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A large transient torque that occurs when the power is restarted and secured after a power failure is a major stress on the motor shaft in industrial power systems, so it is very important to reduce it. Induction motors may experience a large torque if there is a phase difference between the new power source and the residual voltage. For a more practical analysis of a MBT (Motor Bus Transfer) on the transient torque, an analysis is needed to consider the phase difference and to use the bus transfer speed after upper circuit breaker operation. Accordingly, the optimal phase difference is presented in this study and is used in the new MBT scheme, in which applied to change rate of between buses volts per hertz using Clarke’s transformation. We analyzed a negative and positive peak torque and a transient torque after MBT using EMTP (Electromagnetic Transients Program) based on various conditions: phase difference, breaker speed, and inertia constant. The simulation results show that transient torque can be reduced by proposed the MBT scheme.

This study proposes a new application of AcciMap, a tool initially created within safety science. AcciMap assists designers by identifying and anticipating systemic conditions that have contributed to prior failures and may influence the implementation of new design interventions. For validation, we applied AcciMap to analyze factors contributing to child abuse cases in South Korea. This process identified potential facilitators and barriers related to the implementation of a child abuse assessment checklist developed by the research team. We found that AcciMap enables designers to apply systems thinking to complex problems. It allows the consideration of potential implementation issues for new design interventions across multiple levels, helping designers understand and anticipate the complex systemic structures affecting their intervention. By exploring how AcciMap can be used for in-depth sociotechnical system analysis, this study contributes to advancing our understanding of systemic design.

With the advancement of technology and our pursuit of better living standards resulted a concerning surge in pollutants from household, industry, automobile, and numerous other sources. There are many hazardous gases such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds which gets formed and dissipated mostly due to various human activity and sometimes naturally. Detection of all these toxic gases is essential for ensuring public health and safety. Oxide-based gas sensors have undergone significant development, exhibiting distinctive sensing properties, immense potential for diverse applications, and the ability to operate at room temperature. This article discusses the research and development of such harmful gas detection based on capacitive sensors that are composed of different metal oxides, metal oxide composites, and nanostructures. Study focuses on the sensing ability and performance of these sensors in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and limit of detection. Furthermore, the mechanisms of gas sensing and their limitations in terms of improved stability, sensitivity, faster response, and ease of detection in ambient environments have been discussed. In addition, it provides an inclusive idea on future aspects of capacitive gas sensors and their potential applications in various fields.

After introducing IL-1/IL-6 inhibitors, some patients with Still and Still-like disease developed unusual, often fatal, pulmonary disease. This complication was associated with scoring as DReSS (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) implicating these inhibitors, although DReSS can be difficult to recognize in the setting of systemic inflammatory disease.

Reading skills are core competencies in children's readiness to learn and may be particularly important for children in foster care, who are at risk for academic difficulties and higher rates of special education placement. In this study, prereading skills (phonological awareness, alphabetic knowledge, and oral language ability) and kindergarten performance of 63 children in foster care were examined just before and during the fall of kindergarten. The children exhibited prereading deficits with average prereading scores that fell at the 30th to 40th percentile. Variations in prereading skills (particularly phonological awareness) predicted kindergarten teacher ratings of early literacy skills in a multivariate path analysis. These findings highlight the need for interventions focused on prereading skills for children in foster care., Children in foster care fare worse than their peers on many indicators of academic adjustment, exhibiting high rates of special education placement, discipline referrals, and school dropout (e.g., Scherr, 2007; [...]

Bogd Khan Mountain is a strictly protected area located in the Khentei mountain range. It lies in the transitional zone of the Siberian coniferous taiga and the Asian steppe and has a unique ecosystem. The present study was conducted with the objective of identifying the plant community type, forest structure, and the changes in forest stands of the Bogd Khan Mountain. Sampling was done at 155 plots randomly along the gradients of the entire forest. Differences in species composition, biological spectrum, species diversity, and importance value were analyzed in each community. This study revealed the occurrence of six plant community types comparing of Larix sibirica, Picea obovata, Pinus sibirica, Betula pendulasubsp. mandshurica, Pinus sylvestrisand Populus tremula. These communities were different in species richness, diversity, and their distribution correlated to the altitudinal gradient (score 0.71735; pvalue 0.001). An upsurge in Picea obovata,and Betula pendulasubsp. mandshuricacommunity was found, indicating changes in the ecosystem such as permafrost melting, caused by anthropogenic influences. We suggest preserving the main dominant tree species in the native communities and reduction of the anthropogenic impacts urgently for the effective management of the biodiversity of the Bogd Khan Mountain.

The influence of female romantic partners on arrest of men in a 12-year period of early adulthood is investigated. Results show that the antisocial behavior in women partners predicted the onset and persistence of crime occurrence for men. The effect of deviant peer association and relationship stability on the persistence of arrests is also examined.

Staphylococcus aureusremains a public health threat with the WHO classifying the pathogen as a high priority in the development of new antimicrobial agents. Whole genome sequencing has revealed a number of conserved genes that may be essential for cell viability and infection. Characterising the structure and function of these proteins will inevitably aid development of new antimicrobials. Therefore, this study elucidated the structure of hypothetical protein DUF3055 from S. aureusstain Mu50. The protein possesses an as yet undefined function and a unique fold. The size of DUF3055 made it an ideal candidate for NMR characterisation which in conjunction with circular dichroism revealed the protein to be folded. Crystallisation and structural solution found that the overall dimer fold has a negatively charged surface formed by a β-bulge and tightly crossed α-helices, with a complementary size to a DNA single turn. Our structural observations suggest that hypothetical protein DUF3055 from S. aureushas a role in DNA binding and gene regulation.

