Micro-Segregated Liquid Crystal Haze Films for Photovoltaic Applications: A Novel Strategy to Fabricate Haze Films Employing Liquid Crystal Technology

Herein, a novel strategy to fabricate haze films employing liquid crystal (LC) technology for photovoltaic (PV) applications is reported. We fabricated a high optical haze film composed of low-molecular LCs and polymer and applied the film to improve the energy conversion efficiency of PV module. The technique utilized to fabricate our haze film is based on spontaneous polymerization-induced phase separation between LCs and polymers. With optimized fabrication conditions, the haze film exhibited an optical haze value over 95% at 550 nm. By simply attaching our haze film onto the front surface of a silicon-based PV module, an overall average enhancement of 2.8% in power conversion efficiency was achieved in comparison with a PV module without our haze film

Meridianin C inhibits the growth of YD-10B human tongue cancer cells through macropinocytosis and the down-regulation of Dickkopf-related protein-3

Meridianin C is a marine natural product known for its anti‐cancer activity. At present, the anti‐tumour effects of meridianin C on oral squamous cell carcinoma are unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of meridianin C on the proliferation of four different human tongue cancer cells, YD‐8, YD‐10B, YD‐38 and HSC‐3. Among the cells tested, meridianin C most strongly reduced the growth of YD‐10B cells; the most aggressive and tumorigenic of the cell lines tested. Strikingly, meridianin C induced a significant accumulation of macropinosomes in the YD‐10B cells; confirmed by the microscopic and TEM analysis as well as the entry of FITC‐dextran, which was sensitive to the macropinocytosis inhibitor amiloride. SEM data also revealed abundant long and thin membrane extensions that resemble lamellipodia on the surface of YD‐10B cells treated with meridianin C, pointing out that meridianin C‐induced macropinosomes was the result of macropinocytosis. In addition, meridianin C reduced cellular levels of Dickkopf‐related protein‐3 (DKK‐3), a known negative regulator of macropinocytosis. A role for DKK‐3 in regulating macropinocytosis in the YD‐10B cells was confirmed by siRNA knockdown of endogenous DKK‐3, which led to a partial accumulation of vacuoles and a reduction in cell proliferation, and by exogenous DKK‐3 overexpression, which resulted in a considerable inhibition of the meridianin C‐induced vacuole formation and decrease in cell survival. In summary, this is the first study reporting meridianin C has novel anti‐proliferative effects via macropinocytosis in the highly tumorigenic YD‐10B cell line and the effects are mediated in part through down‐regulation of DKK‐3

Pulmonary Complications After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Despite advanced effective prophylaxes, pulmonary complications still occur in a high proportion of all hematopoietic stem cell recipients, accounting for considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to describe the causes, incidences and mortality rates secondary to pulmonary complications and risk factors of such complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We reviewed the medical records of 287 patients who underwent either autologous or allogeneic HSCT for hematologic disorders from February 1996 to October 2003 at Samsung Medical Center (134 autografts, 153 allografts). The timing of pulmonary complications was divided into pre-engraftment, early and late period. The spectrum of pulmonary complications included infectious and non-infectious conditions. 73 of the 287 patients (25.4%) developed pulmonary complications. Among these patients, 40 (54.8%) and 29 (39.7%) had infectious and non-infectious conditions, respectively. The overall mortality rate from pulmonary complications was 28.8%. Allogeneic transplant, grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and extensive chronic GVHD were the risk factors with statistical significance for pulmonary complications after HSCT. The mortality rates from pulmonary complications following HSCT were high, especially those of viral and fungal pneumonia, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

