Lattice defects typically reduce lattice thermal conductivity, which has been widely exploited in applications such as thermoelectric energy conversion. Here, an anomalous dependence of the lattice ...thermal conductivity on point defects is demonstrated in epitaxial WO3 thin films. Depending on the substrate, the lattice of epitaxial WO3 expands or contracts as protons are intercalated by electrolyte gating or oxygen vacancies are introduced by adjusting growth conditions. Surprisingly, the observed lattice volume, instead of the defect concentration, plays the dominant role in determining the thermal conductivity. In particular, the thermal conductivity increases significantly with proton intercalation, which is contrary to the expectation that point defects typically lower the lattice thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity can be dynamically varied by a factor of ≈1.7 via electrolyte gating, and tuned over a larger range, from 7.8 to 1.1 W m−1 K−1, by adjusting the oxygen pressure during film growth. The electrolyte‐gating‐induced changes in thermal conductivity and lattice dimensions are reversible through multiple cycles. These findings not only expand the basic understanding of thermal transport in complex oxides, but also provide a path to dynamically control the thermal conductivity.
An anomalous dependence of thermal conductivity on point defects is observed in epitaxial WO3 thin films. In particular, an increase of the lattice thermal conductivity found in WO3/YAO is accompanied by a lattice contraction upon the introduction of point defects, suggesting that the lattice volume rather than defect concentration plays the dominant role in determining the thermal conductivity.
The effect of modest alcohol consumption on fibrosis progression in the general population with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. We examined the association of nonheavy ...alcohol consumption with worsening of noninvasive fibrosis indices in a large‐scale, low‐risk population with NAFLD. A cohort study was performed in 58,927 Korean adults with NAFLD and low fibrosis scores who were followed for a median of 4.9 years. Non‐, light, and moderate drinkers were defined as 0 g/day, 1‐9.9 g/day, and 10‐29.9 g/day (10‐19.9 g/day for women), respectively. Progression from low to intermediate or high probability of advanced fibrosis was assessed using noninvasive indices including NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and Fibrosis‐4 Index (FIB‐4). A parametric proportional hazards model was used to estimate the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During 347,925.4 person‐years of follow‐up, 5,630 subjects with low FIB‐4 progressed to intermediate or high FIB‐4. The multivariable‐adjusted HRs (95% CI) for worsening of FIB‐4 comparing light and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers were 1.06 (0.98‐1.16) and 1.29 (1.18‐1.40), respectively. Similarly, using NFS, corresponding HRs (95% CI) comparing light and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers were 1.09 (1.02‐1.16) and 1.31 (1.23‐1.40), respectively. Furthermore, the association of moderate drinkers with worsening of either FIB‐4 or NFS remained significant after introducing alcohol use and confounders treated as time‐varying covariates. Conclusion: In this large‐scale cohort of young and middle‐aged individuals with NAFLD, nonheavy alcohol consumption, especially moderate alcohol consumption, was significantly and independently associated with worsening of noninvasive markers of fibrosis, indicating that even moderate alcohol consumption might be harmful.
Abstract
Single-phase multiferroic materials that allow the coexistence of ferroelectric and magnetic ordering above room temperature are highly desirable, motivating an ongoing search for mechanisms ...for unconventional ferroelectricity in magnetic oxides. Here, we report an antisite defect mechanism for room temperature ferroelectricity in epitaxial thin films of yttrium orthoferrite, YFeO
3
, a perovskite-structured canted antiferromagnet. A combination of piezoresponse force microscopy, atomically resolved elemental mapping with aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations reveals that the presence of Y
Fe
antisite defects facilitates a non-centrosymmetric distortion promoting ferroelectricity. This mechanism is predicted to work analogously for other rare earth orthoferrites, with a dependence of the polarization on the radius of the rare earth cation. Our work uncovers the distinctive role of antisite defects in providing a mechanism for ferroelectricity in a range of magnetic orthoferrites and further augments the functionality of this family of complex oxides for multiferroic applications.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may hold great promise for treating diabetic wounds. However, it is difficult for a clinician to use MSCs because they have not been commercialized. Meanwhile, a new ...commercial drug that contains adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) has been developed. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of allogeneic ASC sheets for treating diabetic foot ulcers. Fifty-nine patients with diabetic foot ulcers were randomized to either the ASC treatment group (
= 30) or a control group treated with polyurethane film (
= 29). Either an allogeneic ASC sheet or polyurethane film was applied on diabetic wounds weekly. These wounds were evaluated for a maximum of 12 weeks. Complete wound closure was achieved for 73% in the treatment group and 47% in the control group at week 8. Complete wound closure was achieved for 82% in the treatment group and 53% in the control group at week 12. The Kaplan-Meier median times to complete closure were 28.5 and 63.0 days for the treatment group and the control group, respectively. There were no serious adverse events related to allogeneic ASC treatment. Thus, allogeneic ASCs might be effective and safe to treat diabetic foot ulcers.
