Despite the active applications of thermal comfort indices for heat wave definitions, there is lack of evaluation for the impact of extended days of high temperature on health outcomes using many of ...the indices. This study compared the impact of heat waves on health outcomes among different heat wave definitions based on thermal comfort and air temperature. We compared heat waves in South Korea (cities and provinces) for the warm season for 2011–2014, using air temperature, heat index (HI), and web-bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Heat waves were defined as days with daily maximum values of each index at a specified threshold (literature-based, the 90th and 95th percentiles) or above. Distributed lag non-linear models and meta-analysis were used to estimate risk of mortality and hospitalization for all-causes, cardiovascular causes, respiratory causes and heat disorders during heat wave days compared to non-heat wave days. WBGT identified 1.15 times longer maximum heat wave duration for the study periods than air temperature when the thresholds were based on 90th and 95th percentiles. Over the study period, for heat waves defined by WBGT and HI, the Southwestern region showed the highest total number of heat wave days, whereas for air temperature the longest heat wave days were identified in the southeastern region. The highest and most significant impact of heat waves were found by WBGT for hospitalization from heat disorders (Relative risk = 2.959, 95% CI: 1.566–5.594). In sensitivity analyses using different structure of lags and temperature metrics (e.g., daily mean and minimum), the impacts of heat waves on most health outcomes substantially increased by using WBGT for heat wave definitions. As a result, WBGT and its thresholds can be used to relate heat waves and heat-related diseases to improve the prevention effectiveness of heat wave warnings and give informative health guidelines according to the range of WBGT thresholds.
•We aim to assess the health impact of heat waves using wet-bulb globe temperature.•A novel approach that incorporated satellite remote sensing was used for estimating WBGT.•Patterns of heat waves of WBGT substantially differed with those of air temperature.•The difference of the risk among heat indices was large for heat disorders.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objective
To demonstrate the immune landscape of blood and synovial cells in the setting of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through the analysis of both single‐cell transcriptome and surface protein ...expression, and to unveil the molecular characteristics of pathogenic Th17 cells.
Methods
This study included 40 individuals with active AS, 20 individuals with stable AS, 40 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, and 20 healthy controls. Surface phenotype and intracellular staining were assessed using flow cytometry after peripheral blood mononuclear cells and synovial fluid mononuclear cells were stimulated with T cell receptor. Single‐cell transcriptomes of 6 patients with active AS were studied along with cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing. We also assessed the outcome of targeting OX40 and glucocorticoid‐induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) on the surface of Th17 cells in a mouse model of curdlan‐injected SKG mice in which anti‐GITR ligand and/or anti‐OX40 ligand were used.
Results
We identified pathogenic Th17 cells as polyfunctional interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A)– and interferon‐γ (IFNγ)–producing memory CD4+ T cells, with clinically supportive evidence for their pathogenic roles at sites of inflammation in AS. Transcriptome and flow cytometric analyses revealed that the coexpression of TNFRSF4 (OX40) and TNFRSF18 (GITR) is increased in pathogenic Th17 cells. Suppression of ligand receptor interactions in vivo through OX40 and GITR effectively suppressed clinical arthritis and decreased pathogenic Th17 cells in the curdlan‐injected SKG mouse model.
Conclusion
Our results have implications for the understanding of pathogenic Th17 cells in AS patients and suggest potential therapeutic targets.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
While previous research has identified populations susceptible to non-optimal temperatures, disability has been largely overlooked. Given the growing number of persons with disabilities (PwD) and ...their social and health disadvantages, understanding how disability intersects with temperature-related health effects is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the associations between non-optimal temperatures and cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalization and examine how these associations vary over time considering the existence of disability.
We used the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort to investigate the association between non-optimal temperatures and CVD hospitalization in South Korea, 2002–2019. We obtained daily mean temperature from the Korea Meteorological Administration's automated synoptic observing system. We applied a space-time-stratified case-crossover design using a conditional quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model, adjusting for relative humidity, wind speed, and public holidays. We examined temporal variations in temperature-CVD hospitalization associations using a time window approach. All analyses used the minimum hospitalization temperature (20.0 °C) as reference and were stratified by disability status.
