To date, few studies have been conducted on the relationship between postbiotics and air pollution, and there is limited knowledge if postbiotic and probiotic have synergistic effects. Therefore, we ...created a PM‐induced lung inflammation mice model and demonstrated the effect of probiotic, postbiotic, and their combination treatment on attenuation of PM2.5‐induced lung damage and allergic response. The mice were intratracheally given PM2.5 triggering conditions of acute lung damage and allergic response. Our results showed that individual treatment of probiotic and postbiotic reduced body weight loss by 47.1% and 48.9%, but the results did not show any effect on polarizing IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio. In addition, PM2.5‐induced overactive expression of IgE treated by probiotic and postbiotic was reduced by 33.2% and 30.4%, respectively. While combination treatment of probiotic and postbiotic exerted a synergistic effect, especially considerably on improving IgE reduction by 57.1%, body weight loss by 78.3%, and IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio boost by 87.5%. To sum up the above functionality, these research findings may help establish a novel platform for postbiotic application, formulation, and mechanistic selection with regard to PM2.5‐induced lung injury.
Practical Application
Allergic inflammation caused by PM2.5 is not like common allergens (ex. Pollens, ovalbumin, dust mites), which simply skewing Th1/Th2 polarization to Th2. Thus using probiotics screened by Th1‐skewing criteria might not be the best choice to treat on PM2.5‐induced symptoms. This research proposed a combination of probiotics and postbiotics on modulating immunity homeostasis, and consequently attenuating complications of PM2.5‐induced lung damage. These research findings may help establish a novel platform for postbiotic application, formulation and mechanistic selection with regard to PM2.5‐induced lung injury.
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid™) is an effective and safe antiviral drug that inhibits the main protease (M
), 3CL protease, of SARS-CoV-2. A reduction in COVID-19-related hospitalization or death ...was observed in patients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir within five days of symptom onset. Moreover, good oral availability enables the usage of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, not only in hospitalized patients, but also among outpatients. Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) has been demonstrated to stop the spread of COVID-19 in animal models. Despite frequent mutations in the viral genomes of SARS-CoV-2, nirmatrelvir shows an effective antiviral effect against recent coronavirus mutants. Despite the promising antiviral effect of nirmatrelvir, there are several unresolved concerns. First, the final results of large-scale clinical trials for early therapy of mild cases of COVID-19 are not yet published. Second, the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir against upcoming variants in the coming years requires close monitoring. Considering the promising preliminary results of the EPIC-HR trial, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in conjunction with vaccines and non-pharmacological interventions, may represent the dawn in the dark of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wear resistant hard coatings are highly demanded in modern manufacturing industry to ensure good performance of cutting and forming tools. In this study, TiVN, CrAlSiN and multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN ...coatings were synthesized by cathodic-arc evaporation (CAE). TiV and CrAlSi alloy cathodes were used for the deposition of multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN coatings. The cathode current and bias voltage of both TiV and CrAlSi cathodes were controlled at 70A and −120V, respectively. By controlling the rotation speed of 4rpm, a stepwise columnar structure containing periodic CrAlSiN and TiVN layers was found in this multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN coating. The modulation period of the deposited CrAlSiN/TiVN coatings was 9nm. The CrAlSiN/TiVN coatings possessed higher hardness of 33GPa as compared to TiVN and CrAlSiN (24GPa26GPa). After oxidation at 500°C, the TiVN revealed the presence of TiO2, V2O5 and VO2 on the surface. Small fraction of oxygen displaced nitrogen. Titanium and vanadium oxides were formed. The XPS, XRD and SEM analyses only suggested small amounts of titanium and vanadium oxides on the surface of the multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN after oxidation at 500°C. To study the impact fracture resistance, an impact test using a cyclic loading was conducted. The multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN coating exhibited the best impact resistance (higher than 4×105 impacts) at room temperature and 500°C, indicating the best resistance to impact fracture, among the studied coatings. The multilayered structure with TiVN and CrAlSiN is responsible for the enhanced mechanical properties, oxidation resistance and impact resistance.
