The Association Between Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis and the Progress of Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whether chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) influences the risk of development and the progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains uncertain. We investigated the effects of CLT on the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of PTC. METHODS: Two thousand nine hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients with PTC treated between 2009 and 2017 were divided into two groups: one with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and one without; 1174 (40%) of the patients had coincident CLT. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, CLT correlated positively with small tumor size, frequent extrathyroidal extension, multifocal diseases, and p53 but negatively with central lymph node (LN) metastasis and BRAF mutation. In multivariate analysis, CLT was associated with extrathyroidal extension and multifocal disease; however, it was not a prognostic factor for recurrence even though it was associated with two aggressive factors. Compared with patients with PTC alone, there were more retrieved central LNs in the PTC + CLT group, and these patients also underwent more invasive diagnostic tests such as fine needle aspiration cytology and frozen biopsy of LN. CONCLUSIONS: The CLT patients with PTC had better behavior features and prognoses than did those with PTC alone despite frequent multifocality and extrathyroidal extension. However, precaution may be necessary to avoid performing invasive diagnostic procedures for lateral LN metastasis and to manage the patients appropriately.

Hole-Transport Layer Molecular Weight and Doping Effects on Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency and Mechanical Behavior.

The effect of tuning molecular weight ( Mn) in poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA) to increase both mechanical properties of the film and electrical properties of perovskite solar cells is reported. Perovskite solar cell devices are fabricated to investigate the effect of Mn on power conversion efficiency. Moisture stability for various Mn is also studied in PTAA films exposed to mechanical loads in humid environments. Furthermore, cohesion and tensile tests are employed to determine the mechanical properties of PTAA, where higher Mn leads to more robust films. To elucidate the effect of Mn on the debonding kinetics, a viscoelastic fracture kinetic model is proposed as a function of Mn, and the debonding mechanism is found to be dependent on Mn. Finally, the effect of small-molecule-based dopants on the mechanical stability of PTAA is investigated.

BRAFwild papillary thyroid carcinoma has two distinct mRNA expression patterns with different clinical behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Using a large set of genomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we classified BRAFwild papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) into 2 subtypes with distinct molecular patterns and different clinical behaviors. We also suggested gene signatures (RAS-score) to predict molecular subtypes and clinical behaviors of BRAFwild PTC. METHOD: Integrated genomic analysis was done using all genomic data of PTC in TCGA data portal (https://tcga-data.nci.nih.gov) and cancer browser (https://genome-cancer.ucsc.edu). Using Gene Ontology and a logistic regression test, we selected gene signatures (RAS-score) and applied this prediction model to the validation cohort (GSE60542). RESULT: When we performed multiplatform genomic analysis, BRAFwild PTCs were divided into 2 molecular subtypes. Each subtype showed distinct molecular patterns and clinical behaviors. Gene signatures successfully predicted molecular subtype in another validation cohort. CONCLUSION: We found that BRAFwild PTCs were divided into 2 molecular subtypes and each subtype showed distinct molecular patterns, different activated pathways, and different clinical behaviors.

Cooptimization of Adhesion and Power Conversion Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells by Controlling Surface Energy of Buffer Layers.

Here, we demonstrate the cooptimization of the interfacial fracture energy and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of poly[N-9'-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT)-based organic solar cells (OSCs) by surface treatments of the buffer layer. The investigated surface treatments of the buffer layer simultaneously changed the crack path and interfacial fracture energy of OSCs under mechanical stress and the work function of the buffer layer. To investigate the effects of surface treatments, the work of adhesion values were calculated and matched with the experimental results based on the Owens-Wendt model. Subsequently, we fabricated OSCs on surface-treated buffer layers. In particular, ZnO layers treated with poly[(9,9-bis(3'-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) simultaneously satisfied the high mechanical reliability and PCE of OSCs by achieving high work of adhesion and optimized work function.

Controlled multiple neutral planes by low elastic modulus adhesive for flexible organic photovoltaics.

