The relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated diabetes risk and post-diabetes outcomes in COPD patients with ...and without exacerbations.
We identified 4671 adults newly diagnosed with COPD exacerbations and 9342 adults newly diagnosed with COPD without exacerbations during 2000-2008 using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. A comparison cohort of 18684 adults without COPD, matched by age and sex, was randomly selected from the same dataset for the control group. Diabetes events during 2000-2013 were ascertained from medical claims during the follow-up period. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of diabetes associated with COPD with or without exacerbations were calculated. We conducted another nested cohort study of 395516 patients with diabetes hospitalization during 2002-2013 and calculated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of histories of COPD and COPD exacerbations associated with adverse events after diabetes admission.
During the follow-up period, the incidences of diabetes for patients without COPD and for patients with COPD without or with exacerbations were 3.4, 4.1 and 7.4 per 1000 person-years, respectively (P < 0.0001). Increased risk of diabetes for patients with COPD without exacerbations (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.17) and COPD with exacerbations (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.88-2.52) was noted. Post-diabetes pneumonia (OR 3.28, 95% CI 3.13-3.43), intensive care admission (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.26-1.39) and mortality (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.88-2.25) were associated with COPD exacerbations.
Prevention and intervention strategies for diabetes and post-diabetes outcomes are needed for this susceptible population.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The selection of proteotypic peptides, that is, detectable unique representatives of proteins of interest, is a key step in targeted proteomics. To date, much effort has been made to understand the ...mechanisms underlying peptide detection in liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based shotgun proteomics and to predict proteotypic peptides in the absence of experimental LC-MS/MS data. However, the prediction accuracy of existing tools is still unsatisfactory. We find that one crucial reason is their neglect of the significant influence of protein proteolytic digestion on peptide detectability in shotgun proteomics. Here, we present an Advanced Proteotypic Peptide Predictor (AP3), which explicitly takes peptide digestibility into account for the prediction of proteotypic peptides. Specifically, peptide digestibility is first predicted for each peptide and then incorporated as a feature into the peptide detectability prediction model. Our results demonstrated that peptide digestibility is the most important feature for the accurate prediction of proteotypic peptides in our model. Compared with the existing available algorithms, AP3 showed 10.3–34.7% higher prediction accuracy. On a targeted proteomics data set, AP3 accurately predicted the proteotypic peptides for proteins of interest, showing great potential for assisting the design of targeted proteomics experiments.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The Au@CdS nanocomposites have been synthesized using a combination of wet chemical and hydrothermal approaches at lower reaction temperatures. The concentrations of CdS precursors and reaction ...temperature can be essential in influencing photocatalytic water splitting under blue-LED light excitation. The optimized Au@CdS nanocomposites (5 mM CdS precursors and 100 °C) exhibited the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 1.041 mmolh−1 g−1, which is 175.3 times higher than CdS nanoparticles for de-ionized water under blue-LED light excitation. This result is ascribed to separate photogenerated charge carriers and increased light absorption by the Au core. The Au@CdS nanocomposites (1.204 mmolh−1 g−1) revealed significant applications in photocatalytic tap water splitting under blue-LED light excitation, which is 512.3 times higher than CdS nanoparticles. In addition, reusability experiments demonstrate that Au@CdS nanocomposites exhibit excellent stability for the long-term photocatalytic tap water splitting process. Furthermore, this research shows that Au nanoparticles decorated with CdS shells effectively achieve high-efficiency conversion from light to hydrogen energy.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
In the present work, we described the synthesis and characterization of the ternary Cu2O/CuS/ZnS nanocomposite using a facile two-step wet chemical method for blue LED-light-induced photocatalytic ...hydrogen production. The concentrations of the ZnS precursor and reaction time were essential in controlling the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency of the Cu2O/CuS/ZnS nanocomposite under blue LED light irradiation. The optimized Cu2O/CuS/ZnS nanocomposite exhibited a maximum photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 1109 µmolh−1g−1, which was remarkably higher than Cu2O nanostructures. Through the cycle stability it can be observed that the hydrogen production rate of the Cu2O/CuS/ZnS nanocomposite decreased after 4 cycles (1 cycle = 3 h), but it remained at 82.2% of the initial performance under blue LED light irradiation. These reasons are mainly attributed to the introduction of CuS and ZnS to construct a rationally coupled reaction system, which enables the synergistic utilization of photogenerated carriers and the increased absorption of visible light for boosting blue LED-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
► Facile preparation of Fe3O4–chitosan nanoparticles for enzyme immobilization. ► The characterizations of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4–chitosan nanoparticles were analyzed. ► Optimal immobilized activity 20U/g ...obtains at 2.14h, pH 6.37, and E/S ratio 0.73. ► Immobilized lipase could reuse 20 times while retaining 83% of its activity. ► The immobilized lipase shows better thermal, pH, and storage stability.