•The multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN coatings possessed the highest hardness of 33GPa.•CrAlSiN and CrAlSiN/TiVN coatings had better oxidation resistance than TiVN.•The multilayered CrAlSiN/TiVN coating exhibited the best impact resistance.
•2D WS2 film is chemically vapor deposited on sapphire with WF6 and H2S gas precursors.•2D WS2 film is composed of two oriented domains.•Two WS2 domains rotate 30֯ to each other.•The domain with ...smaller lattice mismatch constitutes the majority of 2D WS2 film.
A two-dimensional (2D) tungsten disulfide (WS2) film deposited by chemical vapor deposition on (0001) sapphire substrate is investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and in-plane X-ray diffraction (IP-XRD). The Raman and PL spectra confirm the 2D characteristics of WS2 film. The layered structure of 2D WS2 film is revealed in the TEM observation. According to the results of IP-XRD, 2D WS2 film is composed of two oriented domains on (0001) sapphire substrate. Two WS2 domains rotate 30֯ from each other. The crystal orientation relationships of a WS2 domain are (0001)WS2//(0001)sapphire and (101¯0)WS2//(112¯0)sapphire, whereas the crystal orientation relationships of another one are (0001)WS2//(0001)sapphire and (112¯0)WS2//(112¯0)sapphire. In 2D WS2 film, two-third portion belongs to the domain with the relationship of (101¯0)WS2//(112¯0)sapphire. Based on the theoretical calculation, the relationship of (101¯0)WS2//(112¯0)sapphire has smaller lattice mismatch than the relationship of (112¯0)WS2//(112¯0)sapphire.
An analytical predictive model for temperature in laser-assisted milling considering both laser preheating temperature and machining induced temperature rise is proposed. The preheating temperature ...at top surface is predicted first by considering the heat generation from laser and convection. The heat generation rate is described by Gaussian equation. Within the material, heat conduction is considered with isothermal boundary conditions at side and bottom surfaces. The machining temperature is considered by transferring the milling configuration to orthogonal cutting at each instance. The shearing heat source and secondary rubbing heat source are included for machining temperature prediction. The heat source is calculated from the cutting or plowing forces, and a mirror heat source method is applied to predict temperature rise through integration. The proposed model is validated through experimental measurements on silicon nitride ceramics and Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The proposed predictive model matches the experimental measurements with less than 7.1% difference at laser spot and 5.2% difference in front of the cutting zone with computation time less than 15 s. The model is valuable for providing a fast, credible, and physics-based method for the prediction of temperature in laser-assisted milling of various materials. The overall temperature distribution is accurately calculated by predicting laser preheating temperature and machining induced temperature rise.
Mass screening with abdominal ultrasonography (AUS) has been suggested as a tool to control adult hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in individuals, but its efficacy in reducing HCC mortality has never ...been demonstrated. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of reducing HCC mortality by mass AUS screening for HCC based on a program designed and implemented in the Changhua Community‐based Integrated Screening (CHCIS) program with an efficient invitation scheme guided by the risk score. We invited 11,114 (27.0%) of 41,219 eligible Taiwanese subjects between 45 and 69 years of age who resided in an HCC high‐incidence area to attend a risk score‐guided mass AUS screening between 2008 and 2010. The efficacy of reducing HCC mortality was estimated. Of the 8,962 AUS screening attendees (with an 80.6% attendance rate), a total of 16 confirmed HCC cases were identified through community‐based ultrasonography screening. Among the 16 screen‐detected HCC cases, only two died from HCC, indicating a favorable survival. The cumulative mortality due to HCC (per 100,000) was considerably lower in the invited AUS group (17.26) compared with the uninvited AUS group (42.87) and the historical control group (47.51), yielding age‐ and gender‐adjusted relative mortality rates of 0.69 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.56‐0.84) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.52‐0.77), respectively. Conclusion: The residents invited to community‐based AUS screening for HCC, compared with those who were not invited, showed a reduction in HCC mortality by ∼31% among subjects aged 45‐69 years who had not been included in the nationwide vaccination program against hepatitis B virus infection. (Hepatology 2014;59:1840–1849)
The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing annually in Taiwan. In addition to traditional risk factors, heavy metals contribute to the development of CKD. The aim of this study was ...to investigate associations among heavy metals and proteinuria and CKD in the general population in Southern Taiwan. We also explored the interaction and synergetic effects among heavy metals on proteinuria.
