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Surgeons usually used short screws to avoid extensor tendon problems during volar locking plate fixation in distal radius fracture. However, the stability according to the length of distal locking screws have not been fully understood. We investigated this issue through finite element analysis and compression test using synthetic radius. Our results demonstrated that the bi-cortical full-length fixation does not contribute to the stiffness increase in the axial compression direction, and a reduction in length of up to more than 50% length can still provide similar stability to full-length screws. Our data can support that surgeon should undersize the distal screw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have drawn a consider attention as an effective cancer immunotherapy, and several monoclonal antibodies targeting the immune checkpoint receptors, such as human programmed cell death-1 (hPD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), are clinically used for treatment of various cancers. Here we present the development of a small-sized protein binder which specifically binds to hPD‐1. The protein binder, which is composed of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) modules, was selected against hPD-1 through phage display, and its binding affinity was maturated up to 17 nM by modular evolution approach. The protein binder was shown to be highly specific for hPD-1, effectively inhibiting the interaction between hPD-1 and its ligand, hPD-L1. The protein binder restored T-cell function in vitro, and exhibited a strong anti-tumour activity in tumour mouse model, indicating that it acts as an effective checkpoint blockade. Based on the results, the developed protein binder specific for hPD-1 is likely to find a potential use in cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic of highly infectious diseases like COVID-19 has highlighted the vulnerabilities of public transportation. In particular, railways are more vulnerable due to their dense environment, and the heating system used in winter is a major factor in increasing the transmission and risk of the virus. To improve the existing heating system, a study was conducted to develop a resistive heating composite capable of radiant heating. In this study, the applicability of heating elements, heating performance, and internal thermal deformation factors of laminated panels and sandwich panels used as rail vehicle components were analyzed in detail to consider the actual application of this technology in the railway industry. The experimental results confirmed that both types of panels effectively heated above the target temperature (120℃) in the heating element layer, demonstrating uniform heating characteristics. Additionally, sandwich panel is more affected by thermal deformation compared to the laminate panel. These experimental results are expected to serve as essential foundational data for the effective utilization, safety, and reliability considerations of resistive heating composite materials in real industrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, the thermal residual stress which is generated during the curing process of an adhesive significantly decreases the tensile load capability of adhesively bonded joints. In this work, a smart cure cycle with abrupt cooling and postcuring at room temperature was devised to eliminate thermal residual stress and to produce sufficient interfacial wetting. For monitoring and controlling the curing reaction, dielectrometry was used, where the dissipation factor of the adhesive joint was measured. These results showed that the tensile load capability of the adhesively bonded joint fabricated by the smart cure cycle was greatly enhanced because the thermal residual stress was reduced, and sufficient interfacial wetting between the adhesive and adherend was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the N-terminus of human serum albumin (HSA) has a role in the cobalt binding detected using albumin cobalt-binding (ACB) assay. We compared the results obtained using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for N-terminal-modified HSA with those of a conventional ACB assay in two groups: acute coronary syndrome ( n = 43) and non-ischemic chest pain ( n = 39). ACB and cardiac troponin-I levels were higher in the acute coronary syndrome group. No significant correlation between ACB assay and ELISA results was observed in either of the two patient groups. In acute chest pain patients, the N-terminal site of HSA has a negligible or limited role in cobalt binding in the ACB assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid or aluminum tube structure requires reliable joining of the shaft to other components such as steel yoke and universal joint, which is often the most difficult task. Therefore, a reliable joining method between the aluminum tube and the steel yoke of a hybrid composite propeller shaft for automobile is required. In this work a press fitting method for joining of an aluminum tube to an aluminum yoke is devised by a steel ring with many small teeth to increase reliability as well as to reduce manufacturing cost of the hybrid propeller shaft rather than using other joining methods such as adhesively bonded or welded joints. The optimal shape and number of teeth of the steel ring were obtained experimentally for the maximum static torque capabilities and fatigue characteristics of the press fit joint, and was compared to the finite element analysis results. Finally, a design guideline for the press fit joint using a steel ring with many small teeth for joining the aluminum shaft to the steel ring was suggested. With the developed press fit joint, the static average shear strength of 70 MPa and fatigue strength of 21 MPa between the aluminum tube and the steel ring were realized, which were almost three times higher than that of the adhesively bonded joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although an adhesive joint can distribute the load over a larger area than a mechanical joint, requires no holes, adds very little weight to the structure and has superior fatigue resistance, but it not only requires a careful surface preparation of the adherends but also is affected by service environments. In this paper, suitable conditions for surface treatments such as plasma surface treatment, mechanical abrasion, and sandblast treatment were investigated to enhance the mechanical load capabilities of carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints. A capacitively coupled radiofrequency plasma system was used for the plasma surface treatment of carbon/epoxy composites and suitable surface treatment conditions were experimentally investigated with respect to gas flow rate, chamber pressure, power intensity, and surface treatment time by measuring the surface free energies of treated specimens. The optimal mechanical abrasion conditions with sandpapers were investigated with respect to the mesh number of sandpaper, and optimal sandblast conditions were investigated with respect to sandblast pressure and particle size by observing geometric shape changes of adherends during sandblast process. Also the failure modes of composite adhesive joints were investigated with respect to surface treatment. From the peel tests on plasma treated composite adhesive joints, it was found that all composite adhesive joints failed cohesively in the adhesive layer when the surface free energy was higher than about 40 mJ/m[sup 2], because of high adhesion strength between the plasma treated surface and the adhesive. From the peel tests on mechanically abraded composite adhesive joints, it was also found that the optimal surface roughness and adhesive thickness increased as the failure load increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]