There is currently a pursuit of synthetic approaches for designing porous carbon materials with selective CO2 capture and/or excellent energy storage performance that significantly impacts the ...environment and the sustainable development of circular economy. In this study we prepared a new bio-based benzoxazine (AP-BZ) in high yield through Mannich condensation of apigenin, a naturally occurring phenol, with 4-bromoaniline and paraformaldehyde. We then prepared a PA-BZ porous organic polymer (POP) through Sonogashira coupling of AP-BZ with 1,3,6,8-tetraethynylpyrene (P-T) in the presence of Pd(PPh3)4. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry revealed details of the thermal polymerization of the oxazine rings in the AP-BZ monomer and in the PA-BZ POP. Next, we prepared a microporous carbon/metal composite (PCMC) in three steps: Sonogashira coupling of AP-BZ with P-T in the presence of a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) as a directing hard template, affording a PA-BZ POP/ZIF-67 composite; etching in acetic acid; and pyrolysis of the resulting PA-BZ POP/metal composite at 500 °C. Powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements revealed the properties of the as-prepared PCMC. The PCMC material exhibited outstanding thermal stability (Td10 = 660 °C and char yield = 75 wt%), a high BET surface area (1110 m2 g–1), high CO2 adsorption (5.40 mmol g–1 at 273 K), excellent capacitance (735 F g–1), and a capacitance retention of up to 95% after 2000 galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) cycles; these characteristics were excellent when compared with those of the corresponding microporous carbon (MPC) prepared through pyrolysis of the PA-BZ POP precursors with a ZIF-67 template at 500 °C.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Previous studies revealed that chronic exposure to air pollution can significantly increase the risk of the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), but this relationship is inconclusive as ...large-scale prospective studies are limited and the results are inconsistent. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to ascertain the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure in a nationwide population using a longitudinal approach.
We conducted a nested case-control study using the National Health Insurance Research Dataset (NHIRD), which consisted of 1,000,000 beneficiaries in the National Health Insurance Program (NHI) in the year 2000 and their medical records from 1995 to 2013 and using public data on air pollution concentrations from monitoring stations across Taiwan released from the Environmental Protection Administration to identify people with ages ≥ 40 years living in areas with monitoring stations during 1995-1999 as study subjects. Then, we excluded subjects with PD, dementia, stroke and diabetes diagnosed before Jan. 1, 2000 and obtained 54,524 subjects to follow until Dec. 31, 2013. In this observational period, 1060 newly diagnosed PD cases were identified. 4240 controls were randomly selected from those without PD using a matching strategy for age, sex, the year of PD diagnosis and the year of entering the NHI program at a ratio of 1:4. Ten elements of air pollution were examined, and multiple logistic regression models were used to measure their risks in subsequent PD development.
The incidence of PD in adults aged ≥ 40 years was 1.9%, and the median duration for disease onset was 8.45 years. None of the chemical compounds (SO2, O3, CO, NOx, NO, NO2, THC, CH4, or NMHC) significantly affected the incidence of PD except for particulate matter. PM10 exposure showed significant effects on the likelihood of PD development (T3 level: > 65μg/m3 versus T1 level: ≤ 54μg/m3; OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.12-1.62, 0.001 ≤ P < 0.01). In addition, comorbid conditions such as dementia (ORs = 3.53-3.93, Ps < 0.001), stroke (ORs = 2.99-3.01, Ps < 0.001), depression (ORs = 2.51-2.64, Ps < 0.001), head injury (ORs = 1.24-1.29, 0.001 ≤ Ps < 0.01 or 0.01 ≤ Ps < 0.05), sleep disorder (OR = 1.23-1.26, 0.001 ≤ Ps < 0.01), and hypertension (ORs = 1.18-1.19, 0.01 ≤ Ps < 0.05) also significantly increased the risk for PD development.