High-level chronics, low-level chronics, and rare offenders are the three distinctive arrest trajectories that were identified after comparing the data from a sample of 203 young men. The two chronic arrest groups have relatively equal rates of early onset offenders which diverges from hypothesized dual taxonomies.

In recent years, pure iron (Fe) has attracted significant attention as a promising biodegradable orthopedic implant material due to its excellent mechanical and biological properties. However, in physiological conditions, Fe has an extremely slow degradation rate with localized and irregular degradation, which is problematic for practical applications. In this study, we developed a novel combination of a nanostructured surface topography and galvanic reaction to achieve uniform and accelerated degradation of an Fe implant. The target-ion induced plasma sputtering (TIPS) technique was applied on the Fe implant to introduce biologically compatible and electrochemically noble tantalum (Ta) onto its surface and develop surface nano-galvanic couples. Electrochemical tests revealed that the uniformly distributed nano-galvanic corrosion cells of the TIPS-treated sample (nano Ta–Fe) led to relatively uniform and accelerated surface degradation compared to that of bare Fe. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of nano Ta–Fe remained almost constant during a long-term in vitroimmersion test (~40 weeks). Biocompatibility was also assessed on surfaces of bare Fe and nano Ta–Fe using in vitroosteoblast responses through direct and indirect contact assays and an in vivorabbit femur medullary cavity implantation model. The results revealed that nano Ta–Fe not only enhanced cell adhesion and spreading on its surface, but also exhibited no signs of cellular or tissue toxicity. These results demonstrate the immense potential of Ta-implanted surface nanostructures as an effective solution for the practical application of Fe-based orthopedic implants, ensuring long-term biosafety and clinical efficacy.

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Introduction : To compare the efficacy of abatacept and tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in patients with anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and identify those who benefit most from abatacept over TNFi. Methods: This observational study identified RA patients who were ACPA-positive and initiated abatacept or TNFi from the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics and Targeted therapy registry. Propensity score (PS) matching was performed to balance baseline confounding in abatacept- or TNFi-treated patients. The major endpoints were changes in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and achievement of CDAI remission/low disease activity after 1 year of treatment. Subgroup analysis was mainly performed stratified by prior biologics use. Results: A total of 291 PS-matched, ACPA-positive RA patients who initiated abatacept (n= 97) and TNFi (n= 194) were included. From baseline CDAI scores of 26.52 in the abatacept group and 26.38 in the TNFi group, the mean changes after 1 year were − 16.78 and − 13.61, respectively (difference − 3.17, p= 0.020). The proportion of patients achieving CDAI remission/low disease activity was 68.0% with abatacept and 52.6% with TNFi (p= 0.013). In the subgroup analysis, patients that were biologics-naïve had better improvement in CDAI after treatment with abatacept than TNFi (difference − 3.35, p= 0.021). Conclusions: This real-world study suggests that abatacept may have better clinical response compared to TNFi in patients with established ACPA-positive RA, especially in those that were biologics-naïve.

Poly(ether imide) (PEI) has shown satisfactory corrosion protection capability with good adhesion strength as a coating for magnesium (Mg), a potential candidate of biodegradable orthopedic implant material. However, its innate hydrophobic property causes insufficient osteoblast affinity and a lack of osseointegration. Herein, we modify the physical and chemical properties of a PEI-coated Mg implant. A plasma immersion ion implantation technique is combined with direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering to introduce biologically compatible tantalum (Ta) onto the surface of the PEI coating. The PEI-coating layer is not damaged during this process owing to the extremely short processing time (30 s), retaining its high corrosion protection property and adhesion stability. The Ta-implanted layer (roughly 10-nm-thick) on the topmost PEI surface generates long-term surface hydrophilicity and favorable surface conditions for pre-osteoblasts to adhere, proliferate, and differentiate. Furthermore, in a rabbit femur study, the Ta/PEI-coated Mg implant demonstrates significantly enhanced bone tissue affinity and osseointegration capability. These results indicate that Ta/PEI-coated Mg is promising for achieving early mechanical fixation and long-term success in biodegradable orthopedic implant applications.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the frequency and risk factors of complications during pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsThe medical records of patients with SLE and age-matched controls at Ajou University Hospital were collected. Clinical features and pregnancy complications in women with SLE were compared to those of the controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.ResultsWe analyzed 163 pregnancies in patients with SLE and 596 pregnancies in the general population; no significant differences regarding demographic characteristics were noted. Patients with SLE experienced a higher rate of stillbirth (OR 13.2), preeclampsia (OR 4.3), preterm delivery (OR 2.8), intrauterine growth retardation (OR 2.5), admission to neonatal intensive care unit (OR 2.2), and emergency cesarean section (OR 1.9) than the control group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that thrombocytopenia, low complement, high proteinuria, high SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), low Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) achievement rate, and high corticosteroid (CS) dose were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cutoff value for the cumulative and mean CS doses were 3500 mg and 6 mg, respectively.ConclusionPregnant women with SLE have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancies are recommended to be delayed until achieving LLDAS and should be closely monitored with the lowest possible dose of CS.

Osteoporosis and fracture are known complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for osteoporosis in patients with SLE.

