In this study, RF magnetron sputtering is employed to deposit a SnO2/Ti/GZO (TTG) transparent conductive film on a Corning glass substrate to investigate the effect of the annealing temperature on ...the electrical properties, transmittance characteristics, surface properties, and structural properties of a TTG conductive film. The results show that upon annealing at 300 ℃, the minimum resistance was achieved by the TTG multilayer film, i.e., 1.57 × 10−2 Ω∙cm. Regarding the transmittance characteristics of all multilayer films, it is evident that the higher the annealing temperature, the higher the mean transmittance, but above an annealing temperature of 300 ℃, the transmittance decreases slightly.
We aimed to analyze the different patient characteristics and treatment outcomes (such as sustained viral response, SVR) between incarcerated patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and those with ...CHC from the outpatient department through an on-site integrated screening and microelimination program in a detection center. In this retrospective study, which ran from May 2021 to April 2022, we included 32 consenting male prisoners aged at least 20 years who were willing to participate in the study. Members of the control group (who received DAAs in an outpatient setting) were selected from the treated CHC patient databank of individuals who received DAA regimens at Chi Mei Hospital between January 2021 and December 2022. The patients in the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, FIB-4 score, HCV RNA, HBV coinfection, hemogram findings, coagulation profiles, and renal function tests. However, the patients in the incarcerated group had a significantly different genotype distribution compared to the control group, significantly lower liver enzyme levels, and higher albumin and bilirubin levels compared to those in the control group. The rate of SVR to DAA treatment obtained among incarcerated patients did not differ significantly from that obtained among patients in the control group. Loss to follow-up (for several reasons) is a major reason for treatment discontinuation among these patients.
Background Kaposi sarcoma is a vascular tumor highly related to human herpesvirus-8 and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. Kaposi sarcoma usually manifests as skin or mucosal lesions; involvement ...in visceral organs such as the gastrointestinal tract is rare. Kaposi sarcoma can occur in immunocompromised patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, in which case it is known as iatrogenic Kaposi sarcoma or drug-induced Kaposi sarcoma. Intestinal Kaposi sarcoma in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is extremely rare. Case presentation A 46-year-old East Asian male with recently diagnosed Crohn's disease was administered azathioprine and prednisolone; however, the patient complained of persistent abdominal pain and diarrhea following treatment. Endoscopy revealed small bowel Kaposi sarcoma. The patient was treated with systemic chemotherapy successfully without relapse. Conclusions This is the fifth case of Kaposi sarcoma developed over the small intestine in a patient with Crohn's disease following administration of immunomodulators. Additionally, this case indicated that even short-term immunomodulator use can induce Kaposi sarcoma in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, if symptoms are aggravated or do not abate after immunomodulators prescription, and before intending to upgrade immunomodulators, endoscopy should be considered. Finally, chemotherapy can also be considered if both medication withdrawal and surgical intervention are not feasible. Keywords: Crohn's disease, Chemotherapy, Gastrointestinal Kaposi sarcoma, Immunomodulator, Kaposi sarcoma
An investigation is performed into the optical and electrical application of Mg doping GZO thin films deposited on glass substrates using a radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RF-sputtering) system ...with working pressures ranging from 3 to 9 mtorr. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the MGZO films all exhibit a strong (103) preferential orientation. Moreover, the films show an average optical transmittance of approximately 85% in the visible light range. The electrical resistivity increases with an increasing working pressure. Thus, the optimal resistivity (1.9 × 10
−3
Ω-cm) is obtained at the lowest working pressure of 3 mtorr and is the result of an improved crystalline structure. The results show the Mg doping GZO can be applied in the optical elements.
Radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering was used to sputter a thin layer of ITO:Ga with a purity of 97:3 at% on glass substrates. A layer of Zr with a purity of 99.99% was then deposited on the ...ITO:Ga layer by direct current magnetron sputtering. Finally, RF magnetron sputtering was used once again to deposit a thin ZnO layer with a purity of 99.99 at% on top of the Zr layer. The three-layered film structure was annealed in a vacuum at various temperatures in the range of 200–500 °C in order to prompt a rearrangement of the crystal structure and reduce the number of internal defects. The effects of the annealing temperature on the film thickness, electrical properties, optical properties, surface morphologies, and quality factors of the multilayered films were investigated. The trilayer film showed a minimum resistivity of 1.79 × 10−3 Ω-cm after annealing at a temperature of 500 °C and an average optical transmission of 88.14% after annealing at 300 °C. The optimal quality factor (1.44 × 10−3 Ω−1) was obtained for the film annealed at 500 °C.
A compressive split-Hopkinson pressure bar and transmission electron microscope (TEM) are used to investigate the mechanical behaviour and microstructural evolution of Inconel 718 at strain rates ...ranging from 1000 to 5000
s
−1 and temperatures between −150 and 550
°C. The results show that the flow stress increases with an increasing strain rate or a reducing temperature. The strain rate effect is particularly pronounced at strain rates greater than 3000
s
−1 and a deformation temperature of −150
°C. A significant thermal softening effect occurs at temperatures between −150 and 25
°C. The microstructural observations reveal that the strengthening effect in deformed Inconel 718 alloy is a result primarily of dislocation multiplication. The dislocation density increases with increasing strain rate, but decreases with increasing temperature. By contrast, the dislocation cell size decreases with increasing strain rate, but increases with increasing temperature. It is shown that the correlation between the flow stress, the dislocation density and the dislocation cell size is well described by the Bailey–Hirsch constitutive equations.
