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The aerodynamics of aerosols and their deposition on face masks play a critical role in determining the effectiveness of respiratory protection. While existing studies have focused on the risks associated with aerosol dispersion during exhalation, little attention has been paid to aerosol aerodynamics in an open environment, where aerosols can circumvent masks, during inhalation. This is because mask performance has primarily been evaluated by the particle filtration efficiency in closed pipe setups, which do not account for the aerodynamics of aerosols around the wearer's face. In this study, we conduct experiments in an open environment to investigate the aerosol flow around a face mask and the aerosol deposition under varying inhalation pressures. Our results indicate that an aerosol flow near a mask surface behaves like a viscous flow, stagnating within the range of human inhalation. Within this range, we find that the amount of aerosol deposited can be predicted by modifying existing aerodynamics theory. Using a theoretical model, a critical inhalation pressure is identified at which water aerosols begin to penetrate through a mask. Finally, we propose the aerosol circumvention efficiency as a new metric to assess mask performance in open environments by taking into account the effects of aerosol circumvention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experiences, observations, and reflections on aspects of British culture, identity, and academia, delving into intimate details and emotions to offer insights into their journey and perspectives.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a therapy method to treat the tumors in prostate, liver, kidney, pancreas, bone, breast, and uterine fibroids. In the HIFU therapy process, the ultrasound generated in an ultrasonic transducer concentrates on a focal zone. At the zone, the temperature rises locally up to 56°C to provoke the necrosis of human tissue. Therefore, to control the therapy process, it is essential to perceive the main principle of heat generation in human tissue. We study FDTD-LBM (finite difference time domain—lattice Boltzmann method) as a method of predicting the temperature distribution in human tissue during HIFU therapy. The nonlinear Westervelt wave equation is employed for computing the pressure distribution in human tissue during ultrasound propagation, while the Pennes bio-heat transfer equation is used for calculating the temperature distribution in the tissue. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) is applied to solving the nonlinear Westervelt wave equation, and the lattice Boltzmann method can solve the Pennes bio-heat transfer equation. Simulation results have shown that the numerical simulation method proposed has improved the accuracy in analyzing the temperature field in human tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure field distribution of a ballistic shock wave (BSW) therapy device is a crucial factor for clarifying its treatment mechanism. We developed a lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) to describe the propagation of BSW. Based on the assumption that the propagation of BSW causes weak compressible flow, our simulaton was performed by coupling Tait equation of state. For a two-dimensional LBM, we used the density initial condition for initial turbulent region near the applicator. We first compared our simulation results with previous experimental measurements. Then we predicted the temporal and spatial distribution of pressure field. The pressure field of ballistic shock wave has a primary compressive region followed by a primary expansive region with the other disturbances. A secondary pressure pulse consists of a positive phase followed by a negative phase. Our results agree well with previous experimental data and provide additional data on the pressure field of BSW. Our model encourages further investigation to clear the biological mechanism of BSW therapy and to design more effective device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IBRUTINIB PLUS BR OR R-CHOP IN PREVIOUSLY TREATED PATIENTS WITH FOLLICULAR OR MARGINAL ZONE LYMPHOMA: THE PHASE 3 SELENE STUDY B Introduction b : For patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) or marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), chemoimmunotherapy (CIT; bendamustine and rituximab [BR] or rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone [R-CHOP]) is recommended by international clinical practice guidelines. B Results b : A total of 403 (FL, I n i = 347; MZL, I n i = 56) patients were randomized to ibrutinib + CIT ( I n i = 202) or placebo + CIT ( I n i = 201). [Extracted from the article]

Patients with ALK-positive ALCL, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides/sezary syndrome were not included in the study. CHOP was favored over ICED in AITL patients, whereas ICED was favored over CHOP in EATL/HSTL patients. B Purpose: b Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and their prognoses are still poor because of frequent relapses and the absence of optimal standard therapy. [Extracted from the article]

