A Study of Metal Free Supercapacitors Using 3D Printing

© The Author(s) 2018. Metal-free supercapacitors were designed and fabricated using a 3D printing process. An attempt was made to use carbon conductive paint to create both current collector and electrode. Two 3D printing techniques were combined and used to manufacture the electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs). The electrode material made from carbon conductive paint and distilled water showed a good electrical performance. The manufacturing process for the EDLCs has been explained in detail and the process showed a good reproducibility. Different thicknesses of electrode were tested and characterized. The results showed that both the mass of the electrode material and the capacitance of the supercapacitor increased as the thickness of the active layer increased. The thickness of the electrode increased 4 times from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, the mass of the electrode material increased nearly 3 times from 0.514 g to 1.498 g, which resulted in the increase of capacitance from 0.133 F to 0.295 F

Global trends in ultraprocessed food and drink product sales and their association with adult body mass index trajectories

This study evaluated global trends in ultraprocessed food and drink (UPFD) volume sales/capita and associations with adult body mass index (BMI) trajectories. Total food/drink volume sales/capita from Euromonitor for 80 countries (2002‐2016) were matched to mean adult BMI from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2002‐2014). Products were classified as UPFD/non‐UPFD according to the NOVA classification system. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to analyse associations between UPFD volume sales/capita and adult BMI trajectories, controlling for confounding factors. The increase in UPF volume sales was highest for South and Southeast Asia (67.3%) and North Africa and the Middle East (57.6%), while for UPD, the increase was highest for South and Southeast Asia (120.0%) and Africa (70.7%). In 2016, baked goods were the biggest contributor to UPF volume sales (13.1%‐44.5%), while carbonated drinks were the biggest contributor to UPD volume sales (40.2%‐86.0%). For every standard deviation increase (51 kg/capita, 2002) in UPD volume sales, mean BMI increased by 0.195 kg/m2 for men (P < .001) and 0.072 kg/m2 for women (P = .003). For every standard deviation (40 kg/capita, 2002) increase in UPF volume sales, mean BMI increased by 0.316 kg/m2 for men (P < .001), while the association was not significant for women. Increases in UPFD volume sales/capita were positively associated with population‐level BMI trajectories

Erratum to: A Study of Metal Free Supercapacitors Using 3D Printing (International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, (2018), 19, 7, (1071-1079), 10.1007/s12541-018-0127-7)

Metal-free supercapacitors were designed and fabricated using a 3D printing process. An attempt was made to use carbon conductive paint to create both current collector and electrode. Two 3D printing techniques were combined and used to manufacture the electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs). The electrode material made from carbon conductive paint and distilled water showed a good electrical performance. The manufacturing process for the EDLCs has been explained in detail and the process showed a good reproducibility. Different thicknesses of electrode were tested and characterized. The results showed that both the mass of the electrode material and the capacitance of the supercapacitor increased as the thickness of the active layer increased. The thickness of the electrode increased 4 times from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, the mass of the electrode material increased nearly 3 times from 0.514 g to 1.498 g, which resulted in the increase of capacitance from 0.133 F to 0.295

Exploring immunisation inequities among migrant and refugee children in New Zealand

Migrants may experience immunisation inequities compared with the host population related to barriers with accessing immunisations in their home countries, while migrating and/or post-arrival. This retrospective cohort study explored vaccination rates among migrant and non-migrant children in New Zealand (NZ). Linked de-identified data from various government sources from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015 were analysed using Statistic NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure. Vaccination rates were compared between three cohorts of children aged up to 5 years: foreign-born children who migrated to NZ; children born in NZ of migrant mothers; and a comparator group of children born in NZ to non-migrant mothers. Less than half of foreign-born children (46%) had a record in the NZ National Immunisation Register compared with 95% and 96% among migrant and non-migrant NZ-born children, respectively. Foreign-born migrant children had lower age-appropriate reported vaccination rates by vaccine of interest, ethnicity and visa category compared with NZ-born children. Migrant children from Pacific ethnicities had lower reported coverage than other ethnicities. High rates of not age-appropriately vaccinated were noted among foreign-born children on refugee, Pacific and humanitarian visa schemes. This study highlights possible shortfalls around immunisation data, particularly about recording vaccinations given overseas for foreign-born children, and potential challenges around engagement with immunisation services for migrant children. However, results highlight the successful engagement of quota refugee children as part of NZ’s refugee orientation programme. It is important to monitor vaccination coverage by migrant and refugee background to inform improvements to policy and practice for wider population health benefits