Magnetic Fe3O4–chitosan nanoparticles are prepared by the coagulation of an aqueous solution of chitosan with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The characterization of Fe3O4–chitosan is analyzed by FTIR, FESEM, and SQUID magnetometry. The Fe3O4–chitosan nanoparticles are used for the covalent immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) as coupling agents. The response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to search the optimal immobilization conditions and understand the significance of the factors affecting the immobilized lipase activity. Based on the ridge max analysis, the optimum immobilization conditions were immobilization time 2.14h, pH 6.37, and enzyme/support ratio 0.73 (w/w); the highest activity obtained was 20U/g Fe3O4–chitosan. After twenty repeated uses, the immobilized lipase retains over 83% of its original activity. The immobilized lipase shows better operational stability, including wider thermal and pH ranges, and remains stable after 13 days of storage at 25°C.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
•An efficient acoustic energy harvester is proposed.•This harvester is suitable for low frequency band.•The acoustic resonance frequency can be tuned.•The resonance coupling can improve the ...harvester’s performance significantly.
Here, an efficient acoustic energy harvester is proposed that is suitable for low-frequency bands. It is composed of a tunable Helmholtz resonator with a flexible bottom, with affixed piezo disk and proof mass. The proof mass can lower the mechanical resonance frequency of the bottom, while increasing the harvested sound power. The proposed Helmholtz resonator was designed for sound pressure amplification. Furthermore, it is tunable, enabling adjustment of the acoustic resonance frequency to the mechanical resonance frequency. The designed tunable Helmholtz resonator has been fabricated and its function was experimentally verified. Furthermore, the acoustic energy harvesting study was conducted under 100dB sound pressure level excitation. Experimental results show that the proposed harvester can generate 3.49μW (at optimal load) when both resonance frequencies are matched, and the energy conversion efficiency can reach up to 38.4%.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Summary
This study presents a compact hybrid dual‐frequency impedance transformer that is suitable for sources and loads having frequency‐dependent complex impedances. The basic transformer comprises ...two transmission lines and two shunt stubs, and this configuration is adequate for the design of a dual‐frequency impedance transformer for a few sources and loads. Compared with other studies, this work presents a distinct derivation concept to obtain the circuit parameters, thus enabling the achievement of a compact circuit. For some particular sources and loads that the basic structure is difficult to match because of line width limitations, lumped elements are added to overcome the limitation and further reduce the circuit size. The derived design formulas avoid errors caused by frequency‐dependent deviations in the component values due to parasitic effects, which constitute a critical problem in Radio Frequency (RF) circuits that employ lumped elements. The simulated results are in good agreement with the measured results, and the frequency responses obtained herein validate the proposed structure and design procedure.