We conducted a health survey in the general population living in Southern Taiwan between June 2016 and September 2018. Seven heavy metals were measured: blood lead (Pb) and urine nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd). Proteinuria was measured using reagent strips. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.73 m
.
The mean age of the 2447 participants was 55.1 ± 13.2 years and included 977 males and 1470 females. Participants with high blood Pb and high urine Ni, Mn, Cu, and Cd were significantly associated with proteinuria. Interactions between blood Pb and urine Cr, and between urine Cd and Cu, had significant effects on proteinuria. The participants with high blood Pb and high urine Cu were significantly associated with an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m
.
High blood Pb and high urine Cu may be associated with proteinuria and an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m
. High urine Ni, Mn, and Cd were significantly associated with proteinuria. Co-exposure to Cd and Cu, and Pb and Cr, may have synergistic effects on proteinuria.
An analytical predictive model for residual stress in laser-assisted milling considering material recrystallization caused by laser preheating is proposed. The laser preheating temperature field is ...predicted by treating the laser beam as a heat source on top surface following Gaussian distribution. Heat convection between top surface and the environment is factored into account. Isothermal boundary conditions are assumed for the area of interest with conduction within the material. Next, the milling configuration is treated as orthogonal cutting at each instance. All process parameters including cutting depth, cutting speed, and tool geometry are therefore transferred. The recrystallization effect and thus the grain growth are considered through calibrated models describing the dependency of strain rate, strain, and temperature on dynamic recrystallization process for specific alloys using exponent functions. The residual stress is then predicted through the calculation of elastic stress distribution in loading process, actual stress with kinematic hardening, and the stress change during relaxation. The proposed model is validated through experimental measurements on the laser-assisted milling of Si
3
N
4
and Ti-6Al-4V. The predictive model matches the trends of experimental measurements with agreement to an average error less than 30% in all cases. The proposed analytical model is valuable for providing a fast, credible, and physics-based method for the prediction of residual stress in laser-assisted milling of various materials.
We report the first demonstration of broadband adiabatic directional couplers in thin-film lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) waveguides. A three LN-waveguide configuration with each waveguide ...having a ridge cross section of less than 1 square micron, built atop a layer of SiO 2 based on a 500-µm-thick Si substrate, has been designed and constructed to optically emulate a three-state stimulated Raman adiabatic passage system, with which a unique counterintuitive adiabatic light transfer phenomenon in a high coupling efficiency of >97% (corresponding to a >15 dB splitting ratio) spanning telecom S, C, and L bands for both TE and TM polarization modes has been observed for a 2-mm long coupler length. An even broader operating bandwidth of >800 nm of the device can be found from the simulation fitting of the experimental data. The footprint of the realized LNOI adiabatic coupler has been reduced by >99% compared to its bulk counterparts. Such an ultra-compact, broadband LNOI adiabatic coupler can be further used to implement or integrate with various photonic elements, a potential building block for realizing large-scale integrated photonic (quantum) circuits in LN.
Inverse analysis is of value identifying viable solutions of process parameters that can achieve specified process performance. In this study, an inverse analysis method is proposed for the cutting ...force in laser-assisted milling on Inconel 718. The method uses the analytical model to solve the direct problem and applies a variance-based recursive method to guide the inverse analysis. The half-slot milling is simplified as an orthogonal cutting at each instant, forces in cutting and radial directions are calculated under microstructure evolution, and the axial force is predicted according to tool geometry and coordinates transformation. The inverse analysis identifies five process parameters including feed rate, axial depth of milling, laser preheating temperature, spindle speed, and rake angle, and finds the optimal solution for target performance, the resultant cutting force. Four experiments verified the effectiveness of the proposed method because of a maximum error less than 8% between predicted forces and experimental measurements. The proposed method is valuable in terms of providing a reference for the selection of process parameters under certain cutting force requirements.
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