Text readability assessment is a challenging interdisciplinary endeavor with rich practical implications. It has long drawn the attention of researchers internationally, and the readability models ...since developed have been widely applied to various fields. Previous readability models have only made use of linguistic features employed for general text analysis and have not been sufficiently accurate when used to gauge domain-specific texts. In view of this, this study proposes a latent-semantic-analysis (LSA)-constructed hierarchical conceptual space that can be used to train a readability model to accurately assess domain-specific texts. Compared with a baseline reference using a traditional model, the new model improves by 13.88% to achieve 68.98% of accuracy when leveling social science texts, and by 24.61% to achieve 73.96% of accuracy when assessing natural science texts. We then combine the readability features developed for the current study with general linguistic features, and the accuracy of leveling social science texts improves by an even higher degree of 31.58% to achieve 86.68%, and that of natural science texts by 26.56% to achieve 75.91%. These results indicate that the readability features developed in this study can be used both to train a readability model for leveling domain-specific texts and also in combination with the more common linguistic features to enhance the efficacy of the model. Future research can expand the generalizability of the model by assessing texts from different fields and grade levels using the proposed method, thus enhancing the practical applications of this new method.
In this study, double-layer transparent conductive thin films are formed by depositing silver (Ag) of 99.99% purity on a glass substrate by direct-current (DC) magnetron sputtering, then forming an ...oxide layer on the Ag layer by depositing gallium-doped indium tin oxide (ITO:Ga) with an ITO:Ga ratio of 97:3 by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The films are annealed in vacuum at different temperatures to rearrange the crystals in the films and thereby reduce the defect density. The thicknesses, electrical properties, optical properties, surface structures, and figures of merit (FOMs) of the ITO:Ga/Ag double-layer thin films before and after annealing are analyzed. It is found that the resistivity of the double-layer thin films decreases with increasing annealing temperature and that the lowest resistivity is 5.03×10−5 Ω-cm and the highest average transmittance is 73.33% for the specimen annealed at 450 °C, which also has the highest FOM of 5.31×103 Ω−1. The ITO:Ga/Ag double-layer thin films have excellent optical and electrical properties for photosensor applications.
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which is suitable for use in the human body owing to its biocompatibility, is commonly used in medical applications such as bone nails, bone cement, and dentures. ...However, due to its hard and brittle nature, PMMA can cause damage when it is subjected to excessive stress and can also cause severe wear. In this study, three different sizes of silica particles were used as reinforcing additives to enhance the wear resistance of PMMA composites. A pin-on-disk wear test was conducted to record the coefficient of friction and wear volume, and the wear volume was measured using a 3D laser scanning microscope. In the wear test, the transfer film of micron and submicron particles produced a plowing effect, resulting in wide grooved wear scars and a higher wear rate than the raw material. The nanoparticle transfer film reduced direct material wear, the wear scars were fine and flat, and the wear rate was decreased, reducing the wear of SiO2-reinforced PMMA composites by 40%. The experimental results revealed that the wear volume is proportional to the wear time. In addition, the observed area of the transfer film on the wear counterpart can be used as a service life sensor of the coating material.
Background & Aims A substantial proportion of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR, HCV RNA seronegative throughout 24 weeks of post-treatment ...follow-up) after 24 weeks peginterferon/ribavirin therapy. We explored the role of interleukin-28B genotype in identifying patients who responded to the regimen. Methods Interleukin-28B rs8099917 genotype was determined in 226 HCV-1 patients with 24 weeks peginterferon/ribavirin. Results Compared to patients with rs8099917 TG/GG genotype, those with TT genotype had significantly higher rapid virological response (RVR, HCV RNA seronegative at treatment week 4, 54.0% vs. 17.9%, p <0.001) and SVR (64.7% vs . 25.6%, p <0.001) rates, and lower relapse rate (28.0% vs . 54.5%, p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest factor predictive of a RVR was the carriage of rs8099917 TT genotype (odds ratio/ 95% confidence intervals OR/CI: 6.24/2.34–16.63), followed by lower viral loads (OR/CI: 5.29/2.81–9.93) and age (OR/CI:0.94/0.91–9.97). The most important factor predictive of an SVR was the attainment of a RVR (OR/CI: 22.23/9.22–53.58), followed by the carriage of rs8099917 TT genotype (OR/CI: 3.38/1.18–9.65), lower viral loads (OR/CI: 2.23/1.00–4.93) and ribavirin exposure dose (OR/CI: 1.17/1.06–1.30). The determinant power of rs8099917 genotype on SVR was mainly restricted to non-RVR patients, particularly those with higher baseline viral loads. Combination of the two pretreatment predictors, interleukin-28B genotype and baseline viral loads, could predict treatment efficacy with a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 91%. Conclusions Interleukin-28B genotype could help identifying patients who are or are not candidates for an abbreviated regimen before treatment.
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