Resistive-based gas sensors built through the combination of semiconducting metal oxides and conducting polymers (CPs) are widely used for the detection of diverse gaseous components. In light of the great potential of each of these components, electrospun CPs produced by a facile electrospinning method can offer unique opportunities for the fabrication of sensitive gas sensors for diverse gaseous compounds due to their large surface area and favorable nanomorphologies. This review focuses on the progress achieved in gas sensing technology based on electrospun CPs. We offer numerous examples of CPs as gas sensors and discuss the parameters affecting their sensitivity, selectivity, and sensing mechanism. This review paper is expected to offer useful insights into potential applications of CPs as gas sensing systems.

Graphene-based fibers (GFs) have aroused enormous interest in portable, wearable electronics because of their excellent mechanical flexibility, electrical conductivity, and weavability, which make them advantageous for wearable electronic devices. Herein, we report the development of metal binder-free Ti3C2TxMXene/graphene hybrid fibers by a scalable wet-spinning process. These hybrid fibers exhibit excellent mechanical and electrical properties for applications in flexible wearable gas sensors. The synergistic effects of electronic properties and gas-adsorption capabilities of MXene/graphene allow the created fibers to show high NH3gas sensitivity at room temperature. The hybrid fibers exhibited significantly improved NH3sensing response (ΔR/R0= 6.77%) compared with individual MXene and graphene. The hybrid fibers also showed excellent mechanical flexibility with a minimal fluctuation of resistance of ±0.2% and low noise resistance even after bending over 2000 cycles, enabling gas sensing during deformation. Furthermore, flexible MXene/graphene hybrid fibers were woven into a lab coat, demonstrating their high potential for wearable devices. We envisage that these exciting features of 2D hybrid materials will provide a novel pathway for designing next-generation portable wearable gas sensors.

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To investigate the association between the extent of tapering tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and the likelihood of achieving inactive disease in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) We analyzed 1575 1-year follow-up interval data of 776 axSpA patients treated with TNFi for more than 1 year in a nationwide observational cohort. The decision on tapering TNFi was made by patients and their physicians. We quantified TNFi used during interval as a dose quotient (DQ). The intervals were classified into the heavy-tapering (DQ < 50), mild-tapering (DQ 50–99), and control groups (DQ = 100). Outcome variables included achieving Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-inactive disease (ASDAS-ID) and major clinical response of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI50) in the follow-up visit. The effects of TNFi tapering on the outcome were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation. At the baseline visit, 91.1% of the patients showed a high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP ≥ 2.1). DQ of each interval was significantly influenced by the ASDAS-CRP measure in the prior follow-up (P< 0.001). ASDAS-ID was observed in 42.3% of the intervals. A multivariable analysis showed that the likelihood of outcome achievement was comparable between the control and mild-tapering groups, but significantly decreased in the heavy-tapering group (vs. the control group, adjusted OR = 0.28, [95% CI, 0.08–0.94]). In contrast, the likelihood to achieve BASDAI50 response was not different among the groups. In the subgroup of patients who reached ASDAS-ID 1 year after TNFi treatment (n= 327), ASDAS-ID was observed in 66.1% of the subsequent intervals, and only the mild-tapering group showed a likelihood of target maintenance comparable with that of the control group (adjusted OR = 1.25 [0.41–3.80]). This likelihood decreased with an increase in ASDAS-CRP. Mild tapering of TNFi has efficacy comparable with that of the standard-dose treatment for ASDAS-ID achievement in patients with axSpA.

In this study, hydroxyapatite (HA)-based microspheres with the ability to deliver bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) were developed for accelerating bone regeneration. The incorporation of calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD) in the HA matrix improved the rate of BMP-2 release from the microspheres. Under physiological conditions, the CSD fully degraded within 7 days and generated pore channels in the microspheres. The porosity and pore size of the HA–CSD microspheres after CSD degradation were 34.3% ± 4.2% and 11.5 ± 2.4 μm, respectively, significantly larger than those of the HA microspheres (23.9% ± 3.1% and 8.7 ± 0.9 μm, respectively). The increased porosity directly affected the rate of BMP-2 release from the microspheres. An in vitro experiment showed that both the BMP-2 release rate and the total amount of BMP-2 released increased considerably when incorporating the HA microspheres with CSD. BMP-2 was released slowly from the HA microspheres for up to 6 weeks. BMP-2 release was notably improved in the HA–CSD biphasic microspheres compared to the microspheres without CSD; the rate of release was 2.4-times faster due to the pores created by CSD dissolution after 7 days. Prior to animal testing, in vitro cell tests were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of the HA–CSD microspheres. During CSD dissolution, biocompatible bone-like apatite precipitated on the cell surfaces, and preosteoblasts grew on the microspheres. In vivo experiments using a rabbit lateral femoral condyle defect model demonstrated that the level of bone regeneration was significantly enhanced by mineralization on the surface, generated additional pores as well as improved BMP-2 release behavior. The HA–CSD microspheres accelerated new bone growth to fill the entire defect in 6 weeks, corresponding to a 170% improvement in performance compared to the HA microspheres.

Herein, the cytocompatibility of selected MAX phases, Ti3AlC2, Ti3SiC2, and Ti2AlN, were systematically evaluated using in vitrotests for the first time. These phases were anoxic to preosteoblasts and fibroblasts. Compared with the strong viable fibroblasts, the different cellular responses of these materials were clearly distinguishable for the preosteoblasts. Under an osteoblastic environment, Ti2AlN exhibited better cell proliferation and differentiation performance than Ti3AlC2and Ti3SiC2. Moreover, the performance was superior to that of a commercial Ti–6Al–4V alloy and comparable to that of pure Ti. A possible mechanism was suggested based on the different surface oxidation products, which were determined from the binding energy of adsorbed Ca2+ions using first-principles calculations. Compared with the partially oxidized TiCxOylayer on Ti3AlC2and Ti3SiC2, the partially oxidized TiNxOylayer on the Ti2AlN had a stronger affinity to the Ca2+ions, which indicated the good cytocompatibility of Ti2AlN.

