Energy harvesting devices based on the triboelectric and piezoelectric principles have been widely developed to scavenge wasteful and tiny mechanical energy into usable electrical energy. In ...particular, triboelectric energy harvesting generators with relatively simpler structure and piezoelectric fiber-based counterpart with extremely light weight compositions showed a very promising application in the self-powered sensors. In this paper, a novel hybridization of graphenebased piezoelectric generator (GBPG) and graphene-PET triboelectric generator (GPTG) were simultaneously packaged. The integrated structure, graphene-based hybridized self-powered sensor (GHSPS), was demonstrated to be optically transparent and mechanically robust. For the piezoelectrically harvesting device, an in-situ poling and direct-write near-field electrospinning (NFES) Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) piezoelectric fibers were fabricated and integrated with a single layer chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown graphene. On the other hand for GPTG counterpart, two composite layers of a single layer graphene/PET simultaneously served as triboelectrically rubbing layers as well as bottom/top electrode. This GHSPS successfully superimposed both piezoelectric and triboelectric electricity and the synergistically higher output voltage/current/power were measured as ~6 V/280 nA/172 nW in one press-and-release cycle of finger induced motion. The proposed GHSPS showed a promising application in the field of self-powered sensors to be ubiquitously implemented in the future Industry 4.0 scenarios.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We created a two-channel autofluorescence test to detect oral cancer. The wavelengths 375 and 460 nm, with filters of 479 and 525 nm, were designed to excite and detect reduced-form nicotinamide ...adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) autofluorescence. Patients with oral cancer or with precancerous lesions, and a control group with healthy oral mucosae, were enrolled. The lesion in the autofluorescent image was the region of interest. The average intensity and heterogeneity of the NADH and FAD were calculated. The redox ratio (NADH)/(NADH + FAD) was also computed. A quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) was used to compute boundaries based on sensitivity and specificity. We analyzed 49 oral cancer lesions, 34 precancerous lesions, and 77 healthy oral mucosae. A boundary (sensitivity: 0.974 and specificity: 0.898) between the oral cancer lesions and healthy oral mucosae was validated. Oral cancer and precancerous lesions were also differentiated from healthy oral mucosae (sensitivity: 0.919 and specificity: 0.755). The two-channel autofluorescence detection device and analyses of the intensity and heterogeneity of NADH, and of FAD, and the redox ratio combined with a QDA classifier can differentiate oral cancer and precancerous lesions from healthy oral mucosae.
A fast and effective methodology integrating the finite-element and Taguchi methods is presented to determine the optimal design conditions of the injection molding process for short-fiber-reinforced ...polycarbonate composites. The finite-element-based flow simulation software, M-flow, was employed to simulate the molding process to obtain the fiber orientation distributions required. The Taguchi optimization technique was used to identify the optimal settings of injection molding parameters to maximize the shear layer thickness. The effects of four main parameters — the filling time, melt temperature, mold temperature, and injection speed — on the fiber orientation or the shear layer thickness were investigated and discussed. It is found that the dominant parameter is the filling time. The best levels of the four parameters to acquire the thickest shear layer are also identified.
Exocomets: A spectroscopic survey Rebollido, I.; Eiroa, C.; Montesinos, B. ...
Astronomy & astrophysics,
07/2020, Letnik:
639
Journal Article, Web Resource
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context.
While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events, which are interpreted to be ...exocomets (falling evaporating bodies) around
β
Pic in the early 1980s, only ∼20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events.
Aims.
We aim to expand the sample of known exocomet-host stars, as well as to monitor the hot-gas environment around stars with previously known exocometary activity.
Methods.
We have obtained high-resolution optical spectra of a heterogeneous sample of 117 main-sequence stars in the spectral type range from B8 to G8. The data were collected in 14 observing campaigns over the course of two years from both hemispheres. We analysed the Ca
II
K&H and Na
I
D lines in order to search for non-photospheric absorptions that originated in the circumstellar environment and for variable events that could be caused by the outgassing of exocomet-like bodies.
