Impact of the Electrode Material on the Performance of Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells.

Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are promising candidates for fully solution-processed lighting applications because they can comprise a single active-material layer and air-stable electrodes. While their performance is often claimed to be independent of the electrode material selection due to the in situ formation of electric double layers (EDLs), we demonstrate conceptually and experimentally that this understanding needs to be modified. Specifically, the exciton generation zone is observed to be affected by the electrode work function.

Characterization of high-affinity antibodies against the surface Gc protein of / severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) or is an emerging pathogen responsible for SFTS. It is considered a novel threat to human health, given the high associated fatality. SFTSV is a segmented negative-strand RNA virus containing three single-stranded RNAs, with the M segment encoding the glycoproteins Gn and Gc.

Improved Neural Inductivity of Size-Controlled 3D Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using Magnetic Nanoparticles.

To improve the efficiency of neural development from human embryonic stem cells, human embryoid body (hEB) generation is vital through 3-dimensional formation. However, conventional approaches still have limitations: long-term cultivation and laborious steps for lineage determination. In this study, we controlled the size of hEBs for ectodermal lineage specification using cell-penetrating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which resulted in reduced time required for initial neural induction.

Effects of Interfacial Electron Transport on Field Electron Emission from Carbon Nanotube Paste Emitters.

Field electron emission from carbon nanotubes (CNT) is preceded by the transport of electrons from the cathode metal to emission sites. Specifically, a supporting layer indispensable for adhesion of CNT paste emitters onto the cathode metal would impose a potential barrier, depending on its work function and interfacial electron transport behaviors. In this paper, we investigated the supporting layer of silicon carbide and nickel nanoparticles reacted onto a Kovar alloy (Fe-Ni-Co) cathode substrate, which has been adopted for reliable CNT paste emitters.

Implementation and evaluation of an end-of-life care education program for oncology nurses working in medical-surgical wards: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: The issue of a good death for cancer patients is becoming more prevalent. Hence, nurses' end-of-life work performance and stress levels in medical-surgical wards can significantly impact the quality of life of cancer patients and their caregivers. This study aimed to develop an end-of-life care education program for nurses taking care of cancer patients in medical-surgical ward and verify the program's preliminary effect.

Enhanced osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells using size-controlled graphene oxide flakes.

Recently, it has been revealed that the physical microenvironment can be translated into cellular mechanosensing to direct human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation. Graphene oxide (GO), a major derivative of graphene, has been regarded as a promising material for stem cell lineage specification due to its biocompatibility and unique physical properties to interact with stem cells. Especially, the lateral size of GO flakes is regarded as the key factor regulating cellular response caused by GO.

An Fc variant with two mutations confers prolonged serum half-life and enhanced effector functions on IgG antibodies.

The pH-selective interaction between the immunoglobulin G (IgG) fragment crystallizable region (Fc region) and the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is critical for prolonging the circulating half-lives of IgG molecules through intracellular trafficking and recycling. By using directed evolution, we successfully identified Fc mutations that improve the pH-dependent binding of human FcRn and prolong the serum persistence of a model IgG antibody and an Fc-fusion protein. Strikingly, trastuzumab-PFc29 and aflibercept-PFc29, a model therapeutic IgG antibody and an Fc-fusion protein, respectively, when combined with our engineered Fc (Q311R/M428L), both exhibited significantly higher serum half-lives in human FcRn transgenic mice than their counterparts with wild-type Fc.

A potential treatment option for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Three cases.

Objective: Recent progress in targeted therapy and immunotherapy has reduced the mortality of advanced-stage patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, despite advances in treatment, only some patients are eligible for and benefit from genome-targeted therapy, while few patients are ineligible for genome-driven therapy or have limited treatment options due to performance status, comorbidity, and adverse events or rejection of chemotherapy.

Clinical Features And Outcomes: We report the cases of three patients with advanced NSCLC who were not available to continue conventional anticancer therapy, who were able to maintain progression-free survival (PFS) or disease-free survival (DFS), and who have shown symptom amelioration after treatment with herbal Medicine.

