163559 research outputs found
Sort by
Efficient Polycrystalline Single-Cation Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes by Simultaneous Intracrystal and Interfacial Defect Passivation
No full textPolycrystalline perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have shown great promise with high efficiency and easy processability. However, PeLEDs using single-cation polycrystalline perovskite emitters have demonstrated low efficiency due to defects within the grains and at the interfaces between the perovskite layer and the charge injection contact. Thus, simultaneous defect engineering of perovskites to suppress exciton loss within the grains and at the interfaces is crucial for achieving high efficiency in PeLEDs. Here, 1,8-octanedithiol which is a strong nucleophile, is used to increase the luminescence efficiency of a single-cation perovskite by suppressing non-radiative recombination within the grains of their polycrystalline emitter film as well as at their interface with an anode. The dithiol additive performs a multifunctional role in defect passivation, spatial confinement of excitons, and prevention of exciton quenching at the interface between the perovskite layer and the underlying hole-injection layer. Photoluminescence studies demonstrate that incorporating the dithiol additive significantly enhances the charge carrier dynamics in perovskites, resulting in an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of up to 23.46% even in a simplified PeLED that does not use a hole-injection layer. This represents the highest level of EQE achieved among devices utilizing polycrystalline single-cation perovskites.Y
HangCon: Benchmark Data Set for Enhanced Detection of Hanging Objects in Construction Sites
No full textLifting operations on construction sites pose significant safety risks due to the potential hazard of falling objects. Effective monitoring of hanging objects is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring worker safety. However, detecting hanging objects presents unique challenges for existing models, including the invariance in object shapes regardless of their hanging status, complex backgrounds that obscure ropes, and the diversity of hanging objects in terms of size, shape, and texture. To address these challenges, this study introduces HangCon (Hanging Objects in Construction Sites), a novel data set specifically designed for detecting "hanging objects"-loads suspended by tower cranes. HangCon contains 101,381 images, split between 50,842 images of hanging objects and 50,539 images of nonhanging objects, providing detailed annotations and diverse scenes. To evaluate HangCon's effectiveness, this study conducted experiments using 10 benchmark models. The results highlighted the challenges in detecting hanging objects, with the best mAP at 71.63% for hanging objects alone, improving to 76.01% with unified annotations of objects and ropes. These findings highlight the complexity of detecting hanging objects and emphasize the necessity to implement advanced techniques such as semantic segmentation, depth estimation, and improved rope line detection. HangCon serves as a crucial resource for developing and refining detection models tailored to construction environments, significantly contributing to improved safety and operational efficiency on construction sites. By offering a comprehensive and well-annotated collection of images, HangCon facilitates the training and benchmarking of object detection models specifically for construction environments.N
PhenoFlow: A Human-LLM Driven Visual Analytics System for Exploring Large and Complex Stroke Datasets
No full textAcute stroke demands prompt diagnosis and treatment to achieve optimal patient outcomes. However, the intricate and irregular nature of clinical data associated with acute stroke, particularly blood pressure (BP) measurements, presents substantial obstacles to effective visual analytics and decision-making. Through a year-long collaboration with experienced neurologists, we developed PhenoFlow, a visual analytics system that leverages the collaboration between human and Large Language Models (LLMs) to analyze the extensive and complex data of acute ischemic stroke patients. PhenoFlow pioneers an innovative workflow, where the LLM serves as a data wrangler while neurologists explore and supervise the output using visualizations and natural language interactions. This approach enables neurologists to focus more on decision-making with reduced cognitive load. To protect sensitive patient information, PhenoFlow only utilizes metadata to make inferences and synthesize executable codes, without accessing raw patient data. This ensures that the results are both reproducible and interpretable while maintaining patient privacy. The system incorporates a slice-and-wrap design that employs temporal folding to create an overlaid circular visualization. Combined with a linear bar graph, this design aids in exploring meaningful patterns within irregularly measured BP data. Through case studies, PhenoFlow has demonstrated its capability to support iterative analysis of extensive clinical datasets, reducing cognitive load and enabling neurologists to make well-informed decisions. Grounded in long-term collaboration with domain experts, our research demonstrates the potential of utilizing LLMs to tackle current challenges in data-driven clinical decision-making for acute ischemic stroke patientsN
