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In this study, a numerical approach is developed for simulating the rate‐dependent behaviors of concrete without mesh sensitivity. The rheological units (e.g., dashpot) are integrated with the six directional springs in the rigid‐body spring network (RBSN) elements to reflect the rate‐dependent behavior of concrete. Previously, the viscoplastic damage model was associated with the elemental degrees of freedom. However, in the present approach, a viscoelastic constitutive law is newly defined for the normal direction as a function of the strain rate, from which the internal forces can be updated from the regularized elemental stresses. Such improvements are validated through the numerical simulations of the direct tensile test and spalling test using the modified split‐Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The simulated results show consistent structural responses without mesh dependence on the strain rate. In addition, the influences of the softening curve shapes on the crack localizations are examined. It is shown that the rheological parameters can be optimized and determined for consistent applications through virtual experiments. The proposed numerical approach enables the mesh construction procedure without concerning the mesh‐size sensitivity due to the strain rate, and various applications are expected for the simulations of detailed numerical models of concrete materials and structures under high loading rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain condition accompanied by unpleasant burning sensations of the oral mucosa. While multiple factors were proposed for the etiology, evidence suggested a neuropathic pain origin while others suspected the use of antibiotics as the underlying cause. Interestingly, several reports demonstrated the intimate interaction of the nervous system and the microbiome. The current study aims to elucidate the correlation of the oral microbiome with the pathophysiology of the primary BMS. Microbiome samples obtained from the unstimulated whole saliva of 19 primary BMS patients and 22 healthy controls were sequenced and analyzed of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene. There was a distinct difference in the microbial composition between the BMS and the control groups at all taxonomic levels. Alpha diversity indexes of the oral microbiome were significantly lower in the BMS group. The samples were readily distinguished by multidimensional scaling analysis and linear discriminant analysis effect size. Streptococcus, Rothia, Bergeyella, and Granulicatella genus were dominant in the BMS group, while Prevotella, Haemophilus, Fusobacterium, Campylobacter, and Allorevotella genus were more abundant in the healthy group. Distinct microbiome signatures of BMS patients suggested a diagnostic value and a potential role in the pathogenesis of BMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxygen saturation indices show a strong correlation with long‐term health outcomes. Nonetheless, evidence on the relationship between reduction in respiratory events and increase in oxygenation levels following oral appliance (OA) treatment is scarce. Objectives: To verify the relationship between reduction in the apnoea‐hypopnoea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation levels following OA treatment, we have conducted an evaluation of polysomnography (PSG) and clinical parameters associated with the improvement of oxygen desaturation. Methods: OSA patients (n = 48) who received an OA and had pre‐ and post‐treatment PSG were classified into three responder groups according to the change in AHI and min O2 post‐treatment: responderAHIonly (decrease in AHI of ≥50% but increase in min O2 level of <4% or decrease); responderMinO2only (increase in min O2 level of ≥4% but decrease in AHI <50% or increase) and responderCongruous (decrease in AHI of ≥50% and increase in min O2 level of ≥4%). Various demographic and PSG variables were statistically compared among groups. Results: There were 26 (54.17%) responderAHIonly, 9 (18.75%) responderMinO2only and 13 (27.08%) responderCongruous. Pre‐treatment min O2 was significantly lower in responderMinO2only. A higher pre‐treatment min O2 showed a significant correlation with a smaller amount of change in mean O2 (r = −.486) and min O2 (r = −.764) with treatment. Pre‐treatment min O2 showed the strongest ability to predict those who would show a ≥4% min O2 increase following treatment. Conclusion: Certain patients do not show sufficient decrease in hypoxaemia in spite of the improvement in AHI. Pre‐treatment min O2 should be considered in OA treatment planning regarding its close relation to improvements in oxygenation levels with treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) have been reported in several studies to exhibit in several studies to exhibit high toughness even under extreme dynamic loads. To understand such dynamic behavior of SHCC, this study extends a previously developed rate-dependent lattice model by introducing a non-local formulation of the fiber-matrix interface behavior. The Voronoi-cell lattice model, representing the cementitious matrix, employs an explicit time integration scheme and a visco-plastic unit to account for the inertia effect and Stefan effect. Additionally, randomly-distributed short fibers were modeled using an analytical model of shear stress transfer at the fiber-matrix interface. The proposed numerical model successfully simulated the direct tensile behavior and multiple cracking patterns of SHCC, revealing distinct rate-dependent failure characteristics. Through a simple parameter fitting process, the model accurately predicted the dynamic increase factor (DIF) of strength and strain capacity of high-speed tensile experiments. Furthermore, the numerically evaluated rate dependency of the fiber-matrix interface exhibited identical trends to previous experimental studies. Finally, the influences of fluctuations in the applied strain rate during actual high-speed loading tests and the random dispersion of fibers were assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a lattice-based modeling technique to simulate the direct tensile behavior of textile reinforced cementitious composites (TRCC) under quasi-static and dynamic loadings. To analyze the reinforcing effect of textiles in TRCC, the fiber bridging force and the shear stress transmission at the fiber-matrix interface are non-locally modeled. Along with an appropriate scheme for explicit time integration, visco-plastic rheological units are introduced to depict the dynamic behavior of the cementitious matrix. The model results are compared with those of both static and dynamic experimental studies. It is demonstrated that the model well describes the strain hardening and multiple cracking behavior of TRCC and effectively captures the dynamic behavior. Proper stress transfer formulation of the fiber-matrix interface is essential for simulating the crack patterns, including crack distributions and openings, observed in the experiments. Furthermore, the effect of the strain rate on these interfacial properties of TRCC is investigated in the dynamic analysis. • The tensile behavior of TRCC was convincingly simulated using a lattice model with an analytical formulation of the fiber-matrix interfacial behavior. • The rate-dependent