Results.
We detected non-photospheric absorptions towards 50% of the sample, thus attributing a circumstellar origin to half of the detections (i.e. 26% of the sample). Hot circumstellar gas was detected in the metallic lines inspected via narrow stable absorptions and/or variable blue- and red-shifted absorption events. Such variable events were found in 18 stars in the Ca
II
and/or Na
I
lines; six of them are reported in the context of this work for the first time. In some cases, the variations we report in the Ca
II
K line are similar to those observed in
β
Pic. While we do not find a significant trend in the age or location of the stars, we do find that the probability of finding CS gas in stars with larger
v
sin
i
is higher. We also find a weak trend with the presence of near-infrared excess and with anomalous (
λ
Boo-like) abundances, but this would require confirmation by expanding the sample.
This study aims to compare the effects of single inhaler triple therapy comprised of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs), and long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists ...(LAMAs) with dual therapies comprised of either LABA/LAMA, ICS/LABA or separate ICS/LABA plus LAMA triple therapy.
The Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched up to October 31st 2018. Only randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. The primary outcome was the rate of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations.
Seven studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. Single inhaler triple therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of COPD exacerbation compared with LABA/LAMA (rate ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval CI 0.55 to 0.87,
=85%), and ICS/LABA (rate ratio, 0.81; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.89,
=29%) dual therapy. Single inhaler triple therapy led to a more significant improvement in lung function and quality of life compared with LABA/LAMA and ICS/LABA dual therapy. Single inhaler triple therapy was associated with a higher risk of pneumonia compared with LABA/LAMA (risk ratio, 1.38, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.67,
=0) dual therapy.
The use of single inhaler triple therapy for COPD patients can result in lower rates of moderate or severe exacerbations of COPD as well as improved lung function and quality of life compared with dual therapy with LABA/LAMA or ICS/LABA.
Objective: This real world study evaluated the effectiveness of switching to closed triple therapy from mono/dual combination or open triple therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary ...disease (COPD). Methods: We conducted this retrospective study at a single medical center from December 2014 to September 2020. Patients with COPD who were stepped up to triple therapy were enrolled. We analyzed the duration from initial COPD management to open or closed triple therapy and identified the clinical predictors of the patients who needed triple therapy early. We also evaluated the effectiveness of triple therapy after switching from initial management, and closed triple therapy after switching from open triple therapy. Results: A total 115 COPD patients who were stepped up to triple therapy from initial treatment were analyzed. The duration from initial treatment to triple therapy was 22.4 months. The baseline peripheral blood eosinophil counts of the patients who switched to triple therapy early (n=63, less than 22 months) and those who switched to triple therapy later (n=52, more than 22 months) were similar (489.6 vs 434.5 cells/uL; p=0.589). After univariate and multivariate analysis, the patients who were older had more acute exacerbations (AEs) in the previous year, asthma and COPD overlap (ACO), and initial dual bronchodilator therapy were stepped up to triple therapy early. The FEV1 of the patients was significantly increased after switching to open triple therapy from mono bronchodilator therapy. In addition, switching from initial or open triple therapy to closed triple therapy significantly reduced the incidence of AEs. Conclusion: COPD patients with high blood eosinophilia, older age, more AEs in the previous year, ACO, and initial dual bronchodilator therapy were stepped up to triple therapy early. Triple therapy showed improvements in lung function of most patients switching from mono bronchodilator therapy. After switching to closed triple therapy further reduced the incidence of AEs. Keywords: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, closed triple therapy, open triple therapy, ACO, asthma COPD overlap
To evaluate the risk of obesity in preschool children with prolonged screen time in Taiwan.
Using a nationwide survey with random sampling, we collected information on 8378 preschool children aged ...2-6 years among 206 preschools in Taiwan from 2016 to 2019. Socioeconomic data, body mass index, and lifestyle of the preschool children and their caregivers were compared among the groups of preschool children who had moderate and prolonged daily screen time. We used multiple log-binomial regression models to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of obesity associated with prolonged screen time.