Gas sensors are used in various applications to sense toxic gases, mainly for enhanced safety. Resistive sensors are particularly popular owing to their ability to detect trace amounts of gases, high stability, fast response times, and affordability. Semiconducting metal oxides are commonly employed in the fabrication of resistive gas sensors. However, these sensors often require high working temperatures, bringing about increased energy consumption and reduced selectivity. Furthermore, they do not have enough flexibility, and their performance is significantly decreased under bending, stretching, or twisting. To address these challenges, alternative materials capable of operating at lower temperatures with high flexibility are needed. Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as MXenes and transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer high surface area and conductivity owing to their unique 2D structure, making them promising candidates for realization of resistive gas sensors. Nevertheless, their sensing performance in pristine form is typically weak and unacceptable, particularly in terms of response, selectivity, and recovery time (trec). To overcome these drawbacks, several strategies can be employed to enhance their sensing properties. Noble-metal decoration such as (Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ag) is a highly promising method, in which the catalytic effects of noble metals as well as formation of potential barriers with MXenes or TMDs eventually contribute to boosted response. Additionally, bimetallic noble metals such as Pt–Pd and Au/Pd with their synergistic properties can further improve sensor performance. Ion implantation is another feasible approach, involving doping of sensing materials with the desired concentration of dopants through control over the energy and dosage of the irradiation ions as well as creation of structural defects such as oxygen vacancies through high-energy ion-beam irradiation, contributing to enhanced sensing capabilities. The formation of core–shell structures is also effective, creating numerous interfaces between core and shell materials that optimize the sensing characteristics. However, the shell thickness needs to be carefully optimized to achieve the best sensing output. To reduce energy consumption, sensors can operate in a self-heating condition where an external voltage is applied to the electrodes, significantly lowering the power requirements. This enables sensors to function in energy-constrained environments, such as remote or low-energy areas. An important advantage of 2D MXenes and TMDs is their high mechanical flexibility. Unlike semiconducting metal oxides that lack mechanical flexibility, MXenes and TMDs can maintain their sensing performance even when integrated onto flexible substrates and subjected to bending, tilting, or stretching. This flexibility makes them ideal for fabricating flexible and portable gas sensors that rigid sensors cannot achieve.

Cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry were used to investigate the effects of the electrolyte composition and temperature on the electron-transfer kinetics of Fe(CN)6–3/–4at well-characterized, boron-doped diamond thin-film electrodes. Highly conductive films were employed, which were first cleaned of any adventitious nondiamond carbon impurity by a two-step chemical-oxidation, and subsequently hydrogenated in hydrogen microwave plasma. The apparent heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant, k°app, depended on the electrolyte concentration and the electrolyte cation type, increasing in order of Li+< Na+< K+< Cs+. However, the dependence of koappon the electrolyte cation was less than the dependence observed for other electrodes, like glassy carbon and gold. For example, koappat the 1.0 M concentration was only a factor of 1.6 greater in KCl than in LiCl for diamond. This is less than the factor of 5–10 seen for other electrodes, like glassy carbon and gold. The transfer coefficient for the oxidation was largely independent of the temperature and the electrolyte composition with a value ranging from 0.52 to 0.55. The activation energy for electron transfer was found to be 14.3, 15.6, and 16.5 kJ/mol respectively for KCl, NaCl, and LiCl. The results suggest that the electric double layer structure at sp3diamond may be different from that found at sp2glassy carbon.

The ongoing global health has highlighted the critical issue of secondary infections, particularly antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, which have been significant contributors to mortality rates. Orthopedic implants, while essential for trauma and orthopedic surgeries, are particularly susceptible to these infections, leading to severe complications and economic burdens. The traditional use of antibiotics in treating these infections poses further challenges including the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study introduces a novel approach to combat this issue by developing nanostructured surfaces for orthopedic implants using target ion-induced plasma sputtering. Inspired by the natural design of dragonfly wings, these surfaces aim to prevent bacterial adhesion while promoting preosteoblast activity, offering a dual-function solution to the problems of bacterial infection and implant integration without relying on antibiotics. The in vitro results demonstrate the effectiveness of these bioinspired surfaces in eradicating bacteria and supporting cell proliferation and differentiation, presenting a promising alternative for the development of biomedical implants.

The optimal combination of metal ions and ligands for sensing materials was estimated by using a data-driven model developed in this research. This model utilized advanced computational algorithms and a data set of 100,000 literature pieces. The semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) that is most suitable for detecting triethylamine (TEA) with the highest probability was identified by using the Word2vec model, which employed the maximum likelihood method. The loss function of the probability distribution was minimized in this process. Based on the analysis, a novel hierarchical nanostructured tungsten-based coordination with 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (W-DHTA) was synthesized. This synthesis involved a postsynthetic hydrothermal treatment (psHT) and the self-assembly of tungsten oxide nanorods. The tungsten oxide nanorods had a significant number of oxygen vacancies. Various techniques were used to characterize the synthesized material, and its sensing performance toward volatile organic compound (VOC) gases was evaluated. The results showed that the functionalized tungsten oxide exhibited an exceptionally high sensitivity and selectivity toward TEA gas. Even in a highly disturbed environment, the detection limit for TEA gas was as low as 40 parts per billion (ppb). Furthermore, our findings suggest that the control of oxygen vacancies in sensing materials plays a crucial role in enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of gas sensors. This approach was supported by the utilization of density functional theory (DFT) computation and machine learning algorithms to assess and analyze the performance of sensor devices, providing a highly efficient and universally applicable research methodology for the development and design of next-generation functional materials.

