This paper presents the design, fabrication and measurement of a flexible 8
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8 temperature and tactile sensing array which will be used as the artificial skin for robot applications. The temperature ...and tactile sensing elements are heterogeneously integrated on a flexible copper-PI film using micromachining techniques. The tactile sensing elements are formed by dispensing conductive polymer on the pre-defined interdigital copper electrodes. This novel fabrication method can effectively reduce the crosstalk between each sensing element. The strategy and the verification for reducing crosstalk currents are described. The mechanical and electrical properties of tactile sensing elements are measured. Also, discrete temperature sensor chips are employed as the temperature-sensing cells. Scanning circuits are implemented. Finally, measured temperature and tactile images have been successfully obtained by using the integrated 8
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8 sensing arrays. The flexible sensor arrays are bendable down to a 4-mm radius without any degradation in functionality.
Hyperperfusion syndrome is a devastating complication of carotid stent placement. The shortening of cerebral circulation time after stent placement is seen as a good indicator of the development of ...hyperperfusion syndrome. The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether patients with ipsilateral transverse sinus stenosis are prone to having shortened cerebral circulation time after stent placement, subsequently leading to the possible development of hyperperfusion syndrome.
Forty-nine patients with >70% unilateral carotid stenosis undergoing stent placement were recruited for analysis. Group A consisted of patients with a stenotic ipsilateral transverse sinus >50% greater than the diameter of the contralateral transverse sinus; the remaining patients were in group B. Quantitative DSA was used to calculate cerebral circulation time. Cerebral circulation time was defined as the time difference between the relative time to maximal intensity of ROIs in the proximal internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein. ΔCCT was defined as cerebral circulation time before stent placement minus cerebral circulation time after stent placement. ΔCCT, white matter hyperintensity signals, and sulcal effacement in MR imaging were compared between the 2 groups.
ΔCCT was significantly shorter in group A (0.65 ± 1.3) than in group B (-0.12 ± 1.4). Three patients had white matter hyperintensity signals in group A, and 1 developed hyperperfusion syndrome. Group B showed no MR imaging signs of hyperperfusion syndrome.
Ipsilateral hypoplastic transverse sinus was associated with prolonged cerebral circulation time before stent placement and greatly shortened cerebral circulation time after stent placement. Inadequate venous drainage might play a role in impaired cerebral autoregulation and might influence the development of poststenting hyperperfusion syndrome.
Aim
The study aimed to determine whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent risk factor of adenoma after negative baseline colonoscopy.
Method
A retrospective cohort study was ...conducted on 1522 health‐check individuals who underwent two consecutive colonoscopies at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2003 and 2010. Those developing an adenoma after an initial negative baseline colonoscopy (adenoma group) were compared with those in whom the second colonoscopy was negative (nonadenoma group). Anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests and the presence of NAFLD were compared between the two groups.
Results
The adenoma group had a higher prevalence of NAFLD than the nonadenoma group (55.6% vs 38.8%; P < 0.05). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, NAFLD was an independent risk factor (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.07–1.98) for adenoma formation after a negative baseline colonoscopy. The risk of colorectal adenoma increased when NAFLD patients had other morbidities including metabolic syndrome, hypertension or smoking (OR = 2.85, 4.03 and 4.17).
Conclusion
NAFLD is an independent risk factor for colorectal adenoma formation after a negative baseline colonoscopy. The risk is higher in individuals with NAFLD and other comorbidities, such as hypertension, smoking or metabolic syndrome.
To realize long-distance quantum communication and quantum network, it is required to have multiplexed quantum memory with many memory cells. Each memory cell needs to be individually addressable and ...independently accessible. Here we report an experiment that realizes a multiplexed DLCZ-type quantum memory with 225 individually accessible memory cells in a macroscopic atomic ensemble. As a key element for quantum repeaters, we demonstrate that entanglement with flying optical qubits can be stored into any neighboring memory cells and read out after a programmable time with high fidelity. Experimental realization of a multiplexed quantum memory with many individually accessible memory cells and programmable control of its addressing and readout makes an important step for its application in quantum information technology.
Summary
A growing elderly population is expected worldwide, and the burden of hip fractures on health care system will continue to increase. By 2035, there will be a 2.7-fold increase in the number ...of hip fractures in Taiwan. The study provides quantitative basis for the future distribution of medical resources.
Introduction
Hip fractures have long been recognized as a major public health concern. The study aimed to determine time trends in the incidence of hip fractures and to forecast the number of hip fractures expected in Taiwan up to 2035.
Methods
A nationwide survey was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2004 to 2011. A total of 141,397 hip fractures were identified, with a mean of 17,675 fractures/year. Annual incidences of hip fractures were calculated and tested for trends. Projections of the incidence rates of hip fractures and bed days associated with hip fractures were calculated using Poisson regression on the historical incidence rates in combination with population projections from 2012 to 2035.