The prevalence of obesity in the preschool children was 13.1%, and the average screen time was 104.6 minutes. Children's age, sleep hours, outdoor play time, sugar intake, snack eating before dinner, sleep disturbance, and obesity, as well as caregiver's sex, age, education, screen time, exercise time and parent obesity were factors related to high screen time for preschool children. Compared with children with moderate screen time, children with prolonged screen time had a higher risk of obesity (PR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.18-1.79). With a 60-minute increase in screen time, the risk of obesity increased, with an PR of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.03-1.17).
Preschool children with prolonged screen time had an increased risk of obesity in Taiwan. Interventions may be needed for this very susceptible population.
Triple therapy versus dual therapy for chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) can reduce symptoms, limit the risk of acute exacerbations (AEs) as well as improve lung function. Currently, ...studies that feature clinically important deterioration (CID) as a composite endpoint to assess the need for treatment intensification for patients maintained on dual therapy remained to be scarce.
This study is a retrospective analysis (January 2014 to January 2018) of COPD patients that presented with moderate to severe AEs during the previous year with blood eosinophil counts ≥ 100 cells/μL. The first line of therapy included a combination of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a long-acting β
agonist (LABA). Composite CID was used in assessing the response to treatment after 24 weeks of therapy.
This study included 110 patients, of which 49 patients reportedly experienced CID. The most common events of CID include a decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥ 100 mL from baseline (25/49, 51%) and an increase in COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores ≥ 2 (13/49, 26.5%); many of these patients respond to the addition of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). Seven patients (7/110, 6.3%) experienced moderate to severe exacerbations while undergoing treatment with ICS/LABA. Univariate and multivariate analyses have identified low baseline FEV1 (OR = 0.81,
= 0.004), high CAT score (OR = 1.89,
= 0.004), and the frequency of AE (OR = 19.86,
= 0.021) as independent predictors of CID. A baseline FEV1 of ≤42%, an initial CAT score ≥ 18, and AE ≥ 2 last year were considered the optimal cut-off values, which were identified via receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis.
Triple therapy (ICS/LABAs/LAMAs) may be considered as first-line treatment in patients experiencing more than 2 times moderate to severe AEs of COPD in the previous year and who have blood eosinophil counts ≥100 cells/μL, reduced lung function (FEV1 ≤ 42%), and more symptoms (CAT score ≥ 18).
Uncontrolled asthma in adults leads to poor clinical outcome, while the clinical heterogeneity of phenotypes interferes the applicable genetic determinants. This study aimed to identify phenotypes ...and genetic impact on poorly-controlled asthma to optimize individualized treatment strategies.
This propensity score-matched case-control study included 340 and 1020 asthmatics with poorly-controlled asthma and well-controlled asthma, respectively. Data were obtained from the 2008-2015 Taiwan Biobank Database and linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database. All asthmatics were aged ≥30 years, without cancer history, and each completed a questionnaire, physical examination, and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for genetic risk scores were calculated using conditional logistic regression, stratified by age and sex. A model integrating obesity- and asthma-associated phenotypes and genotypes was applied for poorly-controlled asthma risk prediction.
General obesity with body mass index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m
(OR:1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-2.03), central obesity with waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ≥0.5 (OR:1.62, 95% CI 1.22-2.15), and parental history of asthma (OR:1.65, and 1.68; for BMI model and WHtR model, respectively) were significantly associated with poorly-controlled asthma in adults, and the combination effect of both obesity phenotypes was 1.66 (95% CI 1.17-2.35). A total of 16 obesity-associated SNPs and 9 asthma-associated SNPs were converted into genetic scores, and the aforementioned phenotypes were incorporated into the risk prediction model for poorly-controlled asthma, with an area under curve 0.72 in the receiver operating characteristic curve. The potential biological functions of genes are involved in immunity pathways.
The prediction model integrating obesity-asthma phenotypes and genotypes for poorly-controlled asthma can facilitate the prediction of high-risk asthma and provide potential targets for novel treatment.
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