This study presents a compact hybrid dual‐frequency impedance transformer that is suitable for sources and loads having frequency‐dependent complex impedances. A distinct concept to derive the analytical design formula to obtain the circuit parameters is proposed and enabling the achievement of a compact circuit. In addition, lumped elements are added to further reduce the circuit size and overcome the limitation of line width.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Pr-Fe-B thin films are fabricated using a sputtering process with the Pr-Fe-B layer being sandwiched between a Si3N4 layer and the glass substrate. The effects of substrate-bias-voltage in the range ...of − 150 and + 100 V on the microstructure and magnetic properties of Pr-Fe-B thin films were investigated systematically in this study using a vibrating sample magnetometer and other techniques. A direct and continuous application of the positive substrate-bias-voltage in the Pr-Fe-B magnetic layer resulted in a significant change in the atomic mobility of Pr, Fe, and B atoms. Consequently, a new Fe3Si underlayer formed at the Pr-Fe-B/glass interface to grow more amount of the perpendicular magnetic Pr2Fe14B phases. In this study, a strong epitaxial growth of the Pr2Fe14B phase with c-axis following the film surface normal was obtained at a substrate-bias-voltage of + 25 V. Moreover, the microstructure and magnetic properties of Pr-Fe-B thin films improved significantly.
The Pr-Fe-B thin films were prepared at 650 °C and 150 nm thickness, and the laminated microstructure showed that the magnetic property at the positive bias voltage of + 25 V was better than those at the negative bias voltage of − 50 V. Investigation of the cross-section HR-TEM picture of the Pr-Fe-B/Fe-Si interfacial area of the thin film showed the formation of Fe3Si new phase at the interface, which proves the effective chaotic diffusion of Si and Fe atoms to interface under the effect of extra positive bias voltage. As it produced the grains of the Fe3Si phase, it supported the better growth of the Pr2Fe14B phase in the preferred orientation of the thin film. Therefore, it increased the magnetic properties of the thin film. Display omitted
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage chronic kidney disease. Currently, there are no effective drugs for ...treating DN. Therefore, novel and effective strategies to ameliorate DN at the early stage should be identified. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) in DN. Methods We identified the basic biological properties and examined the multilineage differentiation potential of UC-MSCs. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN rats were infused with 2 x 10.sup.6 UC-MSCs via the tail vein at week 6. After 2 weeks, we measured blood glucose level, levels of renal function parameters in the blood and urine, and cytokine levels in the kidney and blood, and analyzed renal pathological changes after UC-MSC treatment. We also determined the colonization of UC-MSCs in the kidney with or without STZ injection. Moreover, in vitro experiments were performed to analyze cytokine levels of renal tubular epithelial cell lines (NRK-52E, HK2) and human renal glomerular endothelial cell line (hrGECs). Results UC-MSCs significantly ameliorated functional parameters, such as 24-h urinary protein, creatinine clearance rate, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and renal hypertrophy index. Pathological changes in the kidney were manifested by significant reductions in renal vacuole degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and renal interstitial fibrosis after UC-MSC treatment. We observed that the number of UC-MSCs recruited to the injured kidneys was increased compared with the controls. UC-MSCs apparently reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha) and pro-fibrotic factor (TGF-beta) in the kidney and blood of DN rats. In vitro experiments showed that UC-MSC conditioned medium and UC-MSC-derived exosomes decreased the production of these cytokines in high glucose-injured renal tubular epithelial cells, and renal glomerular endothelial cells. Moreover, UC-MSCs secreted large amounts of growth factors including epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Conclusion UC-MSCs can effectively improve the renal function, inhibit inflammation and fibrosis, and prevent its progression in a model of diabetes-induced chronic renal injury, indicating that UC-MSCs could be a promising treatment strategy for DN. Keywords: Diabetic nephropathy, Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, Inflammation, Renal fibrosis
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study used three types of agricultural waste, Citrus maxima peel, passion fruit shell, and sugarcane bagasse, to produce biosorbents for copper(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II), and lead(II) metal ...ion removal in a fixed-bed column. The biosorbent properties were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and cation exchange capacity. The adsorption capacities were determined using the Thomas model for various pH values and flow rates. The results indicated that biosorbents possess carboxylic acid groups, which function as exchangeable cation and complexation sites for removing heavy metals. The biosorbents exhibited great adsorption capacity. KCI Citation Count: 71
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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