A Versatile Ionic Liquid Additive for Perovskite Solar Cells: Surface Modification, Hole Transport Layer Doping, and Green Solvent Processing.

Hole-transport layers (HTL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an n-i-p structure are commonly doped by bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI) salts to enhance hole conduction. While lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) dopant is a widely used and effective dopant, it has significant limitations, including the need for additional solvents and additives, environmental sensitivity, unintended oxidation, and dopant migration, which can lead to lower stability of PSCs. A novel ionic liquid, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (MMPyTFSI), is explored as an alternative dopant for 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD).

1.6-Inch Transparent Micro-Display with Pixel Circuit Integrated microLED Chip Array by Misalignment-Free Transfer.

Recent advances in mass transfer technology are expected to bring next-generation micro light-emitting diodes (µLED) displays into reality, although reliable integration of the active-matrix backplane with the transferred µLEDs remains as a challenge. Here, the µLED display technology is innovated by demonstrating pixel circuit-integrated micro-LEDs (PIMLEDs) and integrating them onto a transparent glass substrate. The PIMLED comprises of low-temperature poly-silicon transistors and GaN µLED.

First Report of Polymorphisms and Genetic Characteristics of Protein Gene () in Cats.

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP) into its infectious isoform (PrP). Although prion diseases in humans, sheep, goats, and cattle have been extensively studied, feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) remains poorly understood. Genetic factors, particularly polymorphisms in the prion protein gene () and protein gene (), have been linked to prion disease susceptibility in various species.

The first meta-analysis of the G96S single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the prion protein gene () with chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer.

Background: Prion diseases are irreversible infectious neurodegenerative diseases caused by a contagious form of prion protein (PrP). Since chronic wasting disease (CWD)-infected white-tailed deer are strong carriers of the prion seed through corpses via scavenger animals, preemptive control based on genetic information for a culling system is necessary. However, the risk of CWD-related genetic variants has not been fully evaluated.

eHealth Communication Intervention to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Middle-School Girls: Development and Usability Study.

Background: As the age of initiating sexual intercourse has gradually decreased among South Korean adolescents, earlier vaccination of adolescents for human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary before their exposure to HPV. Health communication includes "cues to action" that lead to preventive health behaviors, and recently, social networking services, which operate with fewer time and space constraints, have been used in various studies as a form of eHealth communication.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the feasibility and usability of an eHealth communication intervention for HPV vaccination in middle-school girls aimed at the girls and their mothers.

Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Proximal Junctional Kyphosis Following Long Instrumented Fusion from L1 to Sacrum: Age Itself Does Not Independently Increase the Risk.

This study is a retrospective analysis aimed at understanding the incidence and risk factors of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) following long-instrumented spinal fusion from L1 to the sacrum in patients with mild to moderate sagittal imbalance. It recruited consecutive patients undergoing instrumented fusion from L1 to the sacrum for degenerative lumbar disease between June 2006 and November 2019 in a single institution. The patients' preoperative clinical data, muscle status at T12-L1 on magnetic resonance images, and sagittal spinopelvic parameters were analyzed.

Assessment of the therapeutic potential of Hsp70 activator against prion diseases using and models.

Introduction: Prion diseases are deadly neurodegenerative disorders in both animals and humans, causing the destruction of neural tissue and inducing behavioral manifestations. Heat shock proteins (Hsps), act as molecular chaperones by supporting the appropriate folding of proteins and eliminating the misfolded proteins as well as playing a vital role in cell signaling transduction, cell cycle, and apoptosis control. SW02 is a potent activator of Hsp 70 kDa (Hsp70).

The first report of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the open reading frame of the prion-like protein gene in rabbits.

Background: Natural cases of prion disease have not been reported in rabbits, and prior attempts to identify a prion conversion agent have been unsuccessful. However, recent applications of prion seed amplifying experimental techniques have sparked renewed interest in the potential susceptibility of rabbits to prion disease infections. Among several factors related to prion disease, polymorphisms within the prion-like protein gene (), a member of the prion protein family, have been reported as significantly associated with disease susceptibility in various species.

Determining the vertebra for pedicle subtraction osteotomy in surgical correction for ankylosing spondylitis with thoracolumbar kyphosis.

Objective: This study aimed to provide a method for determining the apical vertebra for pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) in corrective surgery for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK).

Methods: The medical records of AS patients with TLK who underwent PSO between May 2009 and August 2022 were retrospectively reviewed, and 235 patients were included in the study. Using the proposed method, choosing the vertebra based on Kim's apex (KA), which is defined as the farthest vertebra from a line drawn from the center of the T10 vertebral body to the midpoint of the S1 upper endplate, the authors analyzed 229 patients with apices at T12, L1, or L2 (excluding L3 because of the small sample size, n = 6).

First Report of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Leporine Shadow of Prion Protein Gene () and Absence of Nonsynonymous SNPs in the Open Reading Frame (ORF) in Rabbits.

Prion disorders are fatal infectious diseases that are caused by a buildup of pathogenic prion protein (PrP) in susceptible mammals. According to new findings, the shadow of prion protein (Sho) encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene () is associated with prion protein (PrP), promoting the progression of prion diseases. Although genetic polymorphisms in are associated with susceptibility to several prion diseases, genetic polymorphisms in the rabbit gene have not been investigated in depth.

The First Genetic Characterization of the Gene in Pekin Ducks ().

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by an accumulation of misfolded prion protein (PrP) in brain tissues. The shadow of prion protein (Sho) encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene () is involved in prion disease progress. The interaction between Sho and PrP accelerates the PrP conversion rate while the gene polymorphisms have been associated with prion disease susceptibility in several species.

