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Abstract The association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and uterine cervical cancer is still unclear. To investigate cervical cancer risk in South Korean women with UC, we analyzed the Korean National Health Insurance claims data. UC was defined using both ICD-10 codes and UC-specific prescriptions. We analyzed incident cases of UC diagnosed between 2006 and 2015. Age-matched women without UC (control group) were randomly selected from the general population (1:3 ratio). Hazard ratios were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression, and the event was defined as occurrence of cervical cancer. A total of 12,632 women with UC and 36,797 women without UC were enrolled. The incidence of cervical cancer was 38.8 per 100,000 women per year in UC patients and 25.7 per 100,000 women per year in controls, respectively. The adjusted HR for cervical cancer was 1.56 (95% CI 0.97–2.50) in the UC group with reference to the control group. When stratified by age, the adjusted HR for cervical cancer was 3.65 (95% CI 1.54–8.66) in elderly UC patients (≥ 60 years) compared to elderly control group (≥ 60 years). Within UC patients, increased age (≥ 40 years) and low socioeconomic status were associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. The incidence of cervical cancer was found to be higher among elderly patients (≥ 60 years) with newly diagnosed UC in South Korea, compared to age-matched controls. Therefore, regular cervical cancer screening is recommended for elderly patients who have recently been diagnosed with UC.

Interest in percutaneous mitral valve repair has increased during recent years. This is mainly driven by the significant number of patients being declined for mitral valve surgery because of a high risk of surgery-related complications or death. In this subset of patients, percutaneous edge-to-edge repair using the MitraClip device (Abbott, Menlo Park, CA, USA) has become an established treatment option, proven to be safe, efficient and associated with improved functional status. In contrast to primary mitral regurgitation (MR), clinical outcomes after mitral valve surgery appear to be less favourable as regards secondary MR due to heart failure. In the MITRA-FR and COAPT trials, patients with moderate to severe and severe secondary MR with reduced left ventricular function received either medical treatment (control group) or MitraClip implantation plus medical treatment (device group). Results were conflicting, with only the COAPT trial showing better clinical outcomes in the device group. However, both trials are now seen as complementary and provide useful information especially regarding patient selection for MitraClip therapy. The goal of this review is to delineate which subset of patients with secondary MR will potentially benefit from percutaneous mitral valve repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report on how to render Ti3C2Tx(MXene) monolayers deposited on SiO2/Si wafers, with different SiO2thicknesses, visible. Inputting the effective thickness of a Ti3C2Txmonolayer (1 ± 0.2 nm) measured by atomic force microscopy, and its refractive index into a Fresnel-law-based simulation software, we show that the optical contrast of Ti3C2Txmonolayers deposited on SiO2/Si wafers depends on the SiO2thickness, number of MXene layers, and the light’s wavelength. The highest contrast was found for SiO2thicknesses around 220 nm. Simulations for other substrates, namely, Al2O3/Si, HfO2/Si, Si3N4/Si and Al2O3/Al, are presented as supplementary information. IMPACT STATEMENT The experimental and simulated color contrasts between Ti3C2Tx(MXene) monoflakes deposited on SiO2of various thicknesses—under an optical microscope—were obtained for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Here, we report, for the first time, on the first-order Raman spectra of the layered Mo-based ternaries: MoAlB, Mo2Ga2C and Mo2GaC. Polycrystalline samples were fabricated, and well-defined Raman spectra were recorded. When the experimental peak positions were compared with those predicted from density functional theory, good agreement was obtained, indirectly validating both. Furthermore, all modes in the three compounds were symmetry assigned. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report, for the first time, on the synthesis and structural characterization of the Zr-based MAX phase, Zr 3 AlC 2 , fabricated by reactive hot pressing of ZrH 2 , Al, and C powders. The crystal structure of Zr 3 AlC 2 was determined by X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy to be the hexagonal space group P63/mmc . The a and c lattice parameters are 3.33308(6) Å and 19.9507(3) Å, respectively. The samples include the secondary phases ZrC and Zr–Al intermetallics as confirmed by quantitative electron probe microanalysis. The Vickers hardness, using a force of 30 N, was measured to be 4.4 ± 0.4 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the electrical characterization of single MXene Ti3C2Tx flakes (where T is a surface termination) and demonstrate the metallic nature of their conductivities. We also show that the carrier density can be modulated by an external gate voltage. The density of free carriers is estimated to be 8 ± 3 x 1021 cm-3 while their mobility is estimated to be 0.7 ± 0.2 cm²/V s. Electrical measurements, in the presence of a magnetic field, show a small, but clearly discernable, quadratic increase in conductance at 2.5K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of a new hexagonal Mo2Ga2C phase, wherein two Ga layers – instead of one – are stacked in a simple hexagonal arrangement in between Mo2C layers. It is reasonable to assume this compound is the first of a larger family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheet resistance and leakage current density of spike rapid thermal processed, millisecond flash annealed, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown ultrashallow junctions (USJs) are compared with the contactless junction photovoltage technique for measurement of sheet resistance and leakage current (RsL) and four-point probe (4PP) techniques. A significant leakage current increase for USJs formed in halo-implanted profiles is explained by high electron and hole recombination generation in the near-surface end-of-range damaged layer enhanced by trap-assisted tunneling. The reduced thermal budget of millisecond annealing allows junction formation with reduced dopant diffusion and lower sheet resistance. However, when strong halo doping is employed, there is a significant increase in junction leakage current relative to that for junctions formed by spike annealing. This rise in leakage current can be reduced by annealing the halo implants before implanting the USJ or by lowering the halo implant dose. USJs grown with CVD demonstrate low leakage current due to localization of recombination centers at the edge of the depletion layer where recombination (generation) is low. This study demonstrates the importance of characterizing USJs formed in halo profile using the contactless RsL technique and highlights the limitations of contact probes, such as four-point probes, for characterization of advanced ultralarge scale integrated junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the improvement of quality assurance at an automotive industry which produces multi-purpose vehicle. Their multi-purpose vehicle is a global product, which means that it should concern not only domestic market demand but also international market demand and specification. Thus to maintain customer satisfaction on product quality, one of the efforts can be done to improve quality assurance level is by implementing Quality Assurance Network activity. Abstract in Bahasa Indonesia : Artikel ini membahas peningkatan jaminan kualitas assembly line di industri otomotif yang memproduksi kendaraan niaga. Kendaraan ini adalah produk yang bertaraf global, artinya kendaraan niaga yang harus mampu memenuhi bukan hanya permintaan pasar domestik melainkan juga spesifikasi dan permintaan pasar mancanegara. Oleh sebab itu untuk tetap dapat mempertahankan kepuasan konsumen terhadap kualitas produk, salah satu upaya yang dapat digunakan meningkatkan jaminan kualitas perusahaan adalah dengan mengimplementasikan aktivitas quality assurance network. Kata kunci: jaminan kualitas, aktivitas quality assurance network.