비글견에서 DSP 유도 합성 펩타이드를 이용한 직접 치수 복조술에 대한 조직학적 연구

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pulpal response to direct pulp capping with dentin sialoprotein (DSP) -derived synthetic peptide in teeth of dogs, and to compare its efficacy to capping substances Ca(OH)₂and white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA). A total of 72 teeth of 6 healthy male beagle dogs were used. The mechanically exposed pulps were capped with one of the following: (1) DSP-derived synthetic peptide (PEP group): (2) Ca(OH)₂(CH group): (3) a mixture paste of peptide and Ca(OH)₂(PEP+CH group): or (4) white MTA (WMTA group). The access cavity was restored with a reinforced glass ionomer cement. Two dogs were sacrificed at each pre-determined intervals (2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months). After the specimens were prepared for standard histological processing, sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Under a light microscope, inflammatory response and hard tissue formation were evaluated in a blind manner by 2 observers. In the PEP group, only 3 of 17 specimens showed hard tissue formation, indication that the DSP-derived synthetic peptide did not induce proper healing of the pulp. Compared with the CH group, the PEP group demonstrated an increased inflammatory response and poor hard tissue formation. The CH and WMTA groups showed similar results for direct pulp capping in mechanically exposed teeth of dogs. 본 연구에서는 DSP (dentin sialoprotein)에서 유래된 합성 펩타이드를 동물실험 모델에 적용하여 치수노출 부위에서 상아질 재생을 확인하고, 기존 치 수복조제와의 성능 비교를 통해 새로운 치수복조제로서의 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 6마리 비글견의 73개의 치아를 이용하여, 실험적으로 치수를 노출하고 직접 치수 복조술을 시행하였다. 사용한 치수복조제는 (1) Ca(OH)₂(CH군) (2) DSP유도 합성 펩타이드 (PEP군) (3) 합성 펩타이드와 Ca(OH)₂혼합제 (PEP+CH군) (4) White MTA (WMTA군) 이다. 노출된 치수에 치수복조제를 적용한 후 와동은 강화형 글라스 아이오노머로 충전하였다. 시술 후 2주, 1 개월 및 3개월에 각각 2마리씩 비글견을 희생시키고 조직시편을 제작하였다. 시편은 H&E 염색 후 광학 현미경으로 치수 염증 반응과 경조직 형성 정도를 관찰하였다. PEP군에서는 17개의 시편 중 3 개의 시편에서만 경조직 형성을 관찰할 수 있었으며, 대부분의 시편에서 적절한 치수 회복을 관찰할 수 없었다. PEP군은 CH군에 비해 심한 염증반응을 보이고, 경조직 형성은 불량하였다. CH군과 WMTA군은 기계적으로 노출된 치수에서의 염증반응과 경조직 형성에 있어서 유사한 결과를 보였다

Autotransplantation of Teeth with Complete Root Formation: a Case Series

Introduction: Autotransplantation is a viable option for treating missing teeth when a donor tooth is available. This retrospective study reports the success rate for the autotransplantation of 19 molars with complete root formation. Methods: The study enrolled 19 patients (11 men and 8 women) in whom 19 molars were transplanted. The mean age was 38.5 years (range, 19-67). The transplanted third molars were stabilized with a silk suture or wire splint for 2 to 3 weeks. Root canal treatment of the transplanted teeth was performed before surgery in six patients and 1 to 2 weeks after transplantation in 13 patients. Postoperatively, the marginal and periapical conditions were examined clinically and radiographically. Results: In 16 of the 19 cases, the outcome met the success criteria, for an 84% success rate. Conclusions: In autogenous tooth transplantation, even if the donor tooth has complete root formation, a high success rate can be achieved if the cases are selected and treated properly

Autotransplantation of Teeth with Complete Root Formation: A Case Series

Introduction: Autotransplantation is a viable option for treating missing teeth when a donor tooth is available. This retrospective study reports the success rate for the autotransplantation of 19 molars with complete root formation. Methods: The study enrolled 19 patients (11 men and 8 women) in whom 19 molars were transplanted. The mean age was 38.5 years (range, 19-67). The transplanted third molars were stabilized with a silk suture or wire splint for 2 to 3 weeks. Root canal treatment of the transplanted teeth was performed before surgery in six patients and 1 to 2 weeks after transplantation in 13 patients. Postoperatively, the marginal and periapical conditions were examined clinically and radiographically. Results: In 16 of the 19 cases, the outcome met the success criteria, for an 84% success rate. Conclusions: In autogenous tooth transplantation, even if the donor tooth has complete root formation, a high success rate can be achieved if the cases are selected and treated properly. (J Endod 2010; 36:1422-1426)

Design Optimization of ESD (Emergency ShutDown) System for Offshore Process Based on Reliability Analysis

Hydrocarbon leaks have a major accident potential and it could give significant damages to human, property and environment.To prevent these risks from the leak in design aspects, installation of ESD system is representative. Because the ESD system should be operated properly at any time, It needs high reliability and much cost. To make ESD system with high reliability and reasonable cost, it is a need to find specific design method.In this study, we proposed the multi-objective design optimization method and performed the optimization of the ESD system for 1st separation system to satisfy high reliability and cost-effective.‘NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II)’ was applied and two objective functions of ‘Reliability’ and ‘Cost’ of system were defined. Six design variables were set to related variables for system configuration. To verify the result of the optimization, the results of existing design and optimum design were compared in aspects of reliability and cost. With the optimization method proposed from this study, it was possible to derive the reliable and economical design of the ESD system

Design Optimization of ESD (Emergency ShutDown) System for Offshore Process Based on Reliability Analysis

Hydrocarbon leaks have a major accident potential and it could give significant damages to human, property and environment.To prevent these risks from the leak in design aspects, installation of ESD system is representative. Because the ESD system should be operated properly at any time, It needs high reliability and much cost. To make ESD system with high reliability and reasonable cost, it is a need to find specific design method.In this study, we proposed the multi-objective design optimization method and performed the optimization of the ESD system for 1st separation system to satisfy high reliability and cost-effective.‘NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II)’ was applied and two objective functions of ‘Reliability’ and ‘Cost’ of system were defined. Six design variables were set to related variables for system configuration. To verify the result of the optimization, the results of existing design and optimum design were compared in aspects of reliability and cost. With the optimization method proposed from this study, it was possible to derive the reliable and economical design of the ESD system