Published data for the epidemiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in the USA are scarce. We sought to estimate the incidence, prevalence, and mortality risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis among ...US Medicare beneficiaries.
We used administrative claims from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries (aged 65 years and older) from the years 2000-11 as a data source. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. We estimated annual incidence and cumulative prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, median survival time of patients, and potential risk factors for diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and death between 2001 and 2011. We also estimated incidence and prevalence using more restrictive algorithms for diagnosis.
The annual incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in the Medicare population remained stable between 2001 and 2011, with an overall estimate of 93.7 cases per 100000 person-years (95% CI 91.9-95.4) across the study period. The annual cumulative prevalence increased steadily from 202.2 cases per 100000 people in 2001 to 494.5 cases per 100000 people in 2011. Among newly diagnosed patients with Medicare (mean age 79.4 years SD 7.2, 54% female, 91% white), the median survival time was 3.8 years (95% CI 3.5-3.8). Older age and male sex were associated with a higher incidence of disease and shorter survival time after diagnosis. Mortality risk was lower in patients diagnosed in more recent years (median survival time 3.3 years 95% CI 3.0-3.8 in 2001 vs 4.0 years 3.8-4.5 in 2007).
The incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in people aged 65 years and older in the USA are substantially higher than previously reported, and prevalence is increasing annually, even in the subgroups based on more restrictive algorithms for diagnosis. Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis aged 65 years and older were living longer in 2011 than they were 10 years before, which could partly account for the steady increase in prevalence.
Biogen Idec.
In this research work, the stability, tribological, and corrosion properties of a water-based Al2O3 nanofluid (0.5 wt%) formulated with tannin acid (TA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as ...dispersants or surfactants were investigated. For comparative purposes, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was also incorporated. The stability of the nanofluid was assessed through zeta potential measurements and photo-capturing, revealing the effectiveness of TA and CMC in preventing nanoparticle agglomeration. Tribological properties were examined using a pin-on-disk apparatus, highlighting the tribofilm of Al2O3 that enhanced lubricating properties of the nanofluid by the SEM, resulting in reduced friction and wear of the contacting surfaces. Sample with the addition of both TA and CMC exhibited the best tribological performance, with a ~ 20% reduction in the friction coefficient and a 59% improvement in wear rate compared to neat nanofluid without TA and CMC. Additionally, the corrosion resistance of the nanofluids were evaluated via weight loss and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanofluid sample containing both TA and CMC exhibited the lowest corrosion rate, with 97.6% improvement compared to sample without them. This study provides valuable insights into the potential applications of TA and CMC-based Al2O3 nanofluids as effective and environmentally friendly solutions for coolant or lubrication in cutting processes.
As solid lubricant additives, graphene and copper nanostructures improve the tribological behavior. In this study, hybrid nanoparticles are synthesized for application in HPMC lubricating films. The ...synthesis mechanisms of the various synthetic parameters (growth temperature, growth time, and methane flow) on the growth of graphene on nanocopper particles and the effect on the quality after parameter modulation are discussed. Furthermore, the tribological properties of graphene/copper hybrid particles and HPMC prepared into composite solid lubricating coatings are investigated. The addition of hybrid particles to the solid lubricant effectively reduces the friction coefficient by 35% and the wear volume by at least 50%. The addition of hybrid particle additives and the changes in the tribological mechanism are discussed in detail, in addition.
•Highly wear-resistant friction-reducing biopolymer coatings were obtained.•Graphene/Cu hybrid nanoparticles incorporated in the HPMC coating improves the tribology properties.•Third-body wear mechanism was demonstrated.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted tremendous attention because of their excellent chemical and physical properties and due to their renewability and sustainability. This material can be ...extracted from agricultural by-products such as rice straw, banana tree, or bagasse. Rice straw was selected as the raw material in this study. Initially, a large amount of lignin must be removed by an alkaline process to obtain a slurry. Thereafter, a green bleaching process can be used to remove the remaining lignin in the slurry. An UV-emitting diode with 365 nm wavelength assisted the oxidation reaction of the H
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O
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solution without the use of chlorine-containing chemical bleach. The reaction required only 2.5 h to obtain high-purity cellulose and successfully enhanced the yield. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the CNCs from rice straw were ~ 100 nm long and 10–15 nm wide. The crystalline index and degradation temperature of CNCs were 83.8% and 257 °C, respectively.
Biopolymers reinforced with nanoparticle (NP) additives are widely used in tribological applications. In this study, the effect of NP additives on the tribological properties of a green lubricant ...hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) composite was investigated. The IF-MoS2 NPs were prepared using the newly developed gas phase sulfidation method to form a multilayered, polyhedral structure. The number of layers and crystallinity of IF-MoS2 increased with sulfidation time and temperature. The dispersity of NPs in the HPMC was investigated using Raman and EDS mapping and showed great uniformity. The use of NPs with HPMC enhanced the tribological performance of the composites as expected. The analysis of the worn surface shows that the friction behavior of the HPMC composite with added NPs is very sensitive to the NP structure. The wear mechanisms vary with NP structure and depend on their lubricating behaviors.