The cumulative exposure-response curve in persons without disabilities showed a J-shape with a relative risk (RR) of 1.07 (95 % confidence interval CI: 0.99, 1.15) at extreme heat (99th percentile) and 1.09 (95 % CI: 0.97, 1.23) at extreme cold (1st percentile). The cumulative exposure-response curve in PwD showed an M-shape with the highest RR at chill (1.22 95 % CI: 1.13, 1.32) and moderate cold temperature (1.11 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.21), defined as the 30th and 5th percentiles, respectively. The impacts of heat and cold decreased over time for persons without disabilities but increased for PwD.
Our study found differential temperature-related impacts on CVD hospitalization based on disability status, and PwD were maladapted to heat and cold over time. This suggests the importance of considering disability when investigating temperature-related health disparity and adopting disability-inclusive adaptation strategies.
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•Persons with disabilities (PwD) more susceptible to less extreme temperatures•Heat and cold effects decreased in non-disabled but increased in PwD over time.•A disability-inclusive approach is needed for effective adaptation strategies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries have garnered considerable interest as a promising alternative to current state‐of‐the‐art Li‐ion batteries. However, the shuttle effect poses a formidable challenge ...to development of Li‐S batteries. Considering that all ions in electrolytes move through separators between electrodes, significant attention should be paid to separators to prevent the shuttle effect. Here, a new class of spiderweb‐mimicking, anion‐exchanging separators based on polyionic liquids (“spiderweb separators”) is demonstrated to address the aforementioned issue. The spiderweb separator consists of sandwich‐type functional nanomats (top/bottom layers = multi‐walled carbon nanotube‐wrapped polyetherimide nanomats, middle layer = poly(1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PVImTFSI, polyionic liquid)/poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP) nanomat) on polyethylene separator. The middle nanomat layer enables (discharge voltage‐dependent) reversible trap/release of polysulfides via an anion exchange reaction between TFSI−anions (from PVImTFSI) and polysulfides. The top/bottom nanomat layers respectively act as an upper current collector and a blocking layer to prevent crossover of polysulfides to Li anodes. Driven by its unique morphology and chemical functionalities, the spiderweb separator prevents the shuttle effect while ensuring facile ion transport, leading to exceptional improvement in the electrochemical performance (capacity = 819 mAh g−1 and cycling retention = 72% (at 2.0 C/2.0 C) after 300 cycles) of Li‐S batteries.
Spiderweb‐mimicking anion‐exchanging separators are presented as membrane‐driven strategy for the developing high‐performance Li–S batteries. The polyionic liquid (poly(1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, (PVImTFSI))–based nanomat in the spiderweb separator enables discharge voltage–dependent, reversible trap/release of polysulfides via an anion exchange reaction between TFSI− anions and polysulfides. Eventually, the spiderweb separator prevents the shuttle effect with ensuring facile ion transport.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
One of the major challenges in medicine is the rapid and accurate measurement of protein biomarkers, cells, and pathogens in biological samples. A number of new diagnostic platforms have recently ...been developed to measure biomolecules and cells with high sensitivity that could enable early disease detection or provide valuable insights into biology at the systems level. Most biological samples exhibit negligible magnetic susceptibility; therefore, magnetic nanoparticles have been used for diverse applications including biosensing, magnetic separation, and thermal ablation therapy. This review focuses on the use of magnetic nanoparticles for detection of biomolecules and cells based on magnetic resonance effects using a general detection platform termed diagnostic magnetic resonance (DMR). DMR technology encompasses numerous assay configurations and sensing principles, and to date magnetic nanoparticle biosensors have been designed to detect a wide range of targets including DNA/mRNA, proteins, enzymes, drugs, pathogens, and tumor cells. The core principle behind DMR is the use of magnetic nanoparticles as proximity sensors that modulate the spin‐spin relaxation time of neighboring water molecules, which can be quantified using clinical MRI scanners or benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometers. Recently, the capabilities of DMR technology were advanced considerably with the development of miniaturized, chip‐based NMR (µNMR) detector systems that are capable of performing highly sensitive measurements on microliter sample volumes and in multiplexed format. With these and future advances in mind, DMR biosensor technology holds considerable promise to provide a high‐throughput, low‐cost, and portable platform for large scale molecular and cellular screening in clinical and point‐of‐care settings. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2010 2 291–304