model presented in this study effectively captured the dynamic behavior of TRCC. • 2-Dimensional models realistically simulated the multiple cracking patterns of TRCC under direct tensile loadings. • The effects of unintended variations in experimental conditions could be investigated using 3D Voronoi-cell lattice models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in headache characteristics in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients following oral appliance treatment was investigated for the first time. Thirteen OSA patients with headaches treated with a mandibular advancement device were investigated. Level I polysomnography and Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire were completed before and after treatment. Various headache characteristics and concomitant conditions were analyzed. The patient was considered a headache responder when ≥ 30% reduction in headache frequency following treatment. Differences in headache and polysomnographic parameters were compared between headache responder groups. Eight patients (62%) were headache responders. Eleven patients (85%) before and 7 (54%) after treatment reported morning headaches. Significantly more patients had bilateral headache in the responder group before treatment (P = 0.035). The severest headache intensity (P = 0.018) at baseline showed a significant decrease in the headache responder group after treatment. The time spent in N2 (r = − 0.663, P = 0.014), REM sleep (r = 0.704, P = 0.007) and mean oxygen saturation (r = 0.566, P = 0.044) showed a significant correlation with post-treatment average headache intensity. Pre-treatment lower PLM index (r = − 0.632, P = 0.027) and higher mean oxygen saturation levels (r = 0.592, P = 0.043) were significantly correlated with higher post-treatment severest headache intensity. Treatment with an oral appliance is beneficial for many OSA patients with headaches. It should be considered as an alternative treatment in headache patients with mild to moderate OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity is known to influence the symptoms of a variety of pain disorders including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis although the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In spite of the high prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), no previous study has objectively evaluated the relationship between TMD and general physical activity. This study aims to investigate the influence of physical activity on pain and disability from TMD, considering various confounders including sleep, systemic inflammation, psychosocial disturbances, and widespread pain. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study is based on consecutive samples of 100 TMD patients (22 with high pain disability and 78 with low pain disability level). Physical activity levels were assessed with actigraph. Level of pain and disability were evaluated using the Graded Chronic Pain Scale. Hematologic examinations including inflammatory biomarkers were assessed and comorbidities were investigated with validated questionnaires. Differences were analyzed according to disability level. Results: Patients with high disability level spent significantly more time doing both moderate (p = 0.033) and vigorous (p = 0.039) level physical activity. Light physical activity, on the other hand, was associated with low disability but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Time spent in light physical activity was significantly associated with high levels of pain and disability (p = 0.026, β = −0.001) and time spent in vigorous physical activity had significant predictive power (cutoff value 2.5 min per week, AUC 0.643, p = 0.041). Scores of the Jaw Function Limitation Score-20 (p = 0.001), present McGill Pain Score (p = 0.010), and number of people potentially diagnosed with fibromyalgia (p = 0.033) were significantly higher in the high disability group. Conclusions: Moderate or vigorous physical activity is associated with worse TMD symptoms while light physical activity may be beneficial. Further research related to the amount and frequency of physical activity is necessary to establish clinical guidelines for TMD. Trial registration: clinical trial registration of the Clinical Research Information Service of Republic of Korea (number KCT0007107). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• C and H isotopes measured in cultivated mangroves at 5–30 ppt salinity. • 13C/12C ratios of fatty acids & bulk leaves increased with salinity in most species. • 2H/1H ratios of fatty acids increased with salinity in most species. • Different 2H/1H-salinity relationships among cultivated and uncultivated mangroves. • Improved 13C/12C-salinity calibration will reduce uncertainty in hydroclimate proxy. Paired hydrogen and carbon isotope ratios (2H/1H and 13C/12C) of mangrove lipids can be used to quantitatively reconstruct past salinity and 2H/1H ratios of environmental water, and in some cases precipitation rate. This approach is based on the observation that net 2H- and 13C-fractionation increases and decreases, respectively, with the salinity of environmental water. In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying these empirical observations and ultimately improve estimates of paleoprecipitation from the paired H and C isotope approach, we analyzed the isotopic composition of fatty acids from five species of mangroves cultivated in salinity treatments of 5–30 ppt (g/kg) for 3.5 years in a greenhouse. Decreased net 13C-fractionation with salinity in three mangrove species was attributed to increased water use efficiency and thus a 13C-enriched internal CO 2 pool. Net 2H-fractionation decreased with salinity in three mangrove species, opposite to previous observations of mangroves growing along salinity gradients in lakes and estuaries. The difference between uncultivated and greenhouse-cultivated mangroves may result from variability of 2H/1H of environmental water in natural environments. In addition, decreased net 2H-fractionation with salinity could be due to temporal variability in 2H/1H of leaf water and timing of lipid production, and the use of stored carbohydrates in seeds. Due to the sensitivity of the salinity and 13C-fractionation relationship for calculating both salinity and water isotopes, optimization of mangrove lipid H and C isotopes as a paleohydrologic tracer may be best achieved through laboratory-based calibrations of the relationship between 13C-fractionation and salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impactor is a widely used air sampling device because of it is relatively inexpensive and easy to use for sampling bioaerosols. However, sensitive microorganisms may have significant mechanical stress by inertia impaction. Therefore, this sampling method can underestimate the concentration of airborne bioaerosols. Electrostatic sampling can be a good alternative method for bioaerosol sampling because of a less stressful collection technique and has been frequently used. However, it is well known that ions and ozone generated by corona discharge can also inactivate the bioaerosols. In this study, the performance of our lab-made electrostatic rod-type sampler was compared with that of a single stage viable impactor (TE-10–880, Tisch Environmental, USA). The flow rate of our electrostatic sampler was determined so that the number of aerosols collected using the electrostatic sampler would be same as that of aerosols collected using the impactor of which flow rate was 28.3 lpm. After counting the colony numbers of bacteria captured using two different samplers, each cultured colony was identified with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) at indoor environment. The total number of identified bacterial genus was 17. Among 17 bacterial genuses, 15 genuses were identified when the electrostatic sampler was used while 9 genuses were identified when the impactor was used. In common, 7 genuses were detected from both samplers. 