To protect brittle layers in organic photovoltaic devices, the mechanical neutral plane strategy can be adopted through placing the brittle functional materials close to the neutral plane where stress and strain are zero during bending. However, previous research has been significantly limited in the location and number of materials to protect through using a single neutral plane. In this study, multiple neutral planes are generated using low elastic modulus adhesives and are controlled through quantitative analyses in order to protect the multiple brittle materials at various locations. Moreover, the protection of multiple brittle layers at various locations under both concave and convex bending directions is demonstrated. Multilayer structures that have soft adhesives are further analyzed using the finite element method analysis in order to propose guidelines for structural design when employing multiple neutral planes.

Accelerated Degradation Due to Weakened Adhesion from Li-TFSI Additives in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Reliable integration of organometallic halide perovskite in photovoltaic devices is critically limited by its low stability in humid environments. Furthermore, additives to increase the mobility in the hole transport material (HTM) have deliquescence and hygroscopic properties, which attract water molecules and result in accelerated degradation of the perovskite devices. In this study, a double cantilever beam (DCB) test is used to investigate the effects of additives in the HTM layer on the perovskite layer through neatly delaminating the interface between the perovskite and HTM layers. Using the DCB test, the bottom surface of the HTM layers is directly observed, and it is found that the additives are accumulated at the bottom along the thickness (i.e., through-plane direction) of the films. It is also found that the additives significantly decrease the adhesion at the interface between the perovskite and HTM layers by more than 60% through hardening the HTM films. Finally, the adhesion-based degradation mechanism of perovskite devices according to the existence of additives is proposed for humid environments.

Simultaneously Enhancing the Cohesion and Electrical Conductivity of PEDOT:PSS Conductive Polymer Films using DMSO Additives.

Conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PEDOT: PSS) has attracted significant attention as a hole transport and electrode layer that substitutes metal electrodes in flexible organic devices. However, its weak cohesion critically limits the reliable integration of PEDOT: PSS in flexible electronics, which highlights the importance of further investigation of the cohesion of PEDOT: PSS. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of PEDOT: PSS is insufficient for high current-carrying devices such as organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this study, we improve the cohesion and electrical conductivity through adding dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and we demonstrate the significant changes in the properties that are dependent on the wt % of DMSO. In particular, with the addition of 3 wt % DMSO, the maximum enhancements for cohesion and electrical conductivity are observed where the values increase by 470% and 6050%, respectively, due to the inter-PEDOT bridging mechanism. Furthermore, when OLED devices using the PEDOT: PSS films are fabricated using the 3 wt % DMSO, the display exhibits 18% increased current efficiency.

Anomalous Stretchable Conductivity Using an Engineered Tricot Weave.

Robust electric conduction under stretching motions is a key element in upcoming wearable electronic devices but is fundamentally very difficult to achieve because percolation pathways in conductive media are subject to collapse upon stretching. Here, we report that this fundamental challenge can be overcome by using a parameter uniquely available in textiles, namely a weaving structure. A textile structure alternately interwoven with inelastic and elastic yarns, achieved via a tricot weave, possesses excellent elasticity (strain up to 200%) in diagonal directions. When this textile is coated with conductive nanomaterials, proper textile engineering allows the textile to obtain an unprecedented 7-fold conductivity increase, with conductivity reaching 33,000 S cm(-1), even at 130% strain, due to enhanced interyarn contacts. The observed stretching conductivity can be described well using a modified 3D percolation theory that reflects the weaving effect and is also utilized for stretchable electronic interconnects and supercapacitors with high performance.

Fabrication and Characterization of Antimicrobial Ethyl Cellulose Nanofibers Using Electrospinning Techniques.

Ethyl cellulose nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning techniques using ethyl cellulose solution having concentrations of 150 g/l, using different volume ratios of a binary THF (tetrahydrofuran): DMAc (N,N dimethylacetamide) solvent system. The influence of the composition of the binary solvent system on the surface morphology of ethyl cellulose nanofibers with or without adhered antibiotics was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). To assess the effectiveness of drug release from the nanofibers and their antibacterial activities toward S. aureus, streptomycin was selected as the antibiotic. Disc diffusion and optical density tests were used for the assessment. The antibiotic release from ethyl cellulose fibers was best when the THF to DMAc volume ratio was 3 to 2 (v/v). The optical density test showed the antibacterial effective time of the streptomycin antibiotics loaded in nanofibers was longer than that of the bulk antibiotics against S. aureus bacteria.