Therapeutic effects of TM4SF5-targeting chimeric and humanized monoclonal antibodies in hepatocellular and colon cancer models.

The transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) is aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular and colorectal cancers, and has been implicated in tumor progression, suggesting that it could serve as a novel therapeutic target. Previously, we screened a murine antibody phage-display library to generate a novel monoclonal antibody, Ab27, that is specific to the extracellular loop 2 of TM4SF5. In this study, we evaluated the effects of chimeric Ab27 using cancer cells expressing endogenous TM4SF5 or stably overexpressing TM4SF5 and .

Patient discomfort levels during instrumentation procedure using nickel-titanium files with different kinetic movements.

This study evaluated the perceived vibration, noise and discomfort levels associated with two nickel-titanium file systems with different kinetics; reciprocating motion (REC) using WaveOne Gold and continuous rotation motion (CON) using ProTaper NEXT. Forty roots with two canals from maxillary premolar and molar of 40 patients were included. Root canals were instrumented using each system for each canal.

Solvent-Free Mechanochemical Post-Polymerization Modification of Ionic Polymers.

Despite their superior stability and facile handling, ionic polymers have limited solubility in most organic solvents, restricting the range of substrates and reaction conditions to which they can be applied. To overcome this solubility issue, the present study presents a solvent-free mechanochemical reaction. Specifically, a post-polymerization modification of ammonium-functionalized polyether was demonstrated using a solvent-free vibrational ball-milling technique.

Chemical Upcycling of Waste Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) to 1,4,2-Dioxazol-5-ones and One-Pot C-H Amidation.

Chemical upcycling of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC) was achieved in this study with hydroxamic acid nucleophiles, giving rise to synthetically valuable 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones and bisphenol A. Using 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.

Enhanced interfacial reaction of silicon carbide fillers onto the metal substrate in carbon nanotube paste for reliable field electron emitters.

Adhesion of carbon nanotube (CNT) onto a cathode substrate is very crucial for field electron emitters that are operating under high electric fields. As a supporting precursor of CNT field emitters, we adopted silicon carbide (SiC) nano-particle fillers with Ni particles and then enhanced interfacial reactions onto Kovar-alloy substrates through the optimized wet pulverization process of SiC aggregates for reliable field electron emitters. As-purchased SiC aggregates were efficiently pulverized from 20 to less than 1 micro-meter in a median value (D50).

A potential treatment option for elderly non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with multiple comorbidities: Two case reports and literature review.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous lymphoproliferative malignancy. More than half of the NHL cases occur in patients over 65 years of age. As elderly patients have a poor performance status and multiple comorbidities, the use of standard chemotherapy is often limited, leading to poor clinical outcomes and an increasing need for an alternate therapeutic modalities.

Selection and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus through a Human Synthetic Fab Phage Display Library Panning.

Since its first report in the Middle East in 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has become a global concern due to the high morbidity and mortality of individuals infected with the virus. Although the majority of MERS-CoV cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia, the overall risk in areas outside the Middle East remains significant as inside Saudi Arabia. Additional pandemics of MERS-CoV are expected, and thus novel tools and reagents for therapy and diagnosis are urgently needed.

Targeting metastatic breast cancer with peptide epitopes derived from autocatalytic loop of Prss14/ST14 membrane serine protease and with monoclonal antibodies.

Background: In order to develop a new immunotherapeutic agent targeting metastatic breast cancers, we chose to utilize autocatalytic feature of the membrane serine protease Prss14/ST14, a specific prognosis marker for ER negative breast cancer as a target molecule.

Methods: The study was conducted using three mouse breast cancer models, 4 T1 and E0771 mouse breast cancer cells into their syngeneic hosts, and an MMTV-PyMT transgenic mouse strain was used. Prss14/ST14 knockdown cells were used to test function in tumor growth and metastasis, peptides derived from the autocatalytic loop for activation were tested as preventive metastasis vaccine, and monoclonal and humanized antibodies to the same epitope were tested as new therapeutic candidates.