Background and Aims
The effects of low‐level alcohol consumption on fatty liver disease and the potential for effect modification by obesity is uncertain. We investigated associations among low‐level ...alcohol consumption, obesity status, and the development of incident hepatic steatosis (HS), either with or without an increase in noninvasive liver fibrosis score category (from low to intermediate or high category).
Approach and Results
A total of 190,048 adults without HS and a low probability of fibrosis with alcohol consumption less than 30 g/day (men) and less than 20 g/day (women) were followed for up to 15.7 years. Alcohol categories of no, light, and moderate consumption were defined as 0, 1‐9.9, and 10‐29.9 g/day (10‐19.9 g/day for women), respectively. HS was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and the probability of fibrosis was estimated using the fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4). Parametric proportional hazards models were used to estimate multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 43,466 participants developed HS, 2,983 of whom developed HS with an increase in FIB‐4 index (to intermediate or high scores). Comparing light drinkers and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers, multivariable‐adjusted HRs (95% CI) for incident HS were 0.93 (0.90‐0.95) and 0.90 (0.87‐0.92), respectively. In contrast, comparing light drinkers and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers, multivariable‐adjusted HRs (95% CI) for developing HS plus intermediate/high FIB‐4 were 1.15 (1.04‐1.27) and 1.49 (1.33‐1.66), respectively. The association between alcohol consumption categories and incident HS plus intermediate/high FIB‐4 was observed in both nonobese and obese individuals, although the association was stronger in nonobese individuals (P for interaction by obesity = 0.017).
Conclusions
Light/moderate alcohol consumption has differential effects on the development of different stages of fatty liver disease, which is modified by the presence of obesity.
The gut microbiome can influence the development of tumours and the efficacy of cancer therapeutics
; however, the multi-omics characteristics of antitumour bacterial strains have not been fully ...elucidated. In this study, we integrated metagenomics, genomics and transcriptomics of bacteria, and analyses of mouse intestinal transcriptome and serum metabolome data to reveal an additional mechanism by which bacteria determine the efficacy of cancer therapeutics. In gut microbiome analyses of 96 samples from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, Bifidobacterium bifidum was abundant in patients responsive to therapy. However, when we treated syngeneic mouse tumours with commercial strains of B. bifidum to establish relevance for potential therapeutic uses, only specific B. bifidum strains reduced tumour burden synergistically with PD-1 blockade or oxaliplatin treatment by eliciting an antitumour host immune response. In mice, these strains induced tuning of the immunological background by potentiating the production of interferon-γ, probably through the enhanced biosynthesis of immune-stimulating molecules and metabolites.
Purpose
Intubation in patients with respiratory failure can be avoided by high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) use. However, it is unclear whether waiting until HFNC fails, which would delay intubation, ...has adverse effects. The present retrospective observational study assessed overall ICU mortality and other hospital outcomes of patients who received HFNC therapy that failed.
Methods
All consecutive patients in one tertiary hospital who received HFNC therapy that failed and who then required intubation between January 2013 and March 2014 were enrolled and classified according to whether intubation started early (within 48 h) or late (at least 48 h) after commencing HFNC.
Results
Of the 175 enrolled patients, 130 (74.3 %) and 45 (25.7 %) were intubated before and after 48 h of HFNC, respectively. The groups were similar in terms of most baseline characteristics. The early intubated patients had better overall ICU mortality (39.2 vs. 66.7 %;
P
= 0.001) than late intubated patients. A similar pattern was seen with extubation success (37.7 vs. 15.6 %;
P
= 0.006), ventilator weaning (55.4 vs. 28.9 %;
P
= 0.002), and ventilator-free days (8.6 ± 10.1 vs. 3.6 ± 7.5;
P
= 0.011). In propensity-adjusted and -matched analysis, early intubation was also associated with better overall ICU mortality adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.317,
P
= 0.005; matched OR = 0.369,
P
= 0.046.
Conclusions
Failure of HFNC might cause delayed intubation and worse clinical outcomes in patients with respiratory failure. Large prospective and randomized controlled studies on HFNC failure are needed to draw a definitive conclusion.
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