5.2 folds concentration of bacteria were cultured when the lab-made electrostatic rod-type sampler was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase in the concentration of pathogenic airborne bacteria is a serious issue because of their infectivity. Due to the abundance of these infectious pathogens in the environment, researchers have developed devices to detect airborne pathogens using microfluidic technologies. Such devices represent a significant improvement over conventional techniques that rely on colony counting or biochemical assays, which are time as well as labor consuming. In addition to these detection methods, researchers have also shown that the photothermal effects of gold nanoparticles can be used to kill pathogenic bacteria. Thus, in this study, we combined a microfluidic device with a photothermal system to capture, lyse, and detect airborne bacteria. Specifically, we synthesized gold nanoparticles in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chips to enrich and extract DNA from the pathogenic bacteria in air samples. The geometrically activated surface interaction (GASI) chip was employed, which was previously designed by our group and basically modified herringbone structure, to capture bacteria and increase the frequency of bacterial contact with the gold-nanoparticle-embedded PDMS. We design a microfluidic herringbone chip to capture bacteria and increase the frequency of bacterial contact with the gold-nanoparticle-embedded PDMS. Finally, the bacteria-captured PDMS microchips are irradiated at 532 nm using a 300-mW laser for 10 min, and the destruction of bacteria is verified by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess indoor bioaerosols, a virtual impactor having 1 µm cutoff diameter was designed, fabricated, and evaluated with computational fluid dynamics simulation and also with laboratory test using polystyrene latex particles. Two other cutoff diameters of 635 nm and 1.5 µm were obtained by changing the inlet flow rate and the ratio of minor channel-to-inlet flow rates. In field test, the virtual impactor was operated with varying cutoff diameter and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analysis was performed for each cutoff diameter to observe morphologies of indoor aerosol particles sampled at the major and minor outlet channels. Particles were sampled at both outlet channels using the SKC Button Aerosol sampler and subsequently cultured. By colony counting, it was found that 56% of cultured fungal particles and 63% of cultured bacterial particles had aerodynamic sizes smaller than 1 µm. MALDI-TOF analysis and visual inspection of culture samples were used to identify indoor bacterial and fungal species, respectively. Nearly same species of bacteria and fungi were detected both in the major and minor flow channels. © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a methodology for continuous and real-time bioaerosol monitoring wherein an aerosol-to-hydrosol sampler is integrated with a bioluminescence detector. Laboratory test was conducted by supplying an air flow with entrained test bacteria ( Staphylococcus epidermidis ) to the inlet of the sampler. High voltage was applied between the discharge electrode and the ground electrode of the sampler to generate air ions by corona discharge. The bacterial aerosols were charged by the air ions and sampled in a flowing liquid containing both a cell lysis buffer and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence reagents. While the liquid was delivered to the bioluminescence detector, sampled bacteria were dissolved by the cell lysis buffer and ATP was extracted. The ATP was reacted with the ATP bioluminescence reagents, causing light to be emitted. When the concentration of bacteria in the aerosols was varied, the ATP bioluminescence signal in relative light units (RLUs) closely tracked the concentration in particles per unit air volume (# cm −3 ), as measured by an aerosol particle sizer. The total response time required for aerosol sampling and ATP bioluminescence detection increased from 30 s to 2 min for decreasing liquid sampling flow rate from 800 to 200 μLPM, respectively. However, lower concentration of S. epidermidis aerosols was able to be detected with lower liquid sampling flow rate (1 RLU corresponded to 6.5 # cm −3 of S. epidermidis aerosols at 200 μLPM and 25.5 # cm −3 at 800 μLPM). After obtaining all data sets of concentration of S. epidermidis aerosols and concentration of S. epidermidis particles collected in the flowing liquid, it was found that with our bioluminescence detector, 1 RLU corresponded to 1.8 × 10 5 (±0.2 × 10 5 ) # mL −1 of S. epidermidis in liquid. After the lab-test with S. epidermidis , our bioaerosol monitoring device was located in the lobby of a building. Air sampling was conducted continuously for 90 min (air flow rate of 8 LPM, liquid flow rate of 200 μLPM) and the ATP bioluminescence signal of indoor bioaerosols was displayed with time. Air sampling was also carried out using the 6th stage of Andersen impactor in which a nutrient agar plate was used for the impaction plate. The sample was cultured at 37 °C for five days for colony counting. As a result, it was found that the variation of the bioluminescence signal closely followed the variation of indoor bioaerosol concentration in colony forming unit (CFU) and 1 RLU corresponded to 1.66 CFU m −3 of indoor bioaerosols. Our method can be used as a trigger in biological air contamination alarm systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several efforts have been made for the prediction of jet diameter in electrohydrodynamic jet printing; however, not much attention has been paid to the jet length, which is the distance from the cone apex to the location where the jet is unstable and is broken into atomized droplets. In this study, we measured both the cone length and the jet length using a high-speed camera, and measured the line pattern width with an optical microscope to investigate the effects of cone length and jet length on the pattern quality. Measurements were carried out with variations in nozzle diameter, flow rate, and applied voltage. The pattern width was theoretically predicted for the case when the nozzle-to-substrate distance was more than the cone length, and smaller than the summation of the cone and jet lengths (which is the case when there is no jet breakup). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Suitable In-Zn-Sn-O (IZTO) thin film as oxide thin film transistor (TFT) channel layer. • Comparison of IZTO TFTs with HfO 2 dielectric layers deposited with different techniques. • Bias stress stability comparable to other oxide TFT devices. Indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) semiconducting thin films have been investigated as active channel layers for thin-film transistor (TFT) applications. The IZTO layer was deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RF-MS) using a sintered IZTO ceramic target with an In:Zn:Sn metal atomic ratio of 40:50:10 on the HfO 2 layer either deposited using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or RF-MS. The annealing treatments after IZTO and HfO 2 film depositions were performed in air using a tube furnace and in an oxygen atmosphere using rapid thermal annealing at 400 °C, respectively. Optical transparency measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy showed that the HfO 2 films deposited by either RF-MS or ALD were transparent in the visible region and had a similar band gap energy of about 4.9 eV. Electrical characteristics of IZTO based TFT were comparatively evaluated for the samples with IZTO/ALD or RF-MS HfO 2 /n++-Si structure. The IZTO TFT sample with 60 nm-thick HfO 2 deposited by ALD had an on/off current ratio value of 7.0 × 106 and a field-effect mobility value of 6.2 cm2/Vs, which was superior to that with RF-MS deposited HfO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical and magneto-optic (MO) properties of the praseodymium (Pr)-dopant effect on bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi:YIG) films coated on fused silica glass substrates by using the metal-organic-decomposition (MOD) method with chemical solutions were investigated at the 1310 and 1550-nm wavelength regions. The maximum Faraday rotation angle of the Pr-codoped Bi:YIG (Pr,By:YIG) film was observed to be 0.09 and 0.046 deg/μm at the wavelengths of 1310 and 1550 nm, respectively, when the film was annealed at a temperature of 750 °C, while those of the plain Bi:YIG film were 0.059 and 0.039 deg/μm. More than 50% improvement in the Faraday rotation value of the Pr,Bi:YIG film was observed compared to that of the Bi:YIG film at the 1310 nm wavelength. The absorption coefficient of the Pr,Bi:YIG film was comparable to that of the Bi:YIG film. Therefore, the Pr,Bi:YIG film prepared with the MOD method is potentially useful for MO applications such as optical isolators and circulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A culture-based colony counting method is the most widely used analytical technique for monitoring bioaerosols in both indoor and outdoor environments. However, this method requires several days for colony formation. In this study, our goal was fast monitoring (Sampling: 3 min, Detection: < 1 min) of indoor bioaerosol concentrations with ATP bioluminescence assay using a bioaerosol sampler. For this purpose, a novel hand-held electrostatic rod-type sampler (110 mm wide, 115 mm long, and 200 mm tall) was developed and used with a commercial luminometer, which employs the Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence method. The sampler consisted of a wire-rod type charger and a cylindrical collector, and was operated with an applied voltage of 4.5 kV and a sampling flow rate of 150.7 lpm. Its performance was tested using Staphylococcus epidermidis which was aerosolized with an atomizer. Bioaerosol concentrations were measured using ATP bioluminescence method with our sampler and compared with the culture-based method using Andersen cascade impactor under controlled laboratory conditions. Indoor bioaerosol concentrations were also measured using both methods in various indoor environments. A linear correlation was obtained between both methods in lab-tests and field-tests. Our proposed sampler with ATP bioluminescence method may be effective for fast monitoring of indoor bioaerosol concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study focused on the ability of aqueous anti-volatile-sulfur-compound (VSC) solutions to eliminate gaseous VSCs by direct contact in a sealed space to describe possible mode of action of anti-VSC agents. Materials and methods. Twenty milliliters of each experimental solution, 0.16% sodium chlorite, 0.25% zinc chloride, 0.1% chlorhexidine and distilled water, was injected into a Teflon bag containing mixed VSCs, hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide and mixed vigorously for 30 s. The VSC concentration was measured by gas chromatography before, immediately after, 30 min and 60 min after mixing. Results. The sodium chlorite solution reduced the VSC concentration remarkably. After mixing, nearly all VSCs were eliminated immediately and no VSCs were detected at 30 and 60 min post-mixing. However, in the other solutions, the VSC concentration decreased by ∼30% immediately after mixing and there was no further decrease. Conclusion. The results suggest that sodium chlorite solution has the effect of eliminating gaseous VSCs directly. This must be because it can release chlorine dioxide gas which can react directly with gaseous VSCs. In the case of other solutions that have been proved to be effective to reduce halitosis clinically, it can be proposed that their anti-VSC effect is less likely due to the direct chemical elimination of gaseous VSCs in the mouth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, we introduce a methodology for disrupting cell membranes with air ions coupled with ATP bioluminescence detection for real-time monitoring of bioaerosol concentrations. A carbon fiber ionizer was used to extract ATP from bacterial cells for generating ATP bioluminescence. Our methodology was tested using Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, which were aerosolized with an atomizer, and then indoor bioaerosols were also used for testing the methodology. Bioaerosol concentrations were estimated without culturing which requires several days for colony formation. Correlation equations were obtained for results acquired using our methodology (Relative Luminescent Unit (RLU)/m3) and a culture-based (Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/m3) method; CFU/m3=1.8×measured RLU/m3 for S. epidermidis and E. coli, and CFU/m3=1.1×measured RLU/m3 for indoor bioaerosols under the experimental conditions. Our methodology is an affordable solution for rapidly monitoring bioaerosols due to rapid detection time (cell-lysis time: 3min; bioluminescence detection time: <1min) and easy operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we fabricated a thin film layer of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) fine particles using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) spray and evaluated the effects of the process parameters on the film morphology. After the PCBM was dissolved in dichloromethane, the solution was sprayed onto a substrate using the stable cone-jet mode of EHD spraying at various flow rates ranging from 5 to 15μl/min and electric potentials ranging from 3 to 5kV. The effects of the liquid flow rate, nozzle-plate distance, solute fraction, and electrical conductivity on the spray characteristics were investigated. The sizes of the PCBM particles deposited on the substrate were calculated using a scaling law and a mass balance equation, the results of which were in agreement with those obtained by scanning electron microscopy. A thin film was obtained with the structure of PCBM particles deposited without any void or agglomeration from the EHD spraying technique. The electrical conductivity of the PCBM solution was the dominant parameter in controlling the size of