Small Data and Its Visualization for Diabetes Self-Management: Qualitative Study.

Background: As digital healthcare expands to include the use of mobile devices, there are opportunities to integrate these technologies into the self-management of chronic disease. Purpose built apps for diabetes self-management are plentiful and vary in functionality; they offer capability for individuals to record, manage, display, and interpret their own data. The optimal incorporation of mobile tablets into diabetes self-care is little explored in research, and guidelines for use are scant.

Mechanochemical synthesis of poly(trimethylene carbonate)s: an example of rate acceleration.

Mechanochemical polymerization is a rapidly growing area and a number of polymeric materials can now be obtained through green mechanochemical synthesis. In addition to the general merits of mechanochemistry, such as being solvent-free and resulting in high conversions, we herein explore rate acceleration under ball-milling conditions while the conventional solution-state synthesis suffer from low reactivity. The solvent-free mechanochemical polymerization of trimethylene carbonate using the organocatalysts 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.

Effects of non-paretic arm movements during bridge exercises on trunk muscle activity in stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of non-paretic arm movement during the bridge exercise on trunk muscle activity in stroke patients. [Participants and Methods] In total, 18 stroke patients were recruited. Surface EMG electrodes were attached over the trunk muscles (rectus abdominis, RA; internal oblique, IO; erector spinae, ES), and three kinds of bridge exercises were performed: 1) 'standard' bridge, 2) bridge with unilateral isometric arm flexion, and 3) bridge with unilateral isometric arm horizontal abduction.

Meta-analysis of cytokine and C-reactive protein levels in high-risk psychosis.

Objective: Schizophrenia is associated with aberrant blood cytokine and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. However, less is known about alterations in these markers prior to the onset of psychosis. We performed a meta-analysis of blood cytokines and CRP in subjects at high-risk for psychosis.

Migration of lead and arsenic from food contact paper into a food simulant and assessment of their consumer exposure safety.

Paper is one of the most commonly used food packaging materials. During the production of packaging paper, it is possible for trace amounts of heavy metals to be incorporated as contaminants. These could migrate into food when packaging paper (food contact paper) is used for cooking, storing and eating.

Release of -nitrosamines and -nitrosatable substances from baby bottle teats and rubber kitchen tools in Korea.

Ensuring the safety of baby bottle teats and kitchen tools made from rubber is critical. Therefore, the migration of -nitrosamines and -nitrosatable substances from 30 teats and 45 kitchen tools to artificial saliva was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method was validated by assessing the limits of detection (0.

Fast and simple determination and exposure assessment of bisphenol A, phenol, p-tert-butylphenol, and diphenylcarbonate transferred from polycarbonate food-contact materials to food simulants.

Polycarbonate (PC) plastics find extensive use in baby bottles, food storage containers, and various kitchen items. Possibly hazardous chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), phenol, p-tert-butylphenol (TBP), and diphenylcarbonate (DPC), are source materials or by-products from PC production. Therefore, a fast and simple analytical method was developed to determine and assess the exposure of BPA, phenol, TBP, and DPC transferred from PC food-contact materials to four different food simulants (water, 4% acetic acid, 50% ethanol, and n-heptane) at different temperatures.

Enhanced device performances of a new inverted top-emitting OLEDs with relatively thick Ag electrode.

To improve the device performances of top-emitting organic light emitting diodes (TEOLEDs), we developed a new inverted TEOLEDs structure with silver (Ag) metal as a semi-transparent top electrode. Especially, we found that the use of relatively thick Ag electrode without using any carrier injection layer is beneficial to realize highly efficient device performances. Also, we could insert very thick overlying hole transport layer (HTL) on the emitting layer (EML) which could be very helpful to suppress the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) coupling if it is applied to the common bottom-emission OLEDs (BEOLEDs).