Novel polymorphisms and genetic studies of the shadow of prion protein gene () in pheasants.

Background: Prion diseases in mammals are caused by the structural conversion of the natural prion protein (PrP) to a pathogenic isoform, the "scrapie form of prion protein (PrP)." Several studies reported that the shadow of prion protein (Sho), encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene (), is involved in prion disease development by accelerating the conformational conversion of PrP to PrP. Until now, genetic polymorphisms of the gene and the protein structure of Sho related to fragility to prion disease have not been investigated in pheasants, which are a species of poultry.

Microstructural Evolution, Hardness and Wear Resistance of WC-Co-Ni Composite Coatings Fabricated by Laser Cladding.

This study investigated how process parameters of laser cladding affect the microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-12Co composite coating for use as a protective layer of continuous caster rolls. WC-Co powders, WC-Ni powders, and Ni-Cr alloy powder with various wear resistance characteristics were evaluated in order to determine their applicability for use as cladding materials for continuous caster roll coating. The cladding process was conducted with various parameters, including laser powers, cladding speeds, and powder feeding rates, then the phases, microstructure, and micro-hardness of the cladding layer were analyzed in each specimen.

Coronal vertical fracture of vertebral body following minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion: risk factor analysis in consecutive case series.

Background: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of coronal vertical vertebral body fracture (CV-VBF) during lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for degenerative lumbar disease.

Methods: Clinical data, including age, sex, body mass index, and bone mineral density, were reviewed. Radiological assessments, such as facet joint arthrosis, intervertebral disc motion, index disc height, and cage profiles, were conducted.

Characteristics and standards of severe sagittal imbalance in adult patients with spinal deformities: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of "severe" dynamic sagittal imbalance (DSI) in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) and establish criteria for them.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 102 patients with ASD presenting four cardinal signs of lumbar degenerative kyphosis. All patients underwent deformity corrective surgery and were divided into three groups according to the diagnostic criteria based on the Oswestry disability index and dynamic features (△Time: time until C7 sagittal vertical axis [C7SVA] reaches ≥ 20 cm after the start of walking) of sagittal imbalance.

Anterior Column Realignment Through Open Pre-posterior Release-Anterior-Posterior Fusion Versus Hybrid Minimally Invasive-Anterior-Posterior Fusion for Dynamic Sagittal Imbalance of the Spine.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes after anterior column realignment (ACR) through pre-posterior release-anterior-posterior surgery (PAP) and minimally invasive surgery -lateral lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-LLIF) using hybrid anterior-posterior surgery (AP).

Methods: A total of 91 patients who underwent ACR with long fusions from T10 vertebra to the sacropelvis with a follow-up period of at least 2 years after corrective surgery for adult spinal deformity were included and divided into two groups by surgical method: AP and PAP.

No Association between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Polymorphism of the Toll-like Receptor 7 () Gene in Female Population.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a single-stranded RNA virus. Toll-like receptor 7 () recognizes single-stranded RNA viruses. The gene plays a critical role in the human innate and adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infections.

The first report of polymorphisms of the prion protein gene () in Pekin ducks ().

Background: Prion diseases have been extensively reported in various mammalian species and are caused by a pathogenic prion protein (PrP), which is a misfolded version of cellular prion protein (PrP). Notably, no cases of prion disease have been reported in birds. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the prion protein gene () that encodes PrP have been associated with susceptibility to prion diseases in several species.

Elevated E200K Somatic Mutation of the Prion Protein Gene () in the Brain Tissues of Patients with Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a major human prion disease worldwide. CJD is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal prion protein (PrP). To date, the exact etiology of sporadic CJD has not been fully elucidated.

First report of a novel polymorphism and genetic characteristics of the leporine prion protein () gene.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have been reported in a broad spectrum of hosts. The genetic polymorphisms and characteristics of the prion protein () gene have a vital impact on the development of TSEs. Notably, natural TSE infection cases have never been reported in rabbits, and genetic variations of the leporine gene have not been investigated to date.

Ions-Silica Percolated Ionic Dielectric Elastomer Actuator for Soft Robots.

Soft robotics systems are currently under development using ionic electroactive polymers (i-EAP) as soft actuators for the human-machine interface. However, this endeavor has been impeded by the dilemma of reconciling the competing demands of force and strain in i-EAP actuators. Here, the authors present a novel design called "ions-silica percolated ionic dielectric elastomer (i-SPIDER)", which exhibits ionic liquid-confined silica microstructures that effectively resolve the chronic issue of conventional i-EAP actuators.

Identification of a novel risk factor for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk: S100G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the prion protein gene (PRNP).

Prion diseases are fatal and malignant infectious encephalopathies induced by the pathogenic form of prion protein (PrP) originating from benign prion protein (PrP). A previous study reported that the M132L single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the prion protein gene (PRNP) is associated with susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk. However, a recent meta-analysis integrated previous studies that did not find an association between the M132L SNP and susceptibility to CWD.

Self-recovering passive cooling utilizing endothermic reaction of NHNO/HO driven by water sorption for photovoltaic cell.

Power efficiency of photovoltaic cell is significantly affected by the cell temperature. Here, a self-recovering passive cooling unit is developed. The water-saturated zeolite 13X is coated on the back side of photovoltaic cell, and ammonium nitrate is dispersed as a layer to form a thin film.

Reoperation depending on time period following pedicle subtraction osteotomy for thoracolumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate time-dependent rates and indications of unplanned reoperation and to evaluate the most common indication depending on the time interval after pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) for correction of thoracolumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: A total of 321 consecutive patients with AS (284 men; mean age 43.8 years) with thoracolumbar kyphosis who underwent PSO were included.