Changes in clinical disease activity are weakly linked to changes in MRI inflammation on treat-to-target escalation of therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treat-to-target (T2T) regimens often use the disease activity score (28 joints) incorporating C-reactive protein (DAS28CRP) as an outcome measure. We compared changes in the DAS28CRP with changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) inflammation on treatment escalation. Methods Eighty seropositive RA patients with active disease were enrolled. Group A (N = 57) escalated to another conventional disease-modifying therapy (cDMARD) combination, and Group B (N = 23) to anti-TNF therapy/cDMARDs. Contrast-enhanced 3T-MRI wrist scans were obtained before and 4 months after regimen change. Scan pairs were scored for inflammation (MRI(i)) and damage. Disease activity was assessed using the DAS28CRP. Results Eighty patients were enrolled and 66 MRI scan pairs were available for analysis. Intra-reader reliability was high: intraclass correlation coefficient (average) 0.89 (0.56–0.97). ΔDAS28CRP did not differ between groups: Group A, −0.94 (−3.30, 1.61); Group B, −1.53 (−3.59, 0.56) (p = 0.45). ΔMRI(i) also did not differ: Group A, 0 (−25, 10); Group B, −1 (−15, 28) (p = 0.12). Combining groups, ΔMRI(i) correlated weakly with ΔDAS28CRP (Spearman’s 0.36, p = 0.003). Using multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for confounders, ΔDAS28CRP was associated with ΔMRI(i) (p = 0.056). Of the individual MRI measures, only Δtenosynovitis correlated with ΔDAS28CRP (Spearman’s 0.33, p = 0.007). ΔMRI(i) was negatively associated with the MRI erosion score at entry (p = 0.0052). Conclusions We report the first study investigating the link between changes in clinical and imaging inflammation in a real-world RA cohort escalating to conventional and biologic DMARDs. The association was significant but relatively weak, suggesting that MRI targets cannot yet be advocated as outcomes for T2T escalation. Trial registration ANZCTR 12614000895684 . Registered 22 August 2014

Enoxaparin for the prevention of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction in women with a history: a randomized trial

Preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age pregnancy are major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Women with a previous pregnancy affected by these conditions are at an increased risk of recurrence in a future pregnancy. Past trials evaluating the effect of low-molecular-weight heparin for the prevention of recurrence of preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age pregnancy have shown conflicting results with high levels of heterogeneity displayed when trials were compared. We sought to assess the effectiveness of enoxaparin in addition to high-risk care for the prevention of preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age pregnancy in women with a history of these conditions. This was an open-label randomized controlled trial in 5 tertiary care centers in 3 countries. Women with a viable singleton pregnancy were invited to participate between >6(+0) and <16(+0) weeks if deemed to be at high risk of preeclampsia and/or small for gestational age based on their obstetric history. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1-to-1 ratio to standard high-risk care or standard high-risk care plus enoxaparin 40 mg (4000 IU) by subcutaneous injection daily from recruitment until 36(+0) weeks or delivery, whichever occurred sooner. Standard high-risk care was defined as care coordinated by a high-risk antenatal clinic service, aspirin 100 mg daily until 36(+0) weeks, and-for women with prior preeclampsia-calcium 1000-1500 mg daily until 36(+0) weeks. In a subgroup of participants serum samples were taken at recruitment and at 20 and 30 weeks' gestation and later analyzed for soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin, endothelin-1, placental growth factor, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. The primary outcome was a composite of preeclampsia and/or small-for-gestational-age <5th customized birthweight percentile. All data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12609000699268). Between July 26, 2010, and Oct. 28, 2015, a total of 156 participants were enrolled and included in the analysis. In all, 149 participants were included in the outcome analysis (72 receiving standard high-risk care plus enoxaparin and 77 receiving standard high-risk care only). Seven women who miscarried <16 weeks' gestation were excluded. The majority of participants (151/156, 97%) received aspirin. The addition of enoxaparin had no effect on the rate of preeclampsia and/or small-for-gestational-age <5th customized birthweight percentile: enoxaparin 18/72 (25%) vs no enoxaparin 17/77 (22.1%) (odds ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-2.64). There was also no difference in any of the secondary outcome measures. Levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and soluble endoglin increased among those who developed preeclampsia, but there was no difference in levels of these antiangiogenic factors (nor any of the other serum analytes measured) among those treated with enoxaparin compared to those receiving standard high-risk care only. The use of enoxaparin in addition to standard high-risk care does not reduce the risk of recurrence of preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age infants in a subsequent pregnanc

Growing up in New Zealand: A longitudinal study of New Zealand children and their families. Report 2: Now we are born

Growing Up in New Zealand is a longitudinal study that provides an up-to-date, population-relevant picture of what it is like to be a child growing up in New Zealand in the 21st century. It recruited and collected information from both mothers and their partners from before their children were born, and it has undertaken several further data collection waves during the children’s first two years of life. It is unique in terms of its capacity to provide a comprehensive picture of contemporary child development across multiple domains of influence for children born in New Zealand, and for including significant numbers of Māori, Pacific and Asian children as well as New Zealand European and other New Zealanders.From its inception the Growing Up in New Zealand study has been explicitly designed to follow children from before birth until they are young adults, to understand ’what works’ for children and families (rather than primarily focusing on negative outcomes) and to consider pathways of development across multiple domains of influence. This will allow a much better understanding of the complex interplay of all the factors that lead to child outcomes including growth, health, behaviours and cognitive development. The model of child development shaping this study is child centred, but never forgets that children develop in dynamic interactions with their families, communities, environments and societal contexts over time. This conceptual approach to the study acknowledges the growth in our understanding of early child development in the last few decades, with an increasing recognition of the importance of the antenatal period and the first few years of life for shaping future developmental pathways for children.This first longitudinal report describes the children’s development from before their birth and through the critical first nine months of their lives. The report highlights the breadth of information that is available from the children and their families in these early months, but it is not the end of what is possible. There is much to be done yet to describe more fully the associations that exist between the diverse environments that these children are growing up in and their development to date, as well as into the future. These analyses will be undertaken over the next several months as the more detailed level data is fully prepared and more complex modelling is undertaken by the study team. In this report there are examples of what is possible, but these are only indicative of the evidence that is yet to emerge from this rich resource. This evidence will contribute important information about the development of our new generation of New Zealand children that will help to inform strategies to ensure that every child born in 21st century in New Zealand is enabled to thrive, belong and achieve (New Zealand Government, 2011