Reducing Healing Period with DDM/rhBMP-2 Grafting for Early Loading in Dental Implant Surgery
No full textBackground: Traditionally, dental implants require a healing period of 4 to 9 months for osseointegration, with longer recovery times considered when bone grafting is needed. This retrospective study evaluates the clinical efficacy of demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) combined with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) during dental implant placement to expedite the osseointegration period for early loading. Methods: Thirty patients (17 male, 13 female; mean age 55.0 +/- 8.8 years) requiring bone grafts due to implant fixture exposure (more than four threads; >= 3.2 mm) were included, with a total of 96 implants placed. Implants were inserted using a two-stage protocol with DDM/rhBMP-2 grafts. Early loading was initiated at two months postoperatively in the mandible and three months in the maxilla. Clinical outcomes evaluated included primary and secondary stability (implant stability quotient values), healing period, bone width, and marginal bone level assessed via cone-beam computed tomography. Results: All implants successfully supported final prosthetics with a torque of 50Ncm, without any osseointegration failures. The average healing period was 69.6 days in the mandible and 90.5 days in the maxilla, with significantly higher secondary stability in the mandible (80.7 +/- 6.7) compared to the maxilla (73.0 +/- 9.2, p < 0.001). Histological analysis confirmed new bone formation and vascularization. Conclusion: DDM/rhBMP-2 grafting appears to significantly reduce the healing period, enabling early loading with stable and favorable clinical outcomes.Y
Longitudinal Trajectories of Asthma and Allergic Comorbidities in the Korean Childhood Asthma Study
No full textPurpose: Studies on the longitudinal clinical features of asthma or allergic comorbidities in children are limited. We aimed to examine the trajectories of asthma and allergic comorbidities and determine whether these trajectories differ according to clinical asthma phenotypes from birth to adolescence. Methods: We enrolled 958 children with physician-diagnosed asthma from the Korean childhood Asthma Study (KAS) cohort. Children with asthma were classified using hierarchical cluster analysis. Information on the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases before cohort entry was collected through linkage with national claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Results: In the KAS cohort, approximately half had a history of atopic dermatitis (AD) before infancy, with its prevalence gradually decreasing during adolescence. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) increased with age. The prevalence of asthma increased during early childhood and decreased during adolescence. According to the natural progression of asthma, AD, and AR trajectories, 4 distinctive phenotypes were identified using latent class analysis: "almost controlled," "early-onset asthma with AD and late-onset AR," "early-onset asthma only," and "intermediate-onset asthma and late-onset AR." Four distinct clinical trajectory patterns of asthma, AD, and AR were identified among the 4 cluster phenotypes based on baseline characteristics. Cluster 1 comprised male-dominant, atopic asthma with early-onset AD and late-onset AR. Cluster 2 included early-onset, atopic asthma with AD" persistent into adolescence. Cluster 3 encompassed "puberty-onset, female-dominant atopic asthma" with early-onset and low remission rates. Cluster 4 comprised "early-onset asthma with less atopic features" and the lowest comorbidities of AD and AR. Conclusions: The longitudinal trajectories of asthma and allergic comorbidities in Korean children can be classified into distinct clusters. Most phenotypes exhibited early-onset asthma with a varying prevalence of comorbidities. The persistence of AD, rather than its onset age, determines the phenotype.N
Long-Term Outcome of Tofacitinib Treatment for Systemic Autoimmune Disease-Associated Refractory Scleritis
No full textPurposeTo report the long-term outcome of three refractory anterior scleritis cases successfully treated with tofacitinib, a Janus-associated kinase inhibitor.MethodsThree patients with systemic autoimmune disease-associated anterior scleritis (two with rheumatoid arthritis and one with systemic lupus erythematosus), resistant to conventional immunomodulatory therapy, were subsequently treated with tofacitinib (10 mg/day).ResultsTofacitinib resulted in complete resolution of scleritis in all patients. During the 39-78 months of follow-up, no recurrence of scleritis occurred, and no adverse effects associated with tofacitinib were noted. At the last follow-up, all patients were free of scleritis with two patients receiving tofacitinib monotherapy and one without.ConclusionTofacitinib can be a safe and effective treatment for noninfectious refractory scleritis, warranting further investigation in large clinical trials.N
Regulation of Ferroptosis in Cancer and Immune Cells