Although PM10 plays a significant role in PD development, the associated chemical/metal compounds that are capable of inducing adverse biological mechanisms still warrant further exploration. Because of a link between comorbid conditions and PM exposure, research on the causal relationship between long-term exposure to PM and the development of PD should be considered with caution because other possible modifiers or mediators, comorbid diseases in particular, may be involved.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A series of di-functional benzoxazine (BZ) monomers was synthesized, specifically the double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) cage structure (DDSQ-BZ). Comparative analyses were conducted between DDSQ-BZ ...monomers and the most commonly utilized bisphenol A-functionalized bifunctional benzoxazine (BPA-BZ) monomer. DDSQ-BZ compounds possess better thermal properties such as high char yield and high thermal decomposition temperature (
) after thermal ring-opening polymerization (ROP) because the inorganic DDSQ cage nanostructure features a nano-reinforcement effect. In addition, blending inorganic DDSQ-BZ compounds with epoxy resin was explored to form organic/inorganic hybrids with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties following thermal ROP. The improvement in mechanical properties is primarily attributed to the network structure formed by the cross-linking between DDSQ-BZ and the epoxy resin during thermal ROP, as well as hydrogen bonding interactions formed between the hydroxyl groups generated during thermal ROP and the Si-O-Si bonds in the DDSQ structure.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and Objectives
Although it remains controversial, premedication before transfusion is a common clinical practice to prevent transfusion‐associated adverse reactions (TAARs) in Taiwan. ...Thus, we aimed to investigate whether premedication prevented outpatients from developing TAARs and whether an educational programme could improve the understanding of physicians related to the unnecessary use of premedication, and this could elicit changes in their prescribing activities without affecting the occurrence of TAARs.
Materials and Methods
Clinical data from outpatients receiving transfusion therapy, including predisposing diseases, histories of transfusion and TAARs, premedication and the occurrence of TAARs in the period April 2017 to October 2018, were retrospectively obtained. The evidence‐based transfusion programme implemented to educate physicians was started in January 2018.
Results
A total of 5018 blood units were transfused to 803 outpatients, with 2493 transfusion events reported in the study interval. The most frequently transfused component was leukocyte‐reduced packed red cells (n = 4338), followed by leukocyte‐reduced apheresis platelets (n = 540) and other blood components. The overall premedication rate significantly decreased from 92.4% to 76.7% after the educational programme (p < 0.001). There was no remarkable change in the occurrence of TAARs per patient event between the periods before and after the educational programme (1.11% vs. 1.14%, p = 0.964). Besides, it was shown that the occurrence of TAARs was associated with the history of TAARs and inversely related to multiple transfusions, but not premedication.
Conclusion
Decreased premedication was not associated with increased incidence of TAARs in outpatients; these findings provide important evidence to support the need to revise clinical practices in the era of leukocyte‐reduced blood products.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background As studies on ethnic disparities in metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in Taiwan are still rare, the aims of this study were: (1) to detect the differences in the rates of metabolic ...syndrome, obesity and health behaviors between two ethnic groups (indigenous Tsou and nonindigenous Han) living in the same area and with similar age and sex distributions; (2) to examine whether ethnicity per se plays a significant role in the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, while taking other risk factors including sociodemographic characteristics, obesity and health behaviors into consideration. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using data from a community survey conducted in Chiayi County in southwestern Taiwan. A frequency matching strategy by age and sex with a ratio of 1 (Tsou) to 3 (Han) was applied to select a comparable sample between both ethnic groups (667 Tsou and 2001 Han) from among the survey participants. Furthermore, participants with cardiometabolic diseases diagnosed before the surveyed day were excluded to avoid confounding any associated risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome (MS). A final analytic sample of 1482 remained. The used information included sociodemographic characteristics, medical histories, health behaviors, and the concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose. Results Indigenous Tsou had significantly higher rates of metabolic syndromes, obesity and unhealthy behaviors than their Han counterparts (MS: 54.0% vs. 29.1%, obesity: 54.0% vs. 23.2%, drinking alcohol: 17.5% vs. 13.6%, and higher intake of fried food: 6.4% vs. 4.4%), even though they were similar in age and sex distributions. The significant risk factors for subsequently developing MS included being indigenous Tsou (adjusted POR = 2.62, P < 0.001), older, single, and obese. Stratified analyses on the risk factors for developing MS by health behaviors and by obese problems also indicated increased risks of being indigenous Tsou. Conclusions There existed ethnic differences in the rates of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and health behaviors. Ethnicity per se did play a significant role in developing MS; in particular indigenous Tsou people had increased risks, suggesting possible biological reasons rooted in their origins that need further exploration. In addition, unhealthy behaviors may potentially have an indirect effect on developing MS via their effect on obesity. Keywords: Ethnic disparity, Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Health behavior, Biological factor
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
A new and simple Al/aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) composite structure is proposed to act as a transparent conductive layer (TCL) for GaN-based LEDs. The Al/AZO composite layers effectively improve ...the current spreading performance, compared with an AZO TCL. Experimentally, the specific contact resistance of the studied Al/AZO LED is reduced by about 27.6%, compared with an AZO LED. In addition, under an operating current of 20 mA, the forward voltage and light output power (LOP) of the studied Al/AZO LED are decreased by 0.15 V and increased by 19.5%, respectively. Uniform and enhanced intensities are also found in light emission mapping images of the studied Al/AZO LED. Consequently, based on benefits including simple structure and improved electrical and optical properties, the studied Al/AZO TCL is suitable for GaN-based LED applications.
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•Pt NPs are evaporated by a rapid thermal evaporation method.•Hydrogen sensing characteristics of RTE-Pt NP/WO3 device are comprehensively studied.•Excellent hydrogen sensing response ...of 1.41×106 is obtained under 1% H2/air gas at 200 °C.•A lower detection limit of 1 ppm H2/air is obtained.•FOD and SPPCI algorithms are employed to filter (restore) the redundant (reduced) data.
A simple platinum nanoparticle (Pt NP)/WO3 semiconducting metal oxide (SMO)-based structure is fabricated and completely studied as a hydrogen gas sensor. In this work, simple rapid thermal evaporation (RTE) was employed to fabricate Pt NPs. This approach could easily produce Pt NPs with a small grain size and uniformity on the WO3 thin film. Experimentally, at 200 °C, the studied device exhibited an excellent hydrogen sensing response of 1.41 × 106 (under a 1% H2/air gas), a very low detecting level of 1 ppm H2/air, and a relatively shorter response (recovery) time of 201 s (26) s. Moreover, first order differential (FOD) and shape-preserving piecewise cubic interpolation (SPPCI) were also employed to overcome the wireless transmission problem for the Internet of Things (IoTs). Furthermore, based on the thermodynamic analysis, the surface coverage performance was studied for this device. As the result, the studied device exhibited practically adsorption with hydrogen gas at 200 °C. The studied device is therefore promising for high-performance hydrogen sensing applications.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The Characteristics of GaN-based LEDs with hybrid microhole arrays and SiO 2 microspheres (MSs)/ nanoparticles (NPs) are comprehensively studied. The SiO 2 MSs/NPs antireflection coating, deposited ...by a rapid convection deposition, acts as a passivation layer of GaN-based LEDs. Since the critical angle could be enlarged by antireflection coating, Fresnel reflection could be reduced. In addition, due to the roughened surface of SiO 2 MSs/NPs antireflection coating, the scattering effect could also be increased. Thus, the light extraction efficiency could be further enhanced. As compared with a conventional LED with a planar aluminum-doped zinc oxide current spreading layer (Device A), the studied device with the proposed hybrid structure and a sputtered SiO 2 passivation layer (Device E) causes a suppressed leakage current and % enhancements on light output power, external quantum efficiency, and wall-plug efficiency performance.
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