the PCBM particles. As the conductivity was increased to 2.4×10−3 S/m from 4.3×10−9 S/m, the particle size decreased from 6.7μm to 320nm. The size distribution measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer also supported the generation of nano-scale PCBM particles. The decrease of the particle size with increasing electrical conductivity may lead to a better morphology of PCBM films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated oral behaviors in various temporomandibular disorder (TMD) subtypes, assessing their frequency, extent, and associations with both jaw functional status and psychological distress. Materials and methods: Anonymized data from consecutive "initial-visit" TMD patients at a university-affiliated oral medicine clinic were obtained. Alongside demographic information, patients completed various questionnaires including the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) Symptom Questionnaire, Oral Behavior Checklist (OBC), Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7). Patients underwent a protocolized clinical examination and received diagnoses of pain-related (PT), intra-articular (IT), or combined (CT) TMD using the DC/TMD diagnostic algorithms. Data were evaluated with Chi-square/non-parametric tests and logistic regression analyses (α = 0.05). Results: The study comprised 700 patients (mean age 37.4 ± 15.7 years), with 12.6%, 15.1%, and 72.3% diagnosed with PT, IT, and CT, respectively. For all TMD subtypes, oral activities during sleep were more prevalent than those during wakefulness. While variations in total/subscale OBC scores were insignificant, substantial differences were observed in global/subscale JFLS (PT, CT > IT), depression (PT, CT > IT), and anxiety (CT > IT) scores. Near-moderate correlations (rs = 0,36–0.39) were discerned between overall/waking-state non-functional oral behaviors and depression/anxiety. Multivariate analysis indicated that the odds of different TMD subtypes were influenced by sex, age, and jaw functional status. Conclusions: For all TMD patients, sleep-related oral activities were more commonly reported than waking-state activities. Factors such as sex, age, and jaw functional limitation are associated with the likelihood of different TMD subtypes. Statement of clinical relevance: Oral behaviors, in themselves, do not predict distinct TMD subtypes, in contrast to factors such as sex, age, and jaw functional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber‐type solid‐state supercapacitors (FSSCs) are gaining traction as wearable energy storage devices, given their adaptability akin to traditional fibers. Carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) generated via a liquid crystalline (LC) wet‐spinning process demonstrate outstanding electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and flexibility. However, their intrinsic "defect‐free" sp2 carbon surface restricts immediate FSSC application, limited by lower specific surface area and scant pseudocapacitive sites. This study develops LC‐spun CNTFs with inherent electrochemical activity, eliminating the need for post‐processing or additional active materials, a requirement typically essential in most previous research. This advancement arises from the wet‐spinning of functionalized CNTs from a LC solution with an exceptionally high concentration of 160 mg mL−1, facilitated by the manipulation of the LC phase transition range. The resultant CNTFs exhibit a refined internal structure, yielding an electrical conductivity of 1.9 MS m−1 and a mechanical strength of 0.93 GPa. Simultaneously, they demonstrate inherent electrical energy storage capabilities with a specific capacitance of 139.4 F g−1 and a volumetric capacitance of 192.4 F cm−3 at 0.5 A g−1. This innovation signifies a step forward in the potential for mass production without the burden of additional materials and steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the jaw functional status and severity of somatic/psychological symptoms in different Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) diagnostic subtypes and established the correlates between jaw functional limitation, somatization, depression and anxiety. Methods: Data were accrued from consecutive 'first‐visit' patients seeking TMD treatment at a university‐based oral medicine/diagnosis clinic. Axis I physical TMD diagnoses were derived using the DC/TMD methodology and patients were categorized into pain‐related (PT), intra‐articular (IT) and combined (CT) TMD groups. Axis II measures were also administered and included the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale‐20 (JFLS‐20), Patient Health Questionnaire‐15 and 9 (PHQ‐15 and PHQ‐9) and General Anxiety Disorder Scale‐7 (GAD‐7). Chi‐square/Kruskal–Wallis tests and Spearman's correlation were employed for statistical evaluations (α =.05). Results: The final dataset consisted of 772 TMD patients (mean age of 37.7 ± 15.9 years; 70.2% females). The prevalence of PT, IT and CT was 11.9%, 15.7% and 72.4%, respectively. Significant differences in functional jaw limitations, somatization, depression (CT, PT > IT) and anxiety (CT > PT, IT) were observed. Moderate‐to‐severe somatization, depression and anxiety were detected in 12.6%–15.7% of patients. For all three TMD groups, JFLS global scale/subscale scores were weakly associated with somatization, depression and anxiety scores (rs < 0.4). Moderate‐to‐strong correlations were noted between somatization, depression and anxiety (rs = 0.50–0.74). Conclusions: Functional jaw limitations were associated with painful TMDs but appear to be unrelated to somatization and psychological distress. Somatization and depression/anxiety were moderately correlated, underscoring the importance of somatic symptom screening when managing TMD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disturbance is a systemic symptom and at the same time a major modulating factor of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Inflammation is known as a underlying mechanism involved in both poor sleep and increased pain. Objective: The relationship between long‐term clinical characteristics and hematologic biomarkers of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity and inflammation in TMD patients according to sleep duration was investigated to verify the possible role of sleep disturbance and systemic inflammation in TMD. Materials and methods: Inflammatory and stress mediator levels of venous blood samples were investigated in 63 female TMD patients along with comorbidity levels including stress, somatization, autonomic symptoms and sleep quality based on structured questionnaires. Differences in long‐term clinical characteristics and hematologic variables following conservative treatment were analysed according to total sleep time as normal, short and long sleep groups. Also, clinical and hematologic indices related to favourable treatment response were sought out. Results: Significantly less patients in the long sleep group reported pain on voluntary mandibular movement (p =.042) while depression (p =.043) and somatization levels (p =.002) were significantly higher in the short sleep group. Norepinephrine levels of the long sleep group were significantly lower than other groups. Decrease in pain intensity with treatment was smallest in the short sleep group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was