The hybrid metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with different Zn
/Co
ratios are synthesized at room temperature with deionized water as the solvent. This use of deionized water can increase the yield of ...hybrid MOFs (up to 65-70%). After the pyrolysis, the obtained nanoporous carbons (NPCs) show a decrease in the surface area, in which the highest surface area is 655 m
g
. The as-prepared NPCs are subjected to activation with KOH in order to increase their surface area and convert cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) to Co oxides. These activated carbons are applied to electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) and pseudocapacitors due to the presence of CoO and Co
O
nanoparticles in the carbon framework, leading to significantly enhanced specific capacitance as compared to that of pristine NPCs. This synthetic method can be utilized in future research to enhance pseudocapacitance further while maintaining the maximum surface area of the carbon materials.
With an increasing demand of a renewable energy, new offshore wind turbine farms are being planned in some parts of the world. Foundation installations need a significant cost of the total budget of ...offshore wind turbine (OWT) projects. Hence, a cost reduction from foundation parts is a key when a cost-efficient designing of OWT budget. Mono-piles have been largely used, accounting about 78% of existing OWT foundations, because they are considered as a most economical alternative with a relatively shallow-water, less than 30m, depths. And OWT design codes such as EC, GL, DNV, API, and Eurocode are being developed in a form of reliability based limit state design method. In this paper, reliability analysis using a response surface and simulation methods for an OWT mono-pile foundation were performed to investigate the sensitivities of mono-pile design parameters, and to find practical implications of reliability analysis.
Internet shopping is a phenomena that is growing rapidly nowadays. A peep into the exponential growth of the main players in this industry indicates there is still a large reservoir of market ...potential for e-commerce. The conveniency of online shopping rendering it an emerging trend among consumers, especially the Gen Y. The prevalence of online shopping has raised the interest of the retailers to focus on this area. Therefore, this study was to determine the relationship between subjective norm, perceived usefulness and online shopping behavior while mediated by purchase intention. University students aged between 18 and 34 that currently pursuing their studies in University Malaysia Perlis were selected as the subject of analysis. 662 out of 800 sets of questionnaires distributed were valid for coding, analyzing and testing the hypothesis. Collected data were then analyzed using SPSS version 18.0 and AMOS version 16.0. Structural Equation Modeling to examine the model fits and hypothesis testing. The conclusion can be depicted that subjective norm and perceived usefulness significant positively influence online purchase intention but subjective norm insignificant influence shopping behavior in a negative way. It is interesting to note that perceived usefulness also insignificantly influence online shopping behavior. Finding also revealed that purchase intention significant positively influence online shopping behavior. For future research, sample from working adults and other variables that related to online shopping were to be included to minimise sampling bias.
Background
With increasing research into novel disease modifying therapies for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia, there is a need for large scale early detection of cognitive ...disorders. However, existing cognitive evaluation tools largely cater for native English speakers. We designed and validated a novel visual based cognitive evaluation tool that could be applied to multilingual populations worldwide without the need for translation.
Methods
The development of the VCAT included pilot testing of individual test items, test refinement and development of a field version of VCAT. The test items covered domains of episodic memory, executive function, visuospatial function, semantic language and attention. The initial validation was carried out in a single centre cohort from Singapore comprising of cognitively normal (CN), MCI and dementia participants. Subsequent validation was carried out in centres across four Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines. Additional evaluation of construct validity against comprehensive neuropsychological test battery has been performed. Further validation in Canada, Brazil, India and South Korea is on‐going.
Results
In the initial single centre validation in a cohort of 206 participants with a mean age of 67.8 (8.86) years and mean years of education of 10.5(6.0), the area under the curve (AUC) of VCAT for detection of cognitive impairment, CI (MCI and mild dementia) was 93.3 (95% CI 90.1 to 96.4). The Se and Sp of VCAT for the diagnosis of CI were 85.6% and 81.1%, respectively. In a wider Southeast Asian multicentre cohort of 284 participants, VCAT had an AUC of 90.5 (95% CI 87.0‐94.0) in discriminating CN from CI. The multiple languages used to administer VCAT in the four countries did not significantly influence test scores. VCAT and its subdomains demonstrated good construct validity in terms of both convergent and divergent validity and good internal consistency (α = .74). Mean time‐to‐complete VCAT was 15.7 ± 7.3 min.
Conclusions
The VCAT without the need for translation in multilingual populations has demonstrated high accuracy for the detection of MCI and mild dementia.
Orthodontic force causes gradual compression of the periodontal ligament tissues, which leads to local hypoxia in the compression side of the tissues. In this study, we investigated whether ...antioxidants exert a regulatory effect on two factors: the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) that were exposed to mechanical compression and hypoxia and the rate of orthodontic tooth movement in rats. Exposure of PDLFs to mechanical compression (0.5-3.0 g/㎠) or hypoxic conditions increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Hypoxic treatment for 24 h increased the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in PDLFs. Resveratrol (10 nM) or N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 20 mM) diminished the transcriptional activity of hypoxiainducible factor-1 and hypoxia-induced expression of VEGF. Combined treatment with mechanical compression and hypoxia significantly increased the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and VEGF in PDLFs. These levels were suppressed by NAC and resveratrol. The maxillary first molars of rats were moved mesially for seven days using an orthodontic appliance. NAC decreased the amount of orthodontic tooth movement compared to the vehicle-treated group. The results from immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that NAC suppressed the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the periodontal ligament tissues compared to the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that antioxidants have the potential to negatively regulate the rate of orthodontic tooth movement through the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the compression sides of periodontal ligament tissues.