Background: While the availability of biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) has improved outcomes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, there remains a subset of individuals who fail to achieve low disease activity or remission despite multiple cycles of b/tsDMARDs. This state is referred to as 'difficult-to-treat (D2T)' RA. Methods: Data from the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics registry were utilized to analyze patients with RA who were treated with b/tsDMARDs. Results: Among 2,321 RA patients with RA treated with b/tsDMARDs, 271 (11.7%) were diagnosed with D2T RA. Lower age (OR = 0.98, p&lt; 0.001), longer disease duration (OR = 1.06, p&lt; 0.001), lower patient global assessment (OR = 0.89, p= 0.045), higher SDAI (OR = 1.06, p= 0.014) and RAPID3 (OR = 1.06, p= 0.002), lower RF positivity (OR = 0.65, p= 0.04), and lower prior use of methotrexate (OR = 0.44, p= 0.008), sulfasalazine (OR = 0.59, p= 0.003), and leflunomide (OR = 0.67, p= 0.013) were associated with D2T RA. The drug survival rate of b/tsDMARDs did not differ between patients with D2T RA and non-D2T RA (p= 0.35). However, the drug survival of individual b/tsDMARD differed between patients with D2T RA and non-D2T RA after eight years. Patients with D2T RA withdrew from b/tsDMARDs due to inefficacy more frequently than those without D2T RA (p&lt; 0.001). Conclusions: D2T RA patients experienced higher disease activity despite maintaining b/tsDMARD therapy. Withdrawal rates due to inefficacy were higher in D2T RA. Effective therapeutic strategies are needed to improve disease control and treatment outcomes in this unique patient population.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by long-standing inflammation in multiple joints. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, which binds to CD20, is effective in suppressing disease activity and preventing joint damage in RA. CT-P10 was developed as a biosimilar of rituximab and approved for use to treat hematologic malignancies and immune diseases including RA.Area covered: This article describes the need for this biosimilar and summarizes the non-clinical studies verifying the physicochemical and biologic similarities and the clinical studies confirming the clinical similarity of CT-P10 to rituximab in patients with RA.Expert opinion: CT-P10 had been evaluated and proven the efficacy and safety in RA in Phase I and III randomized controlled trial with extension studies including a switching regimen. Therefore, CT-P10 is recommended in the treatment of RA.

Herein, we report the synthesis of pristine and Au-functionalized ZnO nanowires (NWs) for low power consumption (self-heated) gas sensors at room temperature. The ZnO NWs were produced via a vapor–liquid–solid growth technique, and Au layers with different thicknesses were sputter-deposited on the ZnO NWs, followed by subsequent annealing. Microscopic characterization methods demonstrated that ZnO NWs were successfully formed. Pristine ZnO NW gas sensors showed the best sensitivity toward either CO or NO2gases at 300 and 350 °C, respectively. Also, the sensitivities of pristine ZnO NW gas sensors were tested toward NO2gas under different applied voltages; the sensors revealed a good response and selectivity under an applied voltage of 7 V. Au-functionalized ZnO NW gas sensors exhibited the best response for CO gas at an applied voltage of 7 V and showed a much higher response relative to the pristine ZnO NWs. The sensing mechanisms for pristine and functionalized gas sensors are comprehensively discussed.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most utilized biodegradable polymer in orthopedic implant applications because of its ability to replace regenerated bone tissue via continuous degradation over time. However, the poor osteoblast affinity for PLA results in a high risk of early implant failure, and this issue remains one of the most difficult challenges with this technology. In this study, we demonstrate the use of a new technique in which plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is combined with a conventional DC magnetron sputtering. This technique, referred to as sputtering-based PIII (S-PIII), makes it possible to produce a tantalum (Ta)-implanted PLA surface within 30 s without any tangible degradation or deformation of the PLA substrate. Compared to a Ta-coated PLA surface, the Ta-implanted PLA showed twice the surface roughness and substantially enhanced adhesion stability in dry and wet conditions. The strong hydrophobic surface properties and biologically relatively inert chemical structure of PLA were ameliorated by Ta S-PIII treatment, which produced a moderate hydrophilic surface and enhanced cell–material interactions. Furthermore, in an in vivo evaluation in a rabbit distal femur implantation model, Ta-implanted PLA demonstrated significantly enhanced osseointegration and osteogenesis compared with bare PLA. These results indicate that the Ta-implanted PLA has great potential for orthopedic implant applications.

Although the design of more biocompatible polymeric implants has been studied for decades, their intended functionality continues to be impaired by the response of the host tissue to foreign bodies at the tissue–implant interface. In particular, the formation and contracture of fibrous capsules prevent the intimate integration of an implant with surrounding tissues, which leads to structural deformation of the implants and persistent discomfort and pain. We report a new surface nano-engineered silicone implant that reduces fibrous capsule formation and improves the biocompatibility of it viasputtering-based plasma immersion ion implantation (S-PIII). This technique can introduce biologically compatible tantalum (Ta) on the silicone surface to produce a Ta-implanted skin layer (<60 nm thick) as well as generate either smooth (Smooth/Ta silicone) or nano-textured (Nano/Ta silicone) surface morphologies. The biologically inert chemical structure and strong hydrophobic surface characteristics of bare silicone are substantially ameliorated after Ta ion implantation. In particular, the Nano/Ta silicone implant's combination of surface nano-texturing as a physical cue and the Ta-implanted layer as a chemical cue was found to be very effective at achieving outstanding hydrophilicity and fibroblast affinity compared to the bare and Smooth/Ta silicone implants. In a mouse in vivostudy conducted for 8 weeks, the Nano/Ta silicone implant inhibited fibrous capsule formation and contracture on its surface better than the bare silicone based on an analysis of the number of macrophages, myofibroblast differentiation and activation, collagen density, and thickness of fibrous capsules.