associated with significant pain improvement at 3 months post‐treatment and interleukin‐1β, ‐4, and ‐8 levels could predict favourable treatment response. Conclusion: Short sleep is associated with more comorbidities and unfavourable long‐term treatment response in TMD which may be mediated by systemic inflammation. Effective management of sleep is necessary for successful TMD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study proposed a conceptual framework for reporting Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) Axis I conditions and investigated the prevalence of TMD subtypes/categories in patients from Confucian heritage cultures. Variances in gender, age, and TMD chronicity between Chinese (CN) and Korean (KR) patients were also explored. Materials and methods: Subjects were recruited from consecutive patients seeking care at two University-based centers in Beijing and Seoul. Eligible patients completed a demographic survey as well as the DC/TMD Symptom Questionnaire and were clinically examined according to the DC/TMD methodology. Axis I diagnoses were subsequently rendered with the DC/TMD algorithms and documented using the stratified reporting framework. Statistical evaluations were performed with chi-square, Mann–Whitney U tests, and logistic regression analysis (α = 0.05). Results: Data of 2008 TMD patients (mean age 34.8 ± 16.2 years) were appraised. Substantial differences in female-to-male ratio (CN > KR), age (KR > CN), and TMD duration (KR > CN) were observed. Ranked frequencies of the most common Axis I diagnoses were: CN – disc displacements (69.7%) > arthralgia (39.9%) > degenerative joint disease (36.7%); KR – disc displacements (81.0%) > myalgia (60.2%) > arthralgia (56.1%). Concerning TMD categories, notable differences in the prevalence of intra-articular (CN 55.1% > KR 15.4%) and combined (KR 71.8% > CN 33.4%) TMDs were discerned. Conclusions: Though culturally similar, the two countries require disparate TMD care planning/prioritization. While TMJ disorders in children/adolescents and young adults should be emphasized in China, the focus in Korea would be on TMD pain in young and middle-aged adults. Clinical relevance: Besides culture, other variables including socioeconomic, environmental, and psychosocial factors can influence the clinical presentation of TMDs. Chinese and Korean TMD patients exhibited significantly more intra-articular and combined TMDs respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of fibers in the composite (which takes into account both their locations and orientations) is one of the important factors that affect the mechanical properties of FRCs. However, this parameter depends on various factors during composite fabrication, and controlling the distribution of fibers in the produced material represents a significant challenge. In this study, the applicability of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique for controlling fiber distributions was evaluated. The fibers fabricated using a 3D printer were placed inside a mold to produce cementitious composites. Three-point bending tests were conducted and the results of the experiment were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Investigate the presence of widespread pain in a well‐defined TMD group and analyze its interrelationship with various comorbidities. Also, longitudinally seek the difference in treatment response according to the presence of widespread pain. Subjects and Methods: The observational study involved 45 female TMD patients in their 20s. Patients were grouped into localized and widespread pain groups based on the widespread pain index (WPI ≥ 4). Clinical characteristics and levels of comorbidities were analyzed through physical examination and validated questionnaires. Differences between the groups and the power of pre‐treatment WPI in predicting pre‐treatment comorbidities and post‐treatment pain level improvement were statistically analyzed. Results: Patients with widespread pain showed higher somatization and anxiety levels. SF‐36 scores were significantly lower and more patients complained of gastrointestinal symptoms. Conventional treatment significantly reduced pain intensity in both groups but less in the widespread pain group. WPI showed significant chances to predict patients showing improvement in pain levels with treatment with a cutoff value of 4. WPI was also effective in differentiating patients that showed a higher level of somatization. Conclusion: Widespread pain index could be effectively applied in differentiating those with a higher level of psychological distress and predicting TMD treatment response with further investigations into its reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Headache, a highly prevalent neurological disorder, has consistently been linked with an elevated risk of dementia. However, most studies are focused on the relationship with migraine in limited age groups. Therefore, the objective of this research was to look at the link between various type of headaches and dementias based on longitudinal population-based data. Methods and results: Participants diagnosed with headache from 2002 to 2005 were selected and major covariates were collected. The diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other dementias were observed from 2006 until 2013. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of dementias according to headache type were calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression. A number of 470,652 participants were observed for a mean of 7.6 years (standard deviation: 1.2), for approximately 3.6 million person-years. Both tension type headache (TTH) and migraine elevated the risk of all-cause dementias (TTH, aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–2.24; migraine, aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–2.24). Headaches had a greater influence in females and non-smokers as a risk factor of dementias. Patients with migraine who consumed alcohol had a higher risk of dementia, however this was not true with TTH patients. Among participants without comorbidities, TTH patients were more susceptible to dementia than migraine patients. Headache patients had a higher proportion of females regardless of headache type and approximately 1.5 times more individuals had three or more comorbidities compared to those without headache. Conclusions: Headache could be an independent predictor for subsequent dementia risk. Future studies should focus on clarifying pathogenic pathways and possible dementia-related preventive measures in headache populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in polysomnographic and cephalometric features according to positional and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep dependencies in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Standard polysomnography and cephalometric analyses were performed on 133 OSA patients. The subjects were categorized into positional and non-positional, and REM-related and not-REM-related OSA groups according to positional and REM sleep dependency on severity of sleep apnea. Polysomnographic and cephalometric parameters were compared between groups. Positional and REM-related OSA patients showed significantly lower non-supine apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), non-REM (NREM) AHI and overall AHI and higher