This article is categorized under:
Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing
Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle-Based Sensing
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Forthcoming smart energy era is in strong pursuit of full‐fledged rechargeable power sources with reliable electrochemical performances and shape versatility. Here, as a naturally ...abundant/environmentally friendly cellulose‐mediated cell architecture strategy to address this challenging issue, a new class of hetero‐nanonet (HN) paper batteries based on 1D building blocks of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs)/multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is demonstrated. The HN paper batteries consist of CNF/MWNT‐intermingled heteronets embracing electrode active powders (CM electrodes) and microporous CNF separator membranes. The CNF/MWNT heteronet‐mediated material/structural uniqueness enables the construction of 3D bicontinuous electron/ion transport pathways in the CM electrodes, thus facilitating electrochemical reaction kinetics. Furthermore, the metallic current collectors‐free, CNF/MWNT heteronet architecture allows multiple stacking of CM electrodes in series, eventually leading to user‐tailored, ultrathick (i.e., high‐mass loading) electrodes far beyond those accessible with conventional battery technologies. Notably, the HN battery (multistacked LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (cathode)/multistacked graphite (anode)) provides exceptionally high‐energy density (=226 Wh kg−1 per cell at 400 W kg−1 per cell), which surpasses the target value (=200 Wh kg−1 at 400 W kg−1) of long‐range (=300 miles) electric vehicle batteries. In addition, the heteronet‐enabled mechanical compliance of CM electrodes, in combination with readily deformable CNF separators, allows the fabrication of paper crane batteries via origami folding technique.
CNFs/CNTs‐based hetero‐nanonet paper batteries are presented as a 1D material‐mediated cell architecture strategy to enable ultrahigh energy density and shape versatility far beyond those achievable with conventional battery technologies. Owing to the 3D bicontinuous electron/ion transport pathways and exceptional mechanical compliance, the hetero‐nanonet paper batteries provide unprecedented improvements in the electrochemical reaction kinetics, energy density, and origami foldability.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The potent core: A new approach to preparing highly magnetic nanoparticles consisting of a ferromagnetic core (Fe) and an artificial ferrite shell was developed. The monometallic core contributes to ...high overall magnetization. The superparamagnetic ferrite shell protects the core against oxidation and further increases magnetization while minimizing particle aggregation.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Catching bugs: A highly sensitive and fast detection system was developed for infectious agents. In this approach, bacteria were incubated with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), concentrated inside a ...microfluidic chamber, and detected with a miniaturized NMR chip. The method showed unprecedented sensitivity, detecting 20 bacteria in a 1 mL sample of sputum within 30 min.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Background
Inter-mortality displacement (IMD) between cause-specific mortalities has not been introduced in air pollution epidemiology. Investigation into IMD would provide insights on the ...actual health burden of air pollution and interpretation of associations. We aimed to investigate IMD regarding short-term effect of air pollution on mortality.
Methods
We illustrated manifestations and interpretations of lag-mortality associations. If IMD exists, a net increase of one cause-specific death can be offset by a net decrease of other cause-specific deaths. We conducted a time-series analysis to estimate associations of ambient particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM10), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) with mortality, considering lags up to the previous 45 days, for seven major cities of South Korea from 2006 to 2013. Attributable mortality cases were identified.
Results
For O3, respiratory mortality 11 929 cases, 95% empirical confidence interval (eCI), 5358, 17 688 cases was counterbalanced by cardiovascular mortality (-11 272 cases, 95% eCI: -22 444, -629 cases). All-cause mortality was 37 148 cases (95% eCI: 4448, 68 782 cases). For PM10, respiratory deaths were 9167 cases (95% eCI: 563, 16 521 cases), and cardiovascular deaths were 6929 cases (95% eCI: -11 793, 24 138 cases). Estimates for SO2 were comparable to those for PM10. All-cause mortality attributable to NO2 was explained by short-term mortality displacement. No associations with mortality were found for CO.
Conclusions
IMD may exist in the relationship between air pollution and mortality. The actual relationship between air pollution and cause-specific mortality may be masked by IMD.
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