We sought to present the epidemiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in adults 18-64 years old in the USA.From adults aged 18-64 years in a large administrative claims data in 2004-2010, ...patients with IPF were identified using diagnosis codes. We estimated annual incidence and cumulative prevalence of IPF over time, and examined potential risk factors for the IPF diagnosis.The annual cumulative prevalence increased steadily in the first few years (from 13.4 cases per 100 000 persons in 2005 to 18.2 cases in 2010 per 100 000 persons), which is likely due to a methodological reason, while the annual incidence of IPF decreased over time (from 7.9 cases per 100 000 person-years in 2005 to 5.8 cases in 2010 per 100 000 person-years). The overall decrease was mainly driven by a decreasing trend in the younger patients (aged 18-44 years), while the incidence in older patients remained stable. Consistent trends were observed in subgroups defined by previously published more restrictive algorithms for diagnosis. Older age and male sex were associated with a higher incidence of disease (p<0.05).In US adults younger than 65 years, we observed a decreasing incidence of IPF over time which may partially explain the plateau of cumulative prevalence in the last few years of our data.
Though paper is an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic as a packaging material, it lacks antibacterial properties, and some papers have a low resistance to oil or water. In this study, a ...multifunctional paper-coating material was developed to reduce the use of plastic packaging and enhance paper performance. Natural cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with excellent properties were used as the base material for the coating. The CNCs were functionalized into dialdehyde CNCs (DACNCs) through periodate oxidation. The DACNCs were subsequently complexed using erythrosine as a photosensitizer to form an erythrosine-CNC composite (Ery-DACNCs) with photodynamic inactivation. The Ery-DACNCs achieved inactivations above 90% after 30 min of green light irradiation and above 85% after 60 min of white light irradiation (to simulate real-world lighting conditions), indicating photodynamic inactivation effects. The optimal parameters for a layer-by-layer dip coating of kraft paper with Ery-DACNCs were 4.5-wt% Ery-DACNCs and 15 coating layers. Compared to non-coated kraft paper and polyethylene-coated paper, the Ery-DACNC-coated paper exhibited enhanced mechanical properties (an increase of 28% in bursting strength). More than 90% of the bacteria were inactivated after 40 min of green light irradiation, and more than 80% were inactivated after 60 min of white light irradiation.
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and stearic acid (SA) are integrated to fabricate a double-layer thin film composite material with potential applications in sustainable packaging and coating ...materials. The effect of SA concentration on the moisture and wear resistance at the macroscale of the composite are studied. The amount of SA on the surface (>SA5H) is beneficial in increasing anti-wear behavior and reducing the friction coefficient by 25%. The petal-shaped crystals formed by SA are distributed on the surface of the double-layer film, increasing its hydrophobicity. When subjected to wear, the SA crystals on the surface of the double-layer film are fractured into debris-like abrasive particles, forming an optimal third-body of moderate shape and particle size, and imparting anti-wear and lubricating characteristics.
This study involved a carbohydrate material: hydroxypropyl methyl-cellulose phthalate (HPMCP), a derivative of the biopolymer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. It is a biodegradable and environmentally ...friendly material. This study tested the durability and corrosion resistance of HPMCP coatings on high-speed steel in solutions with different pH values and different immersion durations. The electrochemical tests included potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Water channels formed as the coating dissolved in an acidic environment, which degraded its corrosion resistance. However, with prolonged immersion, the corrosion resistance of the system was maintained because iron oxides and chromium oxides were generated between the HPMCP coating and high-speed steel. The corrosion resistance mechanism of HPMCP coatings is proposed and discussed.
An environmentally friendly, hydrophobic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film was developed as an alternative to commercial straws for mitigating the issue of plastic waste. Nontoxic and biodegradable ...cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and nanofibers (CNFs) were used to prepare PVA nanocomposite films by blade coating and solution casting. Double-sided solution casting of polyethylene-glycol-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) + neat PLA hydrophobic films was performed, which was followed by heat treatment at different temperatures and durations to hydrophobize the PVA composite films. The hydrophobic characteristics of the prepared composite films and a commercial straw were compared. The PVA nanocomposite films exhibited enhanced water vapor barrier and thermal properties owing to the hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces between the substrate and the fillers. In the sandwich-structured PVA-based hydrophobic composite films, the crystallinity of PLA was increased by adjusting the temperature and duration of heat treatment, which significantly improved their contact angle and water vapor barrier. Finally, the initial contact angle and contact duration (at the contact angle of 20°) increased by 35% and 40%, respectively, which was a significant increase in the service life of the biodegradable material-based straw.
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