We studied the inhibitory effect of the green sap of Ixeris dentata (IXD) on compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis-like response in a murine model. IXD dose-dependently inhibited the anaphylaxis-like ...response induced by compound 48/80 in mice. IXD inhibited the anaphylaxis-like fatal response at the dose of 0.1 g/kg by 75%. IXD had a significant inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced ear swelling response at the doses of 0.05 and 0.1 g/kg. IXD (0.1 g/kg) also inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis mediated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE by 81.45%. When IXD was given as a pretreatment at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.1 g/l, the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80 was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that IXD may possess antianaphylactic activity.
Oxaliplatin can induce peripheral neuropathy (OXIPN) as an adverse side effect in cancer patients. Until now, no effective preventive or therapeutic drug has been developed; therefore, the ...dose-limiting factor of OXIPN is still an obstacle in the use of oxaliplatin to treat cancer patients. In the present study, we report for the first time that the aqueous extract of Lithospermi radix (WLR) can attenuate the OXIPN in both in vitro and in vivo neuropathic models.
The protective effect of WLR on OXIPN was evaluated in vitro by quantifying nerve growth factor (NGF)-stimulated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells treated with a combination of oxaliplatin and WLR. The neuroprotective potential of WLR was further confirmed by measuring the changes in nociceptive sensitivities to external mechanical stimuli in neuropathic animals induced by oxaliplatin. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were further done to examine the effect of WLR in mouse spinal cords and footpads.
Oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in NGF-stimulated PC12 cells. It could reduce the lengths and branching numbers of neuritis in NGF-stimulated PC12 cells. Co-treatment of WLR rescued the differentiated PC12 cells from the neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin. In a chronic OXIPN animal model, administration of oxaliplatin i.p. induced enhanced nociceptive sensitivity to mechanical stimuli (25.0 to 72.5 % of response rate) along with spinal activation of microglias and astrocytes and loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers in footpads, which is remarkably suppressed by oral administration of WLR (67.5 to 35 % of response rate at the end of experiment). Cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin determined in human cancer cells was not affected irrespective of the presence of WLR.
In conclusion, we demonstrated that WLR can attenuate OXIPN in both in vitro and in vivo experimental models, which may be in part attributed to its anti-inflammatory activity in the spinal cord and its neuroprotective potential in the peripheral nerve system without affecting the anti-tumor potential of oxaliplatin. Therefore, WLR could be considered as a good starting material to develop a novel therapeutic agent targeting OXIPN. However, further studies should be done to elucidate the underlying mechanism such as molecular targets and active constituent(s) in WLR with neuroprotective potential.
Although papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has an excellent prognosis, it can cause central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) which can increase local recurrence. Intraoperative pathologic evaluation ...(IOPE) can provide evidence regarding CLNM and help surgeons determine the appropriate surgical approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of IOPE and to determine risk factors associated with CLNM in unilateral PTC without preoperative clinical evidence of CLNM.
Medical charts of 227 patients who had unilateral PTC without clinical lymph node metastasis preoperatively were reviewed retrospectively. They were scheduled for thyroid lobectomy and prophylactic central lymphadenectomy (CND) from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.
Total follow-up period was 47.6 ± 10.6 months. CLNM was identified in 57 (25.1%) patients during IOPE and in 72 (31.7%) patients during final pathological analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of IOPE were 76.4% and 98.7%, respectively. IOPE through central lymph node dissection was safely performed with low complications (vocal cord palsy, 5.7%; hypoparathyroidism, 22.8%). Age < 55 years, echogenic foci on preoperative ultrasonography, and extrathyroidal extension at final pathological report were significantly associated with an increased risk of CLNM (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). In terms of oncological outcomes, there was no significant difference between the true negative and false negative results in IOPE.
IOPE can safely provide accurate information for determining disease status and surgical extent. Further long-term studies are needed to evaluate clinical benefits of IOPE.
A highly sensitive pressure sensor based on printed organic transistors with three-dimensionally self-organized organic semiconductor microstructures (3D OSCs) was demonstrated. A unique organic ...transistor with semiconductor channels positioned at the highest summit of printed cylindrical microstructures was achieved simply by printing an organic semiconductor and polymer blend on the plastic substrate without the use of additional etching or replication processes. A combination of the printed organic semiconductor microstructure and an elastomeric top-gate dielectric resulted in a highly sensitive organic field-effect transistor (FET) pressure sensor with a high pressure sensitivity of 1.07 kPa–1 and a rapid response time of <20 ms with a high reliability over 1000 cycles. The flexibility and high performance of the 3D OSC FET pressure sensor were exploited in the successful application of our sensors to real-time monitoring of the radial artery pulse, which is useful for healthcare monitoring, and to touch sensing in the e-skin of a realistic prosthetic hand.
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