Herein, we achieved a large reversible room temperature magneto-caloric effect (MCE) through synergic tuning of martensitic transformation (MT) temperatures and transition entropy change (ΔStr) via micro-alloying with transition metals (Ti, V, and Cr) in Ni45Co5Mn40Sn10 meta-magnetic Heusler alloys (MHAs). By the minor addition of TM, MT temperatures were brought down to below room temperature and ΔStr was reduced while maintaining narrow MT temperature range (ΔT) and large difference in magnetization (ΔM) of Ni45Co5Mn40Sn10 MHA. In particular, Ni43.8Cr1.2Co5Mn40Sn10 MHA exhibited a very large reversible room temperature magnetic entropy change (ΔSM) of 24.5 J/kg.K with a broad operating temperature window of ~11K at 5 T. Indeed, the MHA exhibited a very effective refrigeration capacity (RCeff) of 276 J/kg for 5 T, which is the largest value among the reported Ni-Mn-based MHAs. The decrease of ΔStr reduces the magnetic field required for completely reversible MT and accelerates the saturation of ΔSM, which leads to maximum RCeff value in the composition of MHA. Thus, we can conclude that smaller ΔStr with narrow ΔT and large ΔM is a key variable to develop MHA with reversible MCE under low magnetic field, which will ultimately give us a guideline for the tailor-made design of highperformance magneto-caloric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is the fourth leading cause of disability affecting more than 300 million people around the globe. In this disease, chondrocytes responsible for the growth and maintenance of articular joints start to deplete due to the rogue involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, protein kinase-B and p38 mitogenactivated protein kinases. Presently, there are medications providing symptomatic treatment, however, they cannot thwart the progression of osteoarthritis. Natural compounds can rejuvenate injured tissues, averting inflammation and can be useful for treating osteoarthritis. The present study was conducted to obtain inhibitors using natural compounds for phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase-B/mitogenactivated protein kinases implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Results revealed that out of 1541 natural compounds, cordycepin and geraniol formed an inhibitory interaction with these kinases. Moreover, these compounds down regulated important inflammatory markers (DNA methyltransferase 1, cluster of differentiation 74 and ETS proto-oncogene 1) and increased the expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic, FAM111 trypsin like peptidase A, secreted frizzled related protein 1 and ferritin light chain genes implicated in the survival of chondrocytes. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity and lethal dose prediction studies showed that cordycepin has appropriate pharmacokinetics and low acute toxicity level, whereas geraniol has high toxicity level and efficient pharmacokinetic profile. Our study provided a preliminary insight that cordycepin and geraniol are capable inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase-B/mitogen-activated protein kinases and can be lead compounds in osteoarthritis therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Is Bevacizumab a Risk Factor for Colon Stent-Related Perforation?", examines the association between bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody used in cancer treatment, and stent-related perforation in patients with acute colorectal obstruction. The study analyzed data from 397 patients who underwent self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) insertion at four tertiary hospitals. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence of perforation between patients who received bevacizumab and those who did not. The authors concluded that the insertion of SEMS into colonic obstruction is a safe procedure and that bevacizumab does not increase the risk of stent-related perforation. [Extracted from the article]

The increasing incidence of diabetes is a global concern. Current treatment modalities involving lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy are not effective in 50% of patients. Unripe apples contain polyphenols which are known to have antidiabetic effects. To verify the effects of unripe apple extract (UAE), the antioxidant activity of UAE was confirmed using a cell-free DPPH assay; and nitric oxide production and cytotoxicity were investigated in RIN-m5F cells. Biochemical analysis, oral glucose tolerance test, and histological analyses of the pancreas and liver were also conducted. UAE treatment induced hypoglycaemic conditions in alloxan-induced RIN-m5F cells. Further, UAE treatment showed antidiabetic effects in db/db mice by reducing plasma glucose and fructosamine levels without affecting the food intake and body weight. Additionally, UAE improved glucose tolerance and lipid parameters, and restored the pancreatic tissue in db/db mice. These results demonstrated the antidiabetic effects of UAE on alloxan-treated pancreatic islet-derived cells and in db/db mice, and suggested that UAE can be potentially used as a medicine and dietary supplement or functional food in antidiabetic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity σ(T), Seebeck coefficient σ(T), and heat capacity Cp(T) of polycrystalline samples of Bi2Te3, Bi2Te3+1%CuI, and Bi2Te3+1%(CuI+1/2Pb) are investigated in the temperature range below room temperature. Based on the temperature dependences of all investigated physical properties, it is discovered that phase transition occurs at 120–200 K. Investigation of single crystals shows that anomalies in the electrical resistivity (ρ(T)=1/σ(T)) occur only across the crystal growth axis (across the well‐conducting Bi–Te plane). Investigation of the low‐temperature dependence of electrical conductivity shows that all polycrystalline samples exhibit quasi‐two‐dimensional electron transport. Additionally, quasi‐two‐dimensional transport is detected in single crystals based on anisotropy analysis ρ⊥(T)/ρ‖(T):10 (where ρ‖(T) is the resistivity along the crystal growth axis, and ρ⊥(T) is resistivity across the crystal growth axis) and temperature dependence ρ(T):T2 below 50 K. The Fermi energy EF is estimated using the temperature dependence