Objective.Release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) has been described as an effector mechanism of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in several inflammatory diseases. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the role of NET in the pathogenesis of adult-onset Still disease (AOSD).Methods.We determined the serum levels of NET molecules and investigated their associations with clinical disease activities in patients with AOSD. Further, we analyzed the differences in the NETosis response in AOSD patients compared to healthy controls (HC). To explore the in vivoinvolvement of NET in AOSD, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of skin and lymph node (LN) biopsies for proteins related to NET in patients with active AOSD.Results.Serum levels of cell-free DNA, myeloperoxidase (MPO)-DNA complex, and α-defensin were significantly increased in patients with AOSD compared to HC. Serum levels of the NET molecules, cell-free DNA, MPO-DNA, and α-defensin were correlated with several disease activity markers for AOSD. In followup of patients with AOSD after treatment with corticosteroid, the levels of cell-free DNA and α-defensin decreased significantly. On immunohistochemistry, neutrophil elastase–positive and MPO-positive inflammatory cells were detected in skin and LN of patients with AOSD, and were expressed in fiber form in the lesions. The serum from patients with active AOSD induced NETosis in neutrophils from HC. NET molecules induced interleukin 1β production in monocytes, representing a novel mechanism in the pathogenesis of AOSD.Conclusion.The findings presented here suggest that NET may contribute to the inflammatory response and pathogenesis in AOSD.

Several lines of evidence imply that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM); in this regard, patients with FM have altered blood and cerebrospinal fluid levels of BDNF. In this study, we explored the association between BDNFgene polymorphisms and FM susceptibility and the severity of symptoms. In total, 409 patients with FM and 423 healthy controls in 10 medical centers were enrolled from the Korean nationwide FM survey. The alleles and genotypes at 10 positions in the BDNFgene were genotyped. The allele and genotype frequencies of BDNFrs11030104 differed significantly between the patients with FM and the controls (P= 0.031). The GG genotype of rs11030104 had a protective effect against FM (P= 0.016), and the G allele of rs11030104 was negatively associated with the presence of FM compared with the A allele (P= 0.013). In comparison, although the allele and genotype frequencies of BDNFrs12273539 did not differ between the two groups, the TT genotype of BDNFrs12273539 was associated with susceptibility to FM (P= 0.038). Haplotype analyses implied that some BDNFhaplotypes have a protective effect against FM. Finally, several genotypes and haplotypes of the BDNFgene contributed to specific symptoms of FM. This study is the first to evaluate the associations between BDNFgene polymorphisms and FM. Our results imply that some BDNFsingle-nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with susceptibility to, and contribute to the symptoms of, FM.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring group of dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid found in beef and dairy products. CLA has been reported to reduce body fat. To [...]

ABSTRACTAmong children diagnosed with developmental delays, difficulties in self-regulation are prominent and have been linked to school readiness problems. The current study sought to examine the impact of the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) school readiness intervention program on self-regulation, with a specific focus on response monitoring skills, among children with developmental delays. Children (n = 20 in the KITS group and n = 21 in a services as usual group) were administered a flanker task during which event-related potential data were collected to examine group differences in response monitoring. Findings indicated that children in the KITS group showed significant enhancement of a neural index of response monitoring post-intervention. Specifically, the KITS group showed a significant change in the magnitude of their feedback-related negativity in response to negative performance feedback from baseline to post-intervention, whereas children in the services as usual group did not. There were no significant differences between the groups for the error-related negativity or the error-related positivity on incorrect trials nor were there group differences in behavioral performance on the task at the post-intervention assessment. Overall, these findings provide support for the plasticity of response monitoring skills in young children and support the growing literature demonstrating improved self-regulation outcomes via intervention that enhances children’s response monitoring.

In this study, we report the development of a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based composite hydrogel containing calcium fluoride (CaF2) with good biocompatibility and antibacterial properties for multifunctional wound dressing applications. CaF2was newly selected for incorporation within HA because it can release both Ca2+and F–ions, which are well-known ions for affecting cell proliferation and inhibiting bacterial growth, respectively. In particular, an in situ precipitation process enables easy control over the released amount of F–ions by simply adjusting the precursor solutions (calcium chloride (CaCl2) and ammonium fluoride (NH4F)) used for the CaF2precipitation. CaF2particles were uniformly embedded within a HA-based pure hydrogel using an in situ precipitation process. Through variation of the CaCl2and NH4F concentrations used in the precipitation as well as the precipitation time, composite hydrogels with different ion-release profiles were obtained. By controlling the precipitation time, especially for 10 min and after 30 min, large differences in the ion-release profiles as a function of CaF2concentration were observed. A shorter precipitation time resulted in faster release of fluoride, whereas for the 30 min and 1 h samples, sustained ion release was achieved. Colony tests and live/dead assays using Escherichia coliand Staphylococcus aureusrevealed a lower density of bacteria on the CaF2composite hydrogels than on the pure hydrogel for both strains. In addition, improved cellular responses such as cell attachment and proliferation were also observed for the CaF2composite hydrogels compared to those for the pure hydrogel. Furthermore, the composite hydrogels exhibited excellent wound healing efficiency, as evidenced by an in vitro cell migration assay. Finally, monitoring of the wound closure changes using a full-thickness wound in a rat model revealed the accelerated wound healing capability of the CaF2composite hydrogels compared with that of the pure hydrogel. Based on our findings, these CaF2composite hydrogels show great potential for application as advanced hydrogel wound dressings with antibacterial properties and accelerated wound-healing capabilities.

