwent chest CT, 18,134 bronchiectasis patients and 90,313 non-bronchiectasis patients were included. The all-cause mortality rate in the bronchiectasis group was 1608.8 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 1531.5-1690.0), which was higher than that in the control group (133.5 per 100,000 person-years; 95% CI, 124.1-143.8; P < 0.001). The bronchiectasis group had higher all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.47), respiratory (aHR, 3.49; 95% CI, 2.21-5.51), and lung cancer-related (aHR, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.33-5.22) mortality risks than the control group. In subgroup analysis, patients with airflow limitation and ever smokers showed higher all-cause mortality risk among bronchiectasis patients. Therefore, we observed significant interrelation between bronchiectasis and smoking, concerning the risks of all-cause mortality (P for multiplicative interaction, 0.030, RERI, 0.432; 95% CI, 0.097-0.769) and lung cancer-related mortality (RERI, 8.68; 95% CI, 1.631-15.736).Conclusion: Individuals with bronchiectasis had a higher risk of all-cause, respiratory, and lung cancer-related mortality compared to control group. The risk of all-cause mortality was more prominent in those with airflow limitation and in ever smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]