NREM oxygen saturation (SpO2) and mean SpO2 compared to non-positional and not-REM-related OSA patients, respectively. Cephalometric features between positional and non-positional OSA patients did not show any significant differences. However, REM-related OSA patients showed significantly larger inferior oral airway space and shorter perpendicular distance between mandibular plane and anterior hyoid bone and the distance between uvula and posterior nasal spine, and narrower maximum width of soft palate than not-REM-related OSA patients. Positional and REM-related OSA patients have lower severity of sleep apnea, suggesting the possibility of lower collapsibility of the upper airway. REM sleep dependency was associated with anatomical factors, while positional dependency did not show such a tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have developed carbon nanotube fibers that possess excellent electrochemical properties for use in solid-state supercapacitors. These fibers are unique in that they do not require additional active materials or complex processes, making them highly suitable for mass production. The fibers exhibit exceptional mechanical, electrical, and flexible properties, making them ideal for wearable energy storage platforms. The study was conducted by SeungMin Kim, Nam Dong Kim, Hyeon Su Jeong, and their colleagues. [Extracted from the article]

• Levels of IL-8 and IgG were significantly higher in the high disability group. • Certain cytokine and chemokine levels showed significant effects on jaw function and pain. • More severe TMD pain is associated with higher levels of systemic inflammation. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a chronic pain disease affecting 4–60% of general population. Its suggested etiology includes mechanical overloading to related structures, psychosocial factors, and genetic vulnerability. However, its pathogenesis is yet to be fully understood, especially in cases with a higher level of pain and more associated comorbidities. Recently chronic systemic inflammation and possible autoimmunity has been indicated in several pain conditions as the underlying mechanism of chronicity but this aspect has not been rigorously investigated in TMD. This article focuses on analyzing the levels of cytokines, chemokines, autoantibodies and nonspecific inflammatory markers and comparing their levels according to pain severity and duration in 66 female TMD patients in their 20 s and investigating their association with clinical indices of TMD and comorbidities. The high pain disability group showed decreased range of jaw function and more pain on palpation of capsule areas compared to the low pain disability group. Comorbidities such as anxiety and sleep disturbance were also significantly more prevalent. The level of IL-8 and IgG were significantly higher in the high pain disability group. IL-2, -8, -13, IFN- γ, RANTES, PGE2, and thrombopoietin levels showed a significant effect on indices reflecting jaw function, generalized pain intensity, and health related quality of life. Such results imply that longer pain duration and higher pain intensity is associated with higher levels of systemic inflammation suggesting the possible role of immunologic disturbance as an underlying factor of chronic TMD pain and warranting further investigation for its consideration in diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) do not require imaging for the diagnosis of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle, and there is a lack of data investigating the effectiveness of imaging modalities in predicting long‐term TMJ DJD prognosis. Objectives: To verify the association between initial bone scintigraphy results and long‐term DJD bone changes occurring in the TMJ condyle on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Initial bone scintigraphy, panoramic radiography and CBCT results were analysed in relation to long‐term (12 months) TMJ DJD bone change on CBCTs in 55 TMD patients (110 joints). Clinical and radiographic indices were statistically analysed among three groups (improved, no change, and worsened) based on long‐term TMJ DJD prognosis calculated by destructive change index (DCI). Results: Neither the uptake ratio nor visual assessment results from initial bone scintigraphy showed a significant difference according to long‐term condylar bone change groups. The cut‐off value of bone scintigraphy uptake ratio was 2.53 for long‐term worsening of TMJ DJD. Worsening of TMJ DJD was significantly associated with the diagnosis based on panoramic radiography (p =.011) and CBCT (p <.001). Initial DCI (β = −.291, p =.046) had a significant association with long‐term worsening of TMJ DJD. Conclusion: Initial bone scintigraphy results did not show sufficiently close associations with long‐term TMJ DJD prognosis. This should be considered in the selection process of imaging modalities for TMJ DJD patients. Future studies are needed to develop prognostic indices that comprise both clinical and imaging contents for improved predictive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial agent treatment is needed to prevent airborne infections due to microorganisms causing diseases. Silver nanowires (AgNW) have been increasingly used in air filters for their superior antimicrobial performance. In this study, AgNWs (115 nm in diameter, 4–50 µm in length) were electrosprayed on the surface of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres that were obtained by electrospinning. Filtration efficiency of the AgNW-coated fibres was tested by aerosolizing and convectively delivering test bacteria and virus particles to the fibres. Then the particles filtered on the fibres were cultured to evaluate antibacterial and antiviral abilities. The overall filtration efficiency of the fibres increased from 92% to 96.5% (at 2.5 cm /s of air velocity) to 98.3–99.6% after AgNW coating for 30 min (areal density = 2.352 μg per 1 cm 2 of filter surface area), without affecting the pressure drop. The AgNW coating for 30 min significantly increased the antimicrobial efficiency to 98.0 ± 1.1% for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), 95.2 ± 2.6% for Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), 93. 7 ± 1.5% for Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus) , and 72.5 ± 1.9% for bacteriophage MS2. [Display omitted] • Ag nanowires coated PAN nanofibre web was fabricated via a two-step process of electrospinning and electrospray. • Filtration and anti-microbial efficiencies of the nanofibre web were evaluated against aerosolized microbial particles. • Anti-microbial efficiencies significantly increased with Ag NW coating without affecting the pressure drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between general physical activity level and TMD pain in Koreans in a large‐scale national database established through a nationwide survey. Methods: Data from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV), which was conducted from 2007 to 2009, were analysed. In total, 16 941 participants were included in this cross‐sectional study. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, TMD‐related variables, and general physical activity level were collected. Participants were divided into moderate‐ and low‐intensity exercise groups according to their physical activity levels. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, adjusting for sociodemographic and other covariates. Results: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval; CI) for TMD pain was 1.373 (1.017‐1.854) for people doing moderate‐intensity exercises and 0.797 (0.629‐1.008) among people doing low‐intensity exercises. Those who did moderate‐intensity exercises had significantly more TMD pain. This was higher in the 30‐ to 39‐year age group (OR: 1.991, 95% CI: 1.137‐3.488), with significantly higher risk for TMD pain in those who did moderate‐intensity exercise, whereas low‐intensity exercise significantly decreased the risk for TMD pain in the same age group (OR: 0.625, 95% CI: 0.409‐0.958). Conclusions: Moderate‐intensity physical activity is associated with more TMD pain. Patients with TMD should avoid high‐intensity level exercises and continue low‐intensity exercises to prevent pain aggravation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand long-term changes of the osteoarthritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle using computed tomography (CT) and to verify its correlation with clinical characteristics of temporomandibular disorders. Eighty-nine patients (152 joints; 76 female, 13 male) who had taken follow-up CTs (mean follow-up period: 644.58 ± 325.71 days) at least once in addition to their initial evaluation were selected. Cross-sectional demographic and clinical data and longitudinal CT images were collected. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and logistic regression. Overall destructive change index (number of TMJ condyle sections in which destructive change was observed) decreased from 1.56 to 0.66. Improvement was seen in 93 joints (61.2%) and 27 joints (17.8%) worsened. In the pain positive group, both initial and final destructive change index were significantly higher compared to the pain negative group (p = 0.04). Occlusal stabilization splint therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration showed a significant effect on improving the prognosis of TMJ osteoarthritis (p = 0.015 and 0.011). In conclusion, TMJ osteoarthritis showed long-term improvement in the majority of cases. TMJ osteoarthritis accompanied by pain showed unfavorable prognosis with additional bone destruction. Occlusal stabilization splint and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration were beneficial on the prognosis of TMJ osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The antimicrobial efficacy of zinc- (ZnCl 2 ) and cetylpyridinium-chloride (CPC) and their inhibition capacity on volatile sulfur compound (VSC) production by oral bacterial strains were investigated. Design Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and growth curves were determined for ZnCl 2 , CPC, and CPC with ZnCl 2 solutions against eight oral microorganisms ( Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis , Prevotella intermedia , Treponema denticola , Tannerella forsythia , Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans ) known to be involved in the pathophysiology of both halitosis and periodontal disease. Gas chromatography was applied to measure VSCs (H 2 S, CH 3 SH, (CH 3 ) 2 S) production levels of each strains following exposure to the solutions. Results ZnCl 2 and CPC effectively inhibited growth of all eight strains. ZnCl 2 was generally more effective than CPC in suppressing bacterial growth excluding A. actinomycetemcomitans , P. intermedia , and T. forsythia . Synergism between CPC and ZnCl 2 was shown in A. actinomycetemcomitans . The MIC for CPC was significantly lower than ZnCl 2 . VSC production was detected in five bacterial strains ( A. actinomycetemcomitans , F. nucleatum , P. gingivalis , T. denticola , and T. forsythia ). Each bacterial strain showed unique VSCs production profiles. H 2 S was produced by F. nucleatum , P. gingivalis , and T. denticola , CH 3 SH by all five strains and (CH 3 ) 2 S by A. actinomycetemcomitans , F. nucleatum , P. gingivalis , and T. denticola . Production of CH 3 SH, the most malodorous component among the three major VSCs from mouth air was evident in F. nucleatum and T. forsythia . Conclusion Both ZnCl 2 and CPC effectively inhibit bacterial growth causative of halitosis and periodontal disease, resulting in a direct decrease of bacterial VSCs production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate quality and readability of online information on dental treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.Methods: An Internet search was done using three engines (Bing, Google, and Yahoo) with the combination of terms, "snoring sleep apnea dental treatment". The first 100 sites from the search of each engine were screened. Subject sites were evaluated with Health on the Net(HON) criteria, Journal of American Medical Association(JAMA) benchmarks, DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients(EQIP), Flesch-Kincaid Grade level and Flesch Reading Ease(FRE) score.Results: One hundred and thirty websites were evaluated. The HON, DISCERN, EQIP, and FRE score were each 39.4%, 47.3%, 49.7%, and 51.6% of the maximum possible score, respectively. According to JAMA benchmarks fewer than 50% of the sites displayed attribution and currency. There was only one site displaying the HON seal. HON score, DISCERN score and EQIP score showed significant inter-correlation.Conclusion: Based on this study, the current quality and readability of searchable websites on dental treatment for snoring and sleep apnea are low and poorly maintained on average. Clinicians should be able to evaluate and give accurate online information on this issue to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the differences in clinical characteristics and long-term treatment outcomes according to antinuclear antibody(ANA) and rheumatoid factor(RF) positivity and the correlation between pain-related and hematological indices in temporomandibular disorders(TMD) patients. Methods: Clinical examinations were done following the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD in 257 patients. Comprehensive screening along with psychological and hematological evaluations (ANA, RF, complete blood cell count, C-reactive protein[CRP] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate[ESR]) were conducted. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were statistically compared between ANA/RF positive and negative groups. Results: Thirty-nine patients showed ANA/RF positivity. Male patients had smaller comfortable mouth opening(CMO)(p = 0.033) and maximum mouth opening(MMO)(p = 0.016) ranges with more painful neck muscles on palpation when RF/ANA positive. Pain duration, intensity, disability days and psychological distress levels were also higher in RF/ANA positive male patients. Significant correlation was shown in ESR with pain duration(p < 0.05) and numeric rating scale(NRS) before treatment(p < 0.05), CRP with NRS before treatment(p < 0.01), and red blood cell (RBC) with pain intensity(p < 0.05), NRS before treatment(p < 0.01), CMO(p < 0.01), pain on palpation of cervical muscles(p < 0.01), CMO(p < 0.05), and MMO(p < 0.05) 6 months after treatment. Conclusions: These results may point towards a nonspecific autoimmune disposition in a subgroup of TMD patients. RF and ANA could be considered as a screening test for the detection of autoimmune phenomena in TMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]