of S(T). It is discovered that an increase in EF at T > 200 K is associated with the phase transition. For single‐crystal samples, the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit ZT, as observed along the crystal growth axis, increases with doping. A maximum ZT value of ∼1.1 is observed for the Bi2Te3+1%(CuI+1/2Pb) sample at room temperature (T=300K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foreign bodies in the ear, nose and throat commonly necessitate emergency department visits. Method: This retrospective study was conducted on emergency department visits from January 2010 to December 2019 to determine characteristics and clinical prognoses of ENT patients. Patients were divided into three groups according to foreign-body entry route; patient characteristics and clinical findings were compared between groups. Results: Of 676 142 emergency department visits, 10 454 were because of ENT-related foreign bodies. The mean (± standard deviation) age of subjects was 24.0 (± 23.4) years, and 5176 patients were male (49.5 per cent). The most common entry route was the mouth (74.5 per cent). Most patients (97.1 per cent) were discharged after emergency treatment. Intensive care and in-hospital mortality occurred only in the mouth group. Conclusion: Clinical findings differ depending on foreign-body entry route. After emergency treatment, most patients were discharged; some cases presented serious complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the authors experience of being interrogating first-generation Korean-American identity as a means for surviving British academia.

We propose a crawling and drilling microrobot actuated by an external precessional magnetic field (EPMF) to effectively unclog obstructed blood vessels. Conventional crawling microrobots can only generate crawling motions using an external oscillating magnetic field. The proposed microrobot can generate navigating (crawling) and drilling motions selectively or simultaneously by controlling the EPMFs. We prototyped the proposed microrobot, and conducted several experiments to verify the efficacy of the crawling and drilling ability of the microrobot in a tubular environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses the risk factors for delayed bleeding after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The study analyzed 1,708 patients who underwent colorectal ESD and found that anticoagulants were a risk factor for delayed bleeding. Other risk factors included antithrombotic agents, antiplatelet agents, and tumor location in the rectum. The study also found that there was no difference in the risk of delayed bleeding based on the type of anticoagulant used. The authors recommend caution when performing colorectal ESD in patients receiving anticoagulants. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses the successful placement of a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) in a patient with cecal cancer and ileocecal obstruction. The use of colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery (CSBS) is recommended as an alternative to emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal cancer. However, CSBS in right-sided obstructive colon cancer is more challenging and has a higher risk of complications. The authors share their experience with a rare case of stent placement for cecal cancer and provide details about the procedure. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses the outcomes of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) based on the size of colorectal neoplasms. The study collected data from five medical centers on ESD procedures performed between January 2015 and December 2020. The results showed that as the size of colorectal neoplasms increased, the rate of complete resection decreased and the rate of complications increased. The study also found that age, comorbidity index, procedure time, and length of hospital stay were all associated with the size of the neoplasms. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the relationship between sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass and strength) and peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB). The study analyzed 2,050 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for suspected gastrointestinal bleeding and found that patients with sarcopenia had a higher prevalence of gastric ulcers and more severe bleeding scores. Additionally, the 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with sarcopenia. The study suggests that close monitoring and aggressive treatment strategies are crucial for improving the prognosis of patients with PUB accompanied by sarcopenia. [Extracted from the article]

A new plasma diagnostic tool called the planar cutoff probe (PCP), recently developed by Kim et al. [Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 28, 015004(2019)], can be embedded into a chamber wall or wafer chuck electrode for non-invasive electron density measurements. The application feasibility of the probe has so far been demonstrated in terms of signal-to-noise ratio; however, for the successful application of the PCP to real plasma processing, its design should first be optimized based on a comprehensive investigation of its characteristics. Therefore, in this paper, the effects of various parameters on the measurement characteristics of the PCP are investigated and analyzed via 3D full electromagnetic wave simulation. Results show that PCP measurement discrepancies vary by numerous controllable parameters, namely, wafer thickness and relative dielectric constant, antenna distance, input electron density, and chamber pressure. Based on these findings, the condition with the smallest