Objective: Recent research suggests that disordered gambling and psychosis co-occur at higher rates than expected in the general population. Gamblers with psychosis also report greater psychological distress and increased gambling severity. However, the mechanism by which psychosis leads to greater gambling symptomology remains unknown. The objective of the present research was to test whether impulsivity mediated the relationship between comorbid psychosis and gambling severity.Method: The sample consisted of 394 disordered gamblers voluntarily seeking treatment at a large university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. A semistructured clinical interview (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview) was used to diagnosis the presence of psychosis by registered psychiatrists. Severity of gambling symptoms was assessed using the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11 provided a measure of impulsivity.Results: Of the sample, 7.2% met diagnostic criteria for psychosis. Individuals with a dual diagnosis of psychosis did not report greater gambling severity. Conversely, dual diagnoses of psychosis were associated with greater levels of impulsivity. Higher levels of impulsivity were also associated with greater gambling severity. Importantly, support for our hypothesised mediation model was found such that impulsivity mediated the association between disordered gambling and psychosis and gambling severity.Conclusion: Impulsivity appears to be a transdiagnostic process that may be targeted in treatment among disordered gamblers with a dual diagnosis of psychosis to reduce problematic gambling behaviours.

Si and Ge single crystals are the most common semiconductor radiation detectors. However, they need to work at cryogenic temperatures to decrease their noise levels. In contrast, compound semiconductors can be operated at room temperature due to their ability to grow compound materials with tunable densities, band gaps and atomic numbers. Highly efficient room temperature hard radiation detectors can be utilized in biomedical diagnostics, nuclear safety and homeland security applications. In this review, we discuss room temperature compound semiconductors. Since the field of radiation detection is broad and a discussion of all compound materials for radiation sensing is impossible, we discuss the most important materials for the detection of hard radiation with a focus on binary heavy metal semiconductors and ternary and quaternary chalcogenide compounds.

We studied the effects of electron-beam irradiation (EBI) on the structural and gas-sensing properties of graphene oxide (GO). To understand the effects of EBI on the structure and gas-sensing behavior of irradiated GO, the treated GO was compared with nonirradiated GO. Characterization results indicated an enhancement in the number of oxygen functional groups that occurs with EBI exposure at 100 kGy and then decreases with doses in the range of 100–500 kGy. Data from Raman spectra indicated that EBI could generate defects, and NO2-sensing results at room temperature showed a decreased NO2response after exposure to EBI at 100 kGy; further increasing the dose to 500 kGy resulted in p-type semiconducting conductivity. The conversion of GO from n-type to p-type via EBI is explained not only through the generation of holes but also the variation in the amount of residual functional groups, including carboxyl (COOH) and hydroxyl groups (C–OH). The obtained results suggest that EBI can be a useful tool to convert GO into a diverse range of sensing devices.

An enantio‐ and stereoselective formal total synthesis of (+)‐frondosin A was accomplished through an oxidopyrylium‐ion‐mediated [5+2] cycloaddition reaction. The cycloaddition reaction provided not only an efficient way of constructing the frondosin skeleton but also facial discrimination through an ether bridge for complete control of relative stereochemistry of the substituents in frondosin A. Frodo? No, it's frondosin! An intramolecular oxidopyrylium cycloaddition reaction produced the complete carbon skeleton of (+)‐frondosin A stereoselectively. The relative stereochemistry of the stereocenters in frondosin A was well controlled by the ether bridge of the cycloaddition product. As a result, an enantio‐ and stereoselective formal total synthesis of frondosin A was accomplished.

We obtained extremely high and selective sensitivity to NO2gas by fabricating graphene–SnO2nanocomposites using a commercial microwave oven. Structural characterization revealed that the products corresponded to agglomerated structures of graphene and SnO2particles, with small secondary SnOx(x≤ 2) nanoparticles deposited on the surfaces. The overall oxygen atomic ratio was decreased with the appearance of an SnOx(x< 2) phase. By the microwave treatment of graphene–SnO2nanocomposites, with the graphene promoting efficient transport of the microwave energy, evaporation and redeposition of SnOxnanoparticles were facilitated. The graphene–SnO2nanocomposites exhibited a high sensor response of 24.7 for 1 ppm of NO2gas, at an optimized temperature of 150 °C. The graphene–SnO2nanocomposites were selectively sensitive to NO2gas, in comparison with SO2, NH3, and ethanol gases. We suggest that the generation of SnOxnanoparticles and the SnOxphase in the matrix results in the formation of SnO2/SnO2homojunctions, SnO2/SnOx(x< 2) heterojunctions, and SnO2/graphene heterojunctions, which are responsible for the excellent sensitivity of the graphene–SnO2nanocomposites to NO2gas. In addition, the generation of surface Sn interstitial defects is also partly responsible for the excellent NO2sensing performance observed in this study.