Results
The incidence rates of hip fracture during 2004–2011 were 317 and 211 per 100,000 person-years among women and men, respectively. Over this 8-year period, the age-standardized incidence of hip fracture decreased by 13.4 % among women and 12.2 % among men. Despite the decline in the age-standardized incidence, the absolute number of hip fractures increased owing to the aging population. The number of hip fractures is expected to increase from 18,338 in 2010 to 50,421 in 2035—a 2.7-fold increase. The number of bed days for 2010 and 2035 was estimated at 161,248 and 501,995, respectively, representing a 3.1-fold increase.
Conclusions
The socioeconomic impact of hip fractures will be high in the near future. This study provides a quantitative basis for future policy decisions to serve this need.
This Letter reports a measurement of the flux and energy spectrum of electron antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth nuclear reactors with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 ...m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls in the Daya Bay experiment. Using 217 days of data, 296 721 and 41 589 inverse β decay (IBD) candidates were detected in the near and far halls, respectively. The measured IBD yield is (1.55±0.04) ×10(-18) cm(2) GW(-1) day(-1) or (5.92±0.14) ×10(-43) cm(2) fission(-1). This flux measurement is consistent with previous short-baseline reactor antineutrino experiments and is 0.946±0.022 (0.991±0.023) relative to the flux predicted with the Huber-Mueller (ILL-Vogel) fissile antineutrino model. The measured IBD positron energy spectrum deviates from both spectral predictions by more than 2σ over the full energy range with a local significance of up to ∼4σ between 4-6 MeV. A reactor antineutrino spectrum of IBD reactions is extracted from the measured positron energy spectrum for model-independent predictions.
Summary
North American horses are commonly exposed to Leptospira organisms. Leptospira Bratislava is the most common infecting serovar but this serovar has not been confirmed to cause clinical ...disease in North American horses. Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki is responsible for most of the clinical diseases (leptospirosis) in North American horses. Leptospirosis is most commonly associated with diseases of the placenta and fetus, the kidneys and the eyes in horses. In‐utero infections in pregnant mares may result in abortion, neonatal illness or birth of an antibody positive healthy foal. Acute renal failure in younger horses and recurrent uveitis in adult horses are other well documented clinical syndromes of leptospirosis. Abortions, neonatal disease and acute renal failure are caused by a subacute infection, while horses with Leptospira associated recurrent uveitis develop ocular disease months or years after the initial Leptospira infection. Diagnosis of Leptospirosis is made by a combination of antigen or antibody testing methods. Mares that abort following Leptospira infection have no additional clinical signs at the time of abortion but may shed the offending Leptospira spp. in the urine for several weeks. Antibiotic treatments are sometimes used in hopes of decreasing Leptospira shedding in infected horses or prophylactically in exposed pregnant mares but documentation of efficacy is lacking. Horses with Leptospira ‐ associated acute renal failure can be successfully treated with antibiotics and supportive care. Recurrent uveitis is commonly associated with leptospirosis in North American horses and although horses may have chronic intraocular infection triggering an immune disease, systemic antimicrobial therapy has not been effective in eliminating the organism from the eye. An equine approved Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki vaccine is now available in North America.
Summary
The effects of cigarette smoking on the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) infection remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between cigarette smoking and HZ. Participants were ...collected from four rounds (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013) of the Taiwan National Health Interview Survey. Incident cases of HZ were identified from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance database. Of the 57 641 participants, 3346 developed HZ during the observation period. After controlling for confounders, current smokers had a lower risk of incident HZ than never‐smokers (adjusted hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.62–0.77). There was a trend toward a decreased risk of HZ with increasing numbers of cigarettes per day, years of smoking and cumulative pack‐years of smoking among current smokers (Ptrend < 0.001). Former smoking was not associated with risk of HZ. In conclusion, current smoking was significantly associated with a decreased risk of developing HZ.
Summary
Background
It has been debated whether finite nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy is feasible in HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B.
Aim
To review this issue systematically.
Methods
Using text ...terms HBsAg and various nucleos(t)ide analogues, PubMed was searched between 1995 and 2014 to find studies on therapy >6 months in adult HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B patients with off‐therapy follow‐up >6 months.
Results
Twenty‐two studies with a total of 1732 patients were identified and included. The median duration of therapy, consolidation therapy and off‐therapy follow‐up ranged from 6 months to 8 years, 4 to 96 weeks and 6 to 80 months respectively. Patients were monitored with serum ALT and HBV DNA monthly in the first 1–3 months and every 3–6 months afterwards in most studies. The 1‐year off‐therapy ‘virological relapse’ (HBV DNA >2000 IU/mL) and ‘clinical relapse’ (HBV DNA > 2000 IU/mL + ALT elevation) occurred in <70% and <50% of the patients, respectively, and <40% of the patients received re‐treatment. These rates were higher in patients with shorter treatment, shorter consolidation therapy and those treated with less potent nucleos(t)ide analogues. Off‐therapy severe flares were rare and hepatic decompensation was reported in only one patient with cirrhosis. Biochemical relapse reflecting enhanced immune‐mediated hepatocyte killing may lead to a higher chance for off‐therapy HBsAg seroclearance and be possibly desirable.
Conclusion
With an appropriate stopping rule and a proper off‐therapy monitoring plan, cessation of long‐term nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy prior to HBsAg seroclearance in HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B is a feasible alternative to indefinite treatment.
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