measurement discrepancy and where PCP measurement performance is least affected by the parameters is found and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cutoff probe (CP), which precisely measures electron density from a microwave transmission (S21) spectrum, has been successfully developed through physical models under the assumption of homogeneous plasma between the probe tips. In practice, however, the chamber and sheath structure, flow effects, and the probe insertion itself produce plasma inhomogeneity between the probe tips, which necessitates the study of any related effects on the CP measurement results. This paper investigated the effect of inhomogeneous plasma on the S21 of the CP through a three-dimensional E/M wave simulation with various density gradient directions. The simulations found, notably, double cutoff peaks and a cutoff frequency shift in the S21 that depend on the gradient direction. These results are analyzed via a simple circuit model of the CP, and their origins are elucidated at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare and acute adverse drug reaction associated with antipsychotic therapy. However, few data on the risk and epidemiology of NMS are available. Objectives: The aim of this study was to ascertain the incidence risk and all-cause mortality of NMS associated with antipsychotic use, and to assess the association of recent antipsychotic exposure and NMS. Methods: We did a population-based study using data from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority's Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System database. Cases had a first diagnosis of NMS between 1 January 2004 and 30 November 2017. A case-crossover analysis was used to compare antipsychotic exposure 30 days before the diagnosis of NMS (index date) and a reference period 91–120 days before the index date. To adjust for potential time trends in antipsychotic exposure, we sampled from cases to match current cases and future cases, and further adjusted for select medications and acute medical conditions. Results: 297,647 patients were prescribed antipsychotics, and the incidence risk of NMS was 0.11%. Of the 336 cases included in the case-crossover analysis, 20 (6%) died within 30 days after the index date; only one case had NMS recorded as the primary cause of death. When compared with the reference period, cases were more frequently prescribed multiple antipsychotics (15.8% vs 26.8%; standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.27) and short-acting injectable antipsychotics (3.6% vs 13.7%; SMD 0.37) during the 30 days prior to the diagnosis of NMS. Odds ratios for antipsychotic exposure in the case-crossover, case-crossover adjusted for time trend, and case-crossover adjusted for time trend and potential confounders analysis were 8.00 (95% confidence interval 3.42–18.69), 5.88 (2.46–14.04), and 4.77 (1.95–11.66). Conclusions: Our results suggest that recent use of antipsychotics is associated with NMS. Although a case-only design inherently controls for confounding by time-invariant factors, residual confounding by acute medical conditions with similar presentations to NMS cannot be fully excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a 2018 survey, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified microbial contamination in 42 (49%) of 85 unopened tattoo and permanent makeup (PMU) inks purchased from 13 manufacturers in the US between November 2015 and April 2016. To confirm the results of our previous survey, we evaluated the level of microbial contamination in an additional 27 samples from 10 manufacturers from September 2017 to December 2017, including 21 unopened tattoo and PMU inks which were selected based on our previous survey results and 6 ink diluents that were not previously analysed. Aerobic plate count and enrichment culture methods from the FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual revealed 11 (52%) out of 21 inks, from six manufacturers, were contaminated with micro‐organisms, with contamination levels up to 3·6 × 108 CFU per gram, consistent with our previous survey results. We identified 25 bacterial strains belonging to nine genera and 19 species. Strains of Bacillus sp. (11 strains, 44%) were dominant, followed by Paenibacillus sp. (5 strains, 20%). Clinically relevant strains, such as Kocuria rhizophila and Oligella ureolytica, were also identified, as similar to the findings in our previous survey. No microbial contamination was detected in any of the six ink diluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease. Resveratrol-enriched rice (Iksan526) was used in the present work to investigate the effects of IS526 callus extract (IS526) on inflammatory mediators in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was detected by an assay kit. Protein levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, and p38 kinase were measured by western blotting. IS526 induced the expression of COX-2 and PGE2. In addition, after treatment with IS526, both p38 and ERK1/2 were phosphorylated. Inhibiting ERK1/2 and p38 kinase with PD98059 and SB203580 suppressed IS526-stimulated PGE2 and expression of COX-2, respectively. These findings suggest that IS526 induces inflammation via the p38 kinase and ERK1/2 pathways in rabbit articular chondrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of intended gait speed is crucial for facilitating volitional muscle activity during robot-assisted gait training. Considering that most patients find it difficult to perform gait at relatively high speeds, it is also imperative that the prediction model performs well at slow gait speed. Furthermore, ample time for signal processing should be given prior to robot assistance such that the patient is not subjected to unwanted resistance or lag. Here, the authors propose to predict the intended speed of the contralateral limb via kinematics of the current swing limb. Three lower-limb positions were evaluated using an inertial measurement unit sensor during treadmill gait sessions. The results suggest that the authors' model performs well even during slow gait speeds $\lpar \le 2\, {\rm km}/{\rm h}\rpar $(≤2km/h) with $R^2$R2 values as high as 0.86. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous growth of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) is of concern for its potential role in global warming and future stratospheric ozone destruction. Climate feedbacks that enhance N2O emissions in response to global warming are not well understood, and past records of N2O from ice cores are not sufficiently well resolved to examine the underlying climate‐N2O feedbacks on societally relevant time scales. Here, we present a new high‐resolution and high‐precision N2O reconstruction obtained from the Greenland NEEM (North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling) and the Antarctic Styx Glacier ice cores. Covering the N2O history of the past two millennia, our reconstruction shows a centennial‐scale variability of ~10 ppb. A pronounced minimum at ~600 CE coincides with the reorganizations of tropical hydroclimate and ocean productivity changes. Comparisons with proxy records suggest association of centennial‐ to millennial‐scale variations in N2O with changes in tropical and subtropical land hydrology and marine productivity. Plain Language Summary: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse and ozone‐depleting gas. The growing level of N2O in the atmosphere is of global concern, and records of past N2O variations can provide an important context for understanding the links between N2O and climate change. In this study, we report new, high‐quality N2O records covering the last two millennia using ice cores obtained from Greenland and Antarctica. Our N2O records show rapid centennial‐scale changes in atmospheric N2O and confirm a pronounced minimum near 600 CE. Comparison with climate records suggests that hydroclimate change on land and changes in marine productivity contribute to centennial‐ to millennial‐scale N2O variations. Key Points: We report records of N2O concentration for the last 2,000 yr from the Styx ice core in Antarctca and NEEM ice core in GreenlandThe data accurately reveal the timing and magnitude of N2O variations on centennial time scalesVariations in N2O are associated with changes in tropical and subtropical land hydrology and marine productivity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most influential risk factors of dementia in older adults. However, its potential association with neurodegeneration is not well established. The association between HL and cortical thickness in cognitively normal older adults was evaluated. Methods: In all, 982 cognitively normal older adults (age ≥65 years) were identified from the Health Promotion Center at the Samsung Medical Center from September 2008 to December 2014. The participants underwent pure‐tone audiometry and brain magnetic resonance imaging. HL was evaluated according to a four‐frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz) pure‐tone average. Participants were divided into three groups according to pure‐tone average (normal hearing ≤15 dB, minimal HL 16–25 dB, mild‐to‐severe HL >25 dB). Cortical thickness in the HL groups was compared with that of the normal hearing group. Results: In women, right ear HL was associated with cortical thinning: the minimal HL group showed cortical thinning in the left frontal and bilateral occipital areas and the mild‐to‐severe HL group showed cortical thinning in the bilateral frontal, right temporal and bilateral occipital areas compared to the normal hearing group. In men, there was no significant association between HL on either side and cortical thickness. Conclusion: In older women, right ear HL is associated with neurodegeneration even in a cognitively normal state. Therefore, managing HL especially in older women may be an effective strategy for dementia prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of patient effort during robot‐assisted gait training (RAGT) is thought to be the main factor behind unsatisfactory rehabilitative efficacy among hemiparetic stroke patients. A key milestone to implement patient‐driven RAGT is to predict gait intent prior to actual joint movement. Here, the authors propose a method of predicting step speed intent via surface electromyogram (EMG) signals from the soleus. Six lower‐limb muscles were initially evaluated on a treadmill, and the results suggest that the soleus EMG signals correlate well with step speed. The authors further propose a simple linear regression model which predicts subsequent step speed via current soleus EMG signals with over‐ground gait sessions, R2 of ∼0.6. The proposed experimental results and simple prediction model should be applicable for RAGT without significant modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an updated transformer model for solenoidal inductively coupled plasma sources that can be applied even in low electron density regions. The proposed model can handle plasma in a finite geometry where the electric fields propagating from each boundary overlap, employing a simple analytic expression of the electric field, a one-dimensional (1D) sine hyperbolic function. Based on this field expression, all circuit elements of the transformer model that depend on the electron density, namely, plasma resistance, magnetic inductance, and mutual inductance, can now be