Objective.Interleukin 33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 family and a ligand of the orphan receptor ST2, plays key roles in innate and adaptive immunity. We examined the associations between IL-33/ST2 levels and clinical manifestations of patients with active adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD).Methods.Blood samples were collected from 40 patients with active AOSD, 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 27 healthy controls (HC). The serum levels of IL-33 and soluble ST2 were determined using ELISA. Expression levels of IL-33 and ST2 in biopsy specimens obtained from 34 AOSD patients with rash were immunohistochemically investigated.Results.IL-33 levels of patients with AOSD were higher than those of patients with RA and HC. Soluble ST2 levels of patients with AOSD were higher than those of HC, but not of patients with RA. Serum IL-33 levels correlated with systemic score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ferritin levels, and aspartate transaminase levels. However, serum soluble ST2 levels correlated only with ferritin levels. The numbers of inflammatory cells expressing IL-33 and ST2 were elevated in skin lesions of patients with AOSD compared to HC, but did not differ from those of the skin lesions of eczema or psoriasis.Conclusion.We found significantly higher serum IL-33 and soluble ST2 levels in patients with active AOSD. Results indicate that the IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of the acute inflammation and skin manifestations associated with AOSD.

In this article, the potential of solution-processed spinel nickel-cobaltite (NiCo2O4) nanostructures as chemiresistive sensors for detecting ethanol (C2H5OH) is demonstrated. Various techniques were used to characterize the structure, composition, and morphology of the as-synthesized NiCo2O4samples prior to gas sensing studies. By adjusting the reaction time, cubic crystalline NiCo2O4structures with different surface morphologies were obtained, including upright-standing nanoplatelets enclosed by nanoneedle-type structures. These nanoneedle-type structures are composed of numerous interconnected nanoparticles with diameters of ∼4–8 nm. These unique structural and morphological characteristics enable the NiCo2O4nanostructures to exhibit excellent sensing properties towards C2H5OH gas at 140 °C, with significant changes in their resistance values observed upon exposure to 10–1000 ppm C2H5OH. Notably, the NiCo2O4sample processed for 9 hours, with a specific surface area of 48.19 m2/g, was recognized as the most promising sensor among the various NiCo2O4samples, showing a maximum response of 54.4% towards 200 ppm C2H5OH, with good repeatability and complete recovery characteristics. Additionally, we also investigated and discussed various sensing characteristics of the NiCo2O4sensors, including their gas concentration dependent response, selectivity, temperature dependent response, reproducibility and stability. Moreover, the sensing interactions between NiCo2O4and C2H5OH gas molecules were elucidated through the use of an energy band diagram, providing valuable insights into the sensing mechanism of these sensors. Overall, this research provides a practical and simple strategy for synthesizing spinel oxide nanostructures and demonstrates their potential in C2H5OH sensing applications.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) have attracted much attention as promising antibacterial agents due to their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that effectively eliminate bacteria. However, when they are delivered inside the body, this distinct characteristic of ROS is restricted due to the limited penetration depth of external light, which is required for the photocatalysis of particles. To produce ROS without any light source when the particles are implanted, we introduced catechol-ZnO complexes to a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel platform, which can self-generate sufficient ROS in the bacteria-infected tissue. Catechol-ZnO complexes enhanced ROS generation via electron transfer from the formation of complexes and o-semiquinone, and a hydrogel structure was created by coordinate bonds between functionalized catechol groups in HA and ZnO simultaneously. This hydrogel demonstrated different behaviors in terms of physical properties compared to chemically cross-linked HA hydrogels containing ZnO. This hydrogel showed a higher swelling ratio, enzymatic degradation resistance, and tissue adhesive strength. Enhanced ROS generation was confirmed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), H2O2concentration, glutathione depletion, and intracellular ROS detection. The improved antibacterial performance of hydrogels from ROS production was also confirmed through in vitro bacterial testing against two bacterial strains, E. coliand S. aureus. Furthermore, an in vivo experiment using an infected mouse model to analyze colony formation, histologic analysis, and hematological inflammatory markers revealed the effective antibacterial effects of catechol-ZnO complexes. Overall, the potential of the hydrogel created via catechol-ZnO complexes for antibacterial therapy was demonstrated through the capability to enhance ROS generation and eradicate bacteria.

Nanodiamond (ND) was successfully synthesized using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a pure solid carbon source by means of a spark plasma sintering process. Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the generation of the cubic diamond phase by means of the SPS process. Lattice-resolved TEM images confirmed that diamond nanoparticles with a diameter of about ∼10 nm existed in the products. The NDs were generated mainly through the gas-phase nucleation of carbon atoms evaporated from the SWCNTs.

AbstractCapillary electrophoresis–single strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) coupled with stuffer-free multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was developed to identify 13 species of foodborne pathogens simultaneously. Species-specific MLPA probes were designed for nine of these species. These probes were targeted to the groEL, glyA, MMS, tuf, inv, ipaH, nuc, vvh, and 16S rRNA genes, which corresponded to Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter coli, Cronobacter sakazakii, Enterococcusspp., Salmonellaspp., Shigellaspp., Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Yersinia enterocolitica, respectively. MLPA probes that had been previously developed by our laboratory were used for the other four species (Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coliO157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes). The CE-SSCP method was optimized to identify all 13 foodborne microbes simultaneously in a single electrogram, in which 50–500 pg genomic DNA was detected per microbe. Twelve species were detected from animal-derived food samples (specifically, milk and sliced ham) that had been artificially inoculated with 12 of the foodborne pathogens, excluding V. vulnificus, which is not usually associated with animal foods. The method developed here could be used as an early warning system for outbreaks of foodborne diseases associated with animal-derived foods in the food industry.