No full textFerroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, is driven by lipid peroxidation and shaped by metabolic and antioxidant pathways. In immune cells, ferroptosis susceptibility varies by cell types, lipid composition, and metabolic demands, influencing immune responses in cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases. Therapeutically, targeting ferroptosis holds promise in cancer immunotherapy by enhancing antitumor immunity or inhibiting immunosuppressive cells. This review highlights the metabolic pathways underlying ferroptosis, its regulation in immune cells, its dual role in tumor progression and antitumor immunity, and its context-dependent therapeutic implications for optimizing cancer treatment.Y
SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus dysregulates hematopoiesis and induces inflammaging of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
No full textSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection primarily affects the respiratory system but may induce hematological alterations such as anemia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. Previous studies have reported that SARS-CoV-2 efficiently infects hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs); however, the subsequent effects on hematopoiesis and immune reconstitution have not yet been described. Here we evaluated the pathological effects of infection of umbilical-cord-blood-derived HSPCs with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant pseudovirus (PsV). Transcriptomic analysis of Omicron PsV-infected HSPCs revealed the upregulation of genes involved in inflammation, aging and the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting a potential trigger of inflammaging. Omicron PsV-infected HSPCs presented decreased numbers of multipotential progenitors (granulocyte-erythrocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte colony-forming units) ex vivo and repopulated primitive hematopoietic stem cells (Ki-67-hCD34+ cells) in an HSPC transplantation NOD-scid IL2r gamma null mouse model (Omicron mouse). Furthermore, Omicron PsV infection induced myeloid-biased differentiation of HSPCs. Treatment with nanographene oxide, an antiviral agent, partially mitigated the myeloid bias and inflammaging phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. These findings provide insights into the abnormal hematopoietic and immune effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and highlight potential therapeutic interventions.Y
Aromatic Amino Acid Metabolites: Molecular Messengers Bridging Immune-Microbiota Communication
No full textAromatic amino acid (AAA) metabolites, derived from tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine through coordinated host and microbial metabolism, have emerged as critical modulators of immune function. We examine the complex journey of AAAs from dietary intake through intestinal absorption and metabolic transformation, highlighting the crucial role of host-microbe metabolic networks in generating diverse immunomodulatory compounds. This review provides a unique integrative perspective by mapping the molecular mechanisms through which these metabolites orchestrate immune responses. Through detailed analysis of metabolite-receptor and metabolite-transporter interactions, we reveal how specific molecular recognition drives cell type-specific immune responses. Our comprehensive examination of signaling networks-from membrane receptor engagement to nuclear receptor activation to post-translational modifications- demonstrates how the same metabolite can elicit distinct functional outcomes in different immune cell populations. The context-dependent nature of these molecular interactions presents both challenges and opportunities for therapeutic development, particularly in inflammatory conditions where metabolite signaling pathways are dysregulated. Understanding the complexity of these regulatory networks and remaining knowledge gaps is fundamental for advancing metabolite-based therapeutic strategies in immune-mediated disorders.Y
Positive surface air temperature trends in a subarctic region: Analyzing the changes in dominant periodic components and energy budget
No full textOver the past few decades, global warming has significantly impacted permafrost regions, reflecting the amplification in Arctic temperature changes. To better understand climate variability and the changes in permafrost regions, in this study, we examined the changes in the surface air temperature (SAT) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia, Russia) from 1971 to 2022. The data from 18 meteorological stations were considered to assess the SAT trends, percentage change (PC), and dominant periodic components across the region. Additionally, the trends of the snow depth (SD) and energy budget components (EBCs), including the net radiation (NR) and latent and sensible heat (LH and SH, respectively), were investigated to elucidate the possible reasons for the SAT trends. The results confirmed a significant increase in the SAT at all stations at both the monthly and seasonal timescales. The monthly SAT trends ranged from 0.002 degrees C/month to 0.007 degrees C/month, with considerable variations in the autumn and spring seasons. The dominant periodicity components that affected the SAT monthly trends were the 16- and 32-month across all the stations. For individual seasons, the 4- and 8-year periodic components were identified as the most dominant periodic components to affect the SAT, EBC, and SD trends. Our study can serve as a foundation for future investigations on the changes in dominant periodic components and energy budgets in subarctic regions due to global warming, thereby supporting the ongoing efforts toward climate change mitigation.N