obtained. Comparison of absorbed power as well as the circuit elements calculated using the proposed model, named here as the 1D transformer model, shows good agreement with the electromagnetic model, which is known for being quite accurate for cold plasma not only in high but also in low electron density regions. Results also indicate that the 1D transformer model is not limited to a specific setup but rather can be applied in a wide range of discharge conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haloperidol remains a frequently prescribed first-generation antipsychotic. However, haloperidol-associated mortality risk by all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and pneumonia compared with other antipsychotics is unknown.Objective: This study investigated the mortality risk associated with long-term haloperidol treatment versus that with other antipsychotics.Methods: We identified incident antipsychotic users from 2004 to 2014 in the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS), a population-based clinical database managed by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. We included patients who were aged ≥ 18 and received antipsychotics for any indication apart from terminal illnesses or management of acute behavioural disturbance. Patients on haloperidol and other antipsychotic agents (risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, chlorpromazine, aripiprazole, sulpiride, amisulpride, or trifluoperazine) were matched by propensity score. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality and death due to CVD and pneumonia were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a Cox proportional hazards model.Results: In total, 136,593 users of antipsychotics were included. During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, the incidence of all-cause mortality ranged from 186.8/1000 person-years for haloperidol to 10.4/1000 person-years for trifluoperazine. The risk of all-cause mortality was lower with non-haloperidol antipsychotics than with haloperidol, with HRs ranging from 0.68 (95% CI 0.64-0.72 [chlorpromazine]) to 0.43 (95% CI 0.36-0.53 [trifluoperazine]). Risperidone, quetiapine, sulpiride, chlorpromazine, aripiprazole, and trifluoperazine were associated with a significantly lower risk of pneumonia-related mortality. A significantly lower risk of CVD mortality was observed for risperidone, sulpiride, chlorpromazine, and quetiapine.Conclusion: Haloperidol was associated with increased overall mortality when compared with other antipsychotics in long-term follow-up. Treatment with haloperidol should be carefully considered, especially in older patients and patients at risk of CVD or pneumonia, since the risk of death appears to be lower with non-haloperidol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical type probe is made by microelectromechanical system (MEMS) process in microscale for high degree of integration and performance. To design reliable probe before manufacturing, mechanical properties in microscale is needed. Also, manufactured probe is heat-treated to release residual stress. In this paper, to understand mechanical properties and heat treatment effect in microscale, tensile tests for Ni–Co alloy thin film is performed using specimen with heat-treated under air. The Ni–Co thin film has some enhanced mechanical properties by heat effect and becomes brittle. The changes of grain size distribution and grain direction are observed through electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melatonin is widely available either on prescription for the treatment of sleep disorders or as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. Melatonin has also recently been licensed in the UK for the short-term treatment of jetlag. Little is known about the potential for adverse events (AEs), in particular AEs resulting from long-term use. Concern has been raised over the possible risks of exposure in certain populations including pre-adolescent children and patients with epilepsy or asthma.Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the evidence for AEs associated with short-term and longer-term melatonin treatment for sleep disorders.Methods: A literature search of the PubMed/Medline database and Google Scholar was conducted to identify randomised, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of exogenous melatonin administered for primary or secondary sleep disorders. Studies were included if they reported on both the types and frequencies of AEs. Studies of pre-term infants, studies of < 1 week in duration or involving single doses of melatonin and studies in languages other than English were excluded. Findings from open-label studies that raised concerns relating to AE reports in patients were also examined. Studies were assessed for quality of reporting against the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist and for risk of bias against the Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias criteria.Results: 37 RCTs met criteria for inclusion. Daily melatonin doses ranged from 0.15 mg to 12 mg. Subjects were monitored for up to 29 weeks, but most studies were of much shorter duration (4 weeks or less). The most frequently reported AEs were daytime sleepiness (1.66%), headache (0.74%), other sleep-related AEs (0.74%), dizziness (0.74%) and hypothermia (0.62%). Very few AEs considered to be serious or of clinical significance were reported. These included agitation, fatigue, mood swings, nightmares, skin irritation and palpitations. Most AEs either resolved spontaneously within a few days with no adjustment in melatonin, or immediately upon withdrawal of treatment. Melatonin was generally regarded as safe and well tolerated. Many