Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus Infections and Cervical Cytological Abnormalities among Korean Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

We performed a multicenter cross-sectional study of 134 sexually active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and cervical cytological abnormalities among Korean women with SLE. In this multicenter cross-sectional study, HPV testing and routine cervical cytologic examination was performed. HPV was typed using a hybrid method or the polymerase chain reaction. Data on 4,595 healthy women were used for comparison. SLE patients had greater prevalence of high-risk HPV infection (24.6% vs. 7.9%, P<0.001, odds ratio 3.8, 95% confidence interval 2.5-5.7) and of abnormal cervical cytology (16.4 vs. 2.8%, P<0.001, OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.5-7.8) compared with controls. SLE itself was identified as independent risk factors for high risk HPV infection among Korean women (OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.5-5.7) along with ≥2 sexual partners (OR 8.5, 95% CI 1.2-61.6), and Pap smear abnormalities (OR 97.3, 95% CI 6.5-1,456.7). High-risk HPV infection and cervical cytological abnormalities were more common among Korean women with SLE than controls. SLE itself may be a risk factor for HPV infection among Korean women, suggesting the importance of close monitoring of HPV infections and abnormal Pap smears in SLE patients

Nonvolatile Balanced Ternary Memory Based on The Multiferroelectric Material GeSnTe2

Modern computer technology is based on the binary logic system. However, the slowdown of its development calls for transition to multivalued logic (MVL) systems. MVL can yield a denser logic implementation on the same chip area at low cost. More information can be transmitted with the same digits over fewer interconnections, thereby reducing power dissipation. Here, we suggest a novel nonvolatile balanced ternary memory based on the multiferroelectric material GeSnTe2. Two different directions and quantities of electric polarization are found to be stable in atomic-thick two-dimensional structures. The balanced ternary data set of {-1, 0, +1} can be implemented in the two-dimensional material on the nanometer scale. One-shot read/write processes are suggested

Large Pulsed Electron Beam Welded Percolation Networks of Silver Nanowires for Transparent and Flexible Electrodes

Mechanical properties of transparent electrodes, including flexibility, are important in flexible electronics for sustaining electrical conductivity under bending with small radius of curvature. Low contact resistance of junctions in metal nanowire percolation networks is the most important factor to produce electrodes with excellent optical, electrical and mechanical performance. Here, we report the fabrication of welded silver nanowire percolation networks using large pulsed electron beam (LPEB) irradiation as a welding process of silver nanowires (AgNWs). It results in modification of electrical and mechanical properties because of the low contact resistance at welded junctions. Consequently, the flexible and transparent AgNW electrodes fabricated by LPEB irradiation showed lower sheet resistance of 12.63 ?? sq-1 at high transmittance of 93% (at 550 nm), and superb mechanical flexibility, compared with other AgNW electrodes prepared by thermal treatement and without any treatment. Polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) using AgNWs by LPEB irradiation were fabricated to confirm that the AgNW electrode by LPEB irradiation was able to become alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) and they showed good device performance as a maximum luminous efficiency of 7.37 cd A-1, and excellent mechanical flexibility under bending with small radius of curvature.clos

Synergetic donor-donor codoping strategy for enhanced photoelectrochemical activity of hematite

Hematite is a promising semiconductor for photoelectrochemical water splitting owing to its ideal band gap, nontoxicity, abundance, and chemical stability. However, the conversion efficiency remains less than its theoretical limit, which is in part due to a low carrier density. Although efforts have been made to increase the carrier density by incorporating appropriate donor dopants, structural instability caused by high donor doping has restricted the enhancement achieved and the resulting photocatalytic performance. Herein, we used density functional theory calculations to show that an enhanced carrier density and photocatalytic performance can be achieved without causing structural instability by using a donor???donor codoping strategy to introduce a 3d transition metal (Ti/V) and Si into hematite. Despite the Coulombic repulsion among the electrons from donors, the Coulombic attraction between donors with an oxidation number of +4 (Ti4+/V4+) and negatively charged small polarons contribute to a strong binding energy. The compensatory binding energy stabilizes the crystal structure and thus increases the density of carriers, most of which are small polarons. We also suggest that the carrier density can be further enhanced by increasing the ratio of Si interstitial doping, which produces four times more polarons than Si substitutional doping under experimental conditions of high temperature and low oxygen partial pressure. Our findings pave a way for an environment-friendly and efficient photocatalysis toward improvement of hydrogen fuel generation

Organic vegetable juice supplement alleviates hyperlipidemia in diet-induced obese mice and modulates microbial community in continuous colon simulation system

In this study, we investigated the effects of organic vegetable juice (OVJ) supplementation on modulating the microbial community, and how its consumption ameliorated blood-lipid profiles in diet-induced obese mice. Here, we studied the alleviating effect of hyperlipidemia via animal experiments using diet-induced obese mice and analyzed the effect of OVJ on the microbial community in continuous colon simulation system. OVJ consumption did not have a significant effect on weight loss but helped reduce the weight of the epididymis fat tissue and adipocytes. Additionally, blood-lipid profiles, such as triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose, were improved in the OVJ-fed group. Expression levels of genes related to lipid synthesis, including SREBP-1, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS, were significantly decreased. In addition, OVJ treatment significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. OVJ supplement influenced intestinal bacterial composition from phylum to genus level, including decreased Proteobacteria in the ascending colon in the phylum. At the family level, Akkermansia, which are associated with obesity, were significantly augmented in the transverse colon and descending colon compared to the control juice group. In addition, treatment with OVJ affected predicted lipid-metabolism-function genes related to lipid synthesis. These results suggest that OVJ supplementation may modulate gut microbial community and reduce the potential symptom of hyperlipidemia in diet-obese mice

Allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell implantation versus microdrilling combined with high tibial osteotomy for cartilage regeneration

Abstract This study compared cartilage regeneration outcomes in knee osteoarthritis (OA) using allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) implantation and microdrilling with high tibial osteotomy (HTO). Fifty-four patients (60 knees) were included: 24 (27 knees) in the hUCB-MSC group and 30 (33 knees) in the microdrilling group. Both groups showed significant improvements in pain and functional scores at 6, 12, and 24 months compared to baseline. At 24 months, the hUCB-MSC group had significantly improved scores. Arthroscopic assessment at 12 months revealed better cartilage healing in the hUCB-MSC group. In subgroup analysis according to the defect site, hUCB-MSC implantation showed superior cartilage healing for anterior lesions. In conclusion, both treatments demonstrated effectiveness for medial OA. However, hUCB-MSC implantation had better patient-reported outcomes and cartilage regeneration than microdrilling. The study suggests promising approaches for cartilage restoration in large knee defects due to OA

Enhanced outcoupling in down-conversion white organic light-emitting diodes using imprinted microlens array films with breath figure patterns

We demonstrate high-performance down-conversion microlens array (DC-MLA) films for white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The DC-MLA films are readily fabricated by an imprinting method based on breath figure patterns, which are directly formed on the polymer substrate with a novel concept. The DC-MLA films result in high-quality white light as well as enhanced light outcoupling efficiency for white OLEDs. The external quantum efficiency and power efficiency of OLEDs with DC-MLA films are increased by a factor of 1.35 and 1.86, respectively, compared to OLEDs without outcoupling films. Moreover, the white OLEDs with DC-MLA films achieve a high color-rendering index of 84.3. It is anticipated that the novel DC-MLA films fabricated by the simple imprinting process with breath figure patterns can contribute to the development of efficient white OLEDs