Taming the Flow with Hyperbranched Polyamides as Melt Modifiers in Polyamide Composites.

Transport equipment manufacturers in the automotive and aerospace industries are focused on developing materials that enhance fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. A significant approach is employing lightweight materials like aluminum, magnesium, and polymer-based composites. Polyamide-based composites, particularly nylon 66, as viable alternatives due to their excellent rigidity, chemical resistance, and thermal stability are investigated to address the limitations of traditional thermosetting resins, which are difficult to recycle and have lengthy molding processes that hinder mass production.

Electrokinetic Enhancement of Membrane Techniques for Efficient Nanoparticle Separation and Preconcentration.

Efficient separation and preconcentration of nanoparticles are crucial in a wide range of biomedical applications, particularly as target substances continue to diminish in size. In this study, we introduce an electric field-assisted membrane system that synergistically combines oversized-pore membranes with an electrokinetic particle retention mechanism. Utilizing Ti/Au-coated poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membranes, our approach generates electrokinetic forces to effectively separate and retain charged nanoparticles even smaller than the pores, achieving a separation efficiency over 99% and a preconcentration factor of 1.

Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test for Food Allergens Cannot Screen Wheat-Dependent, Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis and α-Gal Syndrome.

Screening tests for specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to food allergens, such as the multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST), are widely used in patients with suspected food allergies in South Korea. We evaluated whether MAST could effectively screen wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) and α-gal syndrome (AGS). We retrospectively reviewed patients with WDEIA and AGS diagnosed with unequivocal history and positive sIgE results for omega-5 gliadin and α-gal using ImmunoCAP, respectively.

Risk reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection conferred by humoral antibody levels among essential workers during Omicron predominance.

The extent to which semi-quantitative antibody levels confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in populations with heterogenous immune histories is unclear. Two nested case-control studies were designed within the multisite HEROES/RECOVER prospective cohort of frontline workers to study the relationship between antibody levels and protection against first-time post-vaccination infection and reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 from December 2021 to January 2023. All participants submitted weekly nasal swabs for rRT-PCR testing and blood samples quarterly and following infection or vaccination.

Comparison of ocular biometry and refractive outcomes using two swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometers.

Background: To evaluate the ocular biometry agreement and prediction of postoperative refractive outcomes obtained using two swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometers: Anterion (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and Argos (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA).

Methods: Ambispective analysis was conducted on 105 eyes at the Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, between June 2021 and March 2022. Biometric values were assessed using both devices before cataract surgery.