studies predated publication of the CONSORT checklist and consequently did not conform closely to the guidelines. Similarly, only eight studies were judged 'good' overall with respect to the Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria. Of the remaining papers, 16 were considered 'fair' and 13 'poor' but publication of almost half of the papers preceded that of the earliest version of the guidelines.Conclusion: Few, generally mild to moderate, AEs were associated with exogenous melatonin. No AEs that were life threatening or of major clinical significance were identified. The scarcity of evidence from long-term RCTs, however, limits the conclusions regarding the safety of continuous melatonin therapy over extended periods. There are insufficient robust data to allow a meaningful appraisal of concerns that melatonin may result in more clinically significant adverse effects in potentially at-risk populations. Future studies should be designed to comply with appropriate quality standards for RCTs, which most past studies have not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated current-voltage characteristics (IVCs) of intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) for c-axis oriented La[SUB1.85]Sr[SUB0.15]CuO[SUB4] thin films. We fabricated IJJs with two kinds of structures. One was a mesa structure with a junction area of 22- 194 μm[SUP2] fabricated by using conventional photolithography and Ar-ion milling, and the other was a microbridge structure with a junction area of 1.1- 3.6 μm[SUP2] fabricated by using a focused-ion-beam technique. The mesa-type IJJs exhibited resistively-shunted-junction-like IVCs with no hysteresis. The temperature dependence of their critical current followed the Ambegaokar-Baratoff relation. IVCs of the microbridge-type IJJs, on the other hand, exhibited voltage jump and clear hysteresis. The different behaviors between the mesa-type and the microbridge-type IJJs were explained by the different numbers of grain boundaries involved in the IJJs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni[sub 80]Fe[sub 20]-Mn alloy thin films were fabricated using magnetron sputtering in order to study the microstructural changes that develop in an exchange couple (Ni[sub 80]Fe[sub 20] and Mn). In the process, we discovered that the alloy films phase separated into Ni[sub 80]Fe[sub 20] and Mn when annealed at 400 °C, although bulk Ni[sub 80]Fe[sub 20] and Mn are miscible at room temperature. Moreover, a strong crystallographic texture developed during annealing, especially for films with high Mn content. The increase of texture was attributed to the volume expansion taking place in the phase separation. It was speculated that the as-deposited alloy films had a large coherent interfacial strain, possibly due to inhomogeneous alloying. In turn, this hindered the formation of intermetallic compounds, and instead forced a phase separation to reduce the interfacial energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinned electrodes of the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) consisting of Ta/AlO[SUBx]/ CoFe(x)/IrMn/NiFe/Ta, where 35 &Aring

Among CAR+ T-cells in the anbal-cel product, median CD4:CD8 ratio was 3.6 and CCR7+ memory phenotype CAR T-cells account for 65.8% of CAR-T cells. B Introduction: b Anbal-cel is a novel autologous anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy which has been knocked-down for PD-1 and TIGIT expression using OVIS platform. PHASE 2 STUDY OF ANBAL-CEL, NOVEL ANTI-CD19 CAR-T THERAPY WITH DUAL SILENCING OF PD-1 AND TIGIT IN RELAPSED OR REFRACTORY LARGE B CELL LYMPHOMA - INTERIM ANALYSIS RESULT. [Extracted from the article]

The current study met its primary end-point which suggests the feasibility of high-dose MTX plus cytarabine in elderly PCNSL patients, and the positive role of additive rituximab. While the backbone treatment for young patients consist of high-dose methotrexate (MTX) and cytarabine, their feasibility has not been widely tested in the elderly. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: The plasma n-3 fatty acid level was 26.2% lower in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture than in those with osteoarthritis. In all patients, n-3 fatty acid was positively associated with bone mineral density and inversely associated with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b level in bone marrow aspirates, reflecting the bone microenvironment. Introduction: Despite the potential beneficial role of n-3 fatty acid (FA) on bone metabolism, the specific mechanisms underlying these effects in humans remain unclear. Here, we assessed whether the plasma n-3 level, as an objective indicator of its status, is associated with osteoporosis-related phenotypes and bone-related markers in human bone marrow (BM) samples. Methods: This was a case-control and cross-sectional study conducted in a clinical unit. n-3 FA in the blood and bone biochemical markers in the BM aspirates were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and immunoassay, respectively. BM fluids were collected from 72 patients who underwent hip surgery because of either osteoporotic hip fracture (HF; n = 28) or osteoarthritis (n = 44). Results: After adjusting for confounders, patients with HF had 26.2% lower plasma n-3 levels than those with osteoarthritis (P = 0.006), and each standard deviation increment in plasma n-3 was associated with a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 0.40 for osteoporotic HF (P = 0.010). In multivariate analyses including all patients, a higher plasma n-3 level was associated with higher bone mass at the lumbar spine (β = 0.615, P = 0.002) and total femur (β = 0.244, P = 0.045). Interestingly, the plasma n-3 level was inversely associated with the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b level (β = − 0.633, P = 0.023), but not with the bone-specific alkaline phosphatase level, in BM aspirates. Conclusions: These findings provide clinical evidence that n-3 FA is a potential inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis that favors human bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction between a carbon crucible and Si–Cr solvent, and the carbon solubility at SiC saturation in Si–Cr solvent were investigated using infrared absorption after combustion, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis. Si0:6Cr0:4, commonly used for silicon carbide crystal growth, was maintained in a carbon crucible at 1500–1950 °C for several minutes. The amount of carbon dissolved in the solvent was determined. The carbon content initially increased for 5 min, then remained constant until 10th min, and finally increased again with time at high temperature. According to microanalysis, the second increase in carbon content was due to the crystallization of small SiC grains in the solvent after reaching saturation, while the constant carbon content was due to the equilibrium between the SiC interlayer along the crucible wall and the solvent. Assuming the plateau of carbon content closely represented the carbon solubility at each temperature, a pseudo binary phase diagram was created for Si and C. Experimentally obtained constant carbon contents is in good agreement with the carbon solubilities calculated using CALPHAD [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal aging was conducted at 650 °C until 1,000 h under the atmospheric environment to evaluate the degradation characteristics of microstructure and mechanical properties of 9Cr-1MoVNb steel. The analysis of the microstructure and carbide of aged specimens was conducted by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile and Vickers hardness tests. In addition, fractured tensile specimens were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to observe the changes in fracture mode with aging time. As a result, loss of martensite lath, coarsening of M23C6 carbide, and precipitation of Laves phase were observed after aging for 100 h. Degradation leads to deterioration in mechanical properties due to the effect of the nucleation and coarsening of Cr-rich M23C6 carbide. However, the change in fracture mode was more affected by the Laves phase (Fe2Mo) than the M23C6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of temperature and time on the sensitization behavior of alloy 600. A doubleloop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation test was conducted to evaluate the degree of sensitization (DOS) in 0.1 M H2SO4 + 0:001 M potassium thiocyanate solution. The microstructure and surface damages of the aged specimens were characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. As a result of the experiment, the sensitization behavior was significantly influenced by the expansion of the Cr-depleted zone and Cr-diffusion rate depending on the aging temperature. In particular, the alloy 600 aged for 300 h or longer at 650 °C represented a very low DOS value of 3% or less, and its resistance against intergranular corrosion greatly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavitation erosion damage behaviors in the coolant of electroless nickel plated diesel engine cylinder liners were investigated. In the case of electroless nickel coating, pitting damage was locally induced by cavitation erosion attacks. The pitting damage was promoted as galvanic corrosion accompanied it. Continued cavitation erosion attacks led to the plastic deformation, fatigue, and failure of electroless nickel coating. Consequently, local pitting damage to electroless nickel coating showed a tendency to progress in the depth direction so that the surface damage depth developed greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the corrosion resistance of the 5xxx series (5052-O and 5083-H321) Al-Mg alloys and the 6xxx series (6061-T6) Al-Mg-Si alloys used in marine environments, various electrochemical experiments were conducted and the surface damages were analyzed. In the results of cathodic polarization experiments, 6061-T6 was judged to have the best anticorrosive properties because of the lowest required current density in the cathodic protection potential section and of uniform calcareous deposit formed on the surface. In addition, in the results of cyclic polarization experiments, the pitting resistance of 6061-T6 was shown to be the highest During the anodic polarization experiments 6061-T6 presented the least surface damage. Through electrochemical experiments, 6061-T6 was selected as an aluminum alloy material with excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a high strength steel for offshore wind turbine tower substructure was submitted to tensile load using slow strain rate technique to evaluate fracture characteristics of the steel with application of electrochemical potentials ranging from free corrosion potential to –1.2 V in natural seawater. The results of the study revealed that the fracture characteristics of the steel changed drastically with different applied potentials. The failure time ratio was 0.5 or less in the potential range of –1.0 V to –1.20 V due to hydrogen evolution. The fractured surface after the slow strain rate test indicated that the brittle fracture tendency was prevalent in the potential region corresponding to the hydrogen embrittlement. It is concluded that cathodic overprotection exceeding –1.2 V may lead to brittle fracture of the offshore steel structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]