Influence of Glyoxal on Preparation of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Blend Film.

The preparation of a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/glyoxal film (PVA = poly(vinyl alcohol); PAA = poly(acrylic acid)) with high tensile strength and hydrophobic properties by using the crosslinking reaction for OH group removal is reported herein. PAA was selected as a crosslinking agent because the functional carboxyl group in each monomer unit facilitates reaction with PVA. The OH groups on unreacted PVA were removed by the addition of glyoxal to the PVA/PAA solution. The chemical properties of the PVA/PAA films were investigated using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy and the thermal properties of the PVA/PAA/glyoxal films were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. A tensile strength of 48.6 N/mm2 was achieved at a PVA/PAA ratio of 85/15 for the PVA/PAA film. The tensile strength of the cross-linked PVA/PAA/glyoxal film (10 wt% glyoxal) was increased by 55% relative to the pure PVA/PAA (85/15) film. The degree of swelling (DS) and solubility (S) of the 10 wt% (PVA/PAA = 85/15, wt%) film added 10 wt% glyoxal were 1.54 and 0.6, respectively.

Synthesis of ZnS Microspheres by Template-Free Hydrothermal Method for Photocatalytic Reaction.

In this work, ZnS microspheres consisting of nanoblocks were synthesized by a simple, template-free approach employing a hydrothermal reaction at different temperatures, using Zn(CH3COO)2 and Na2S2O3 · 5H2O as starting materials in the aqueous solution. The synthesized samples were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The photocatalysts were evaluated using photodecomposition of methylene blue under UV-C light. The photocatalytic degradation rate followed a pseudo-first-order equation. The kinetic constant (k1) of the ZnS microspheres was 5.43 x 10(-2) min(-1).

Easy Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(alkoxysilane)s Promoted by Silver-Platinum Mixed Complexes.

One-pot Si-Si/Si-O dehydrocoupling of hydrosilanes with alcohols (1:1.5 mole ratio), promoted by a mixture of AgNO3-H2PtCl6 (150/1 mole ratio) readily gave poly(alkoxysilane)s in good yield (62-91%). The addition of small amount of platinum complex to form nanoparticles facilitated the silicon polymer formation when compared to the reaction rate with AgNO3 alone. The primary/secondary hydrosilanes [p-X-C6H4SiH3 (X = H, CH3, OCH3, F), PhCH2SiH3, and (PhSiH2)2] and alcohols [MeOH, EtOH, (i)PrOH, PhOH, and CF3(CF2)2CH2OH] were used for the reaction. The weight average molecular weight and polydispersity of the poly(alkoxysilane)s were in the range of 1,690-7,100 Dalton and 1.44-3.49, respectively. The reaction of phenylsilane with ethanol (1:3 mole ratio) using the Ag-Pt complexes produced triethoxyphenylsilane only, as expected. The reaction of phenylsilane with Ge-132 produced an insoluble cross-linked gel.

Enhancing mechanical properties of highly efficient polymer solar cells using size-tuned polymer nanoparticles.

The low mechanical durability of polymer solar cells (PSCs) has been considered as one of the critical hurdles for their commercialization. We described a facile and powerful strategy for enhancing the mechanical properties of PSCs while maintaining their high power conversion efficiency (PCE) by using monodispersed polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs). We prepared highly monodispersed, size-controlled PS NPs (60, 80, and 100 nm), and used them to modify the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) anode buffer layer (ABL). The PS NPs played two important roles; i.e., they served as (1) binders in the PEDOT:PSS films, and (2) interfacial modifiers between ABL and the active layer, resulting in remarkable improvement of the mechanical integrity of the PSCs. The addition of PS NPs enhanced the inherent mechanical toughness of the PEDOT:PSS ABL due to their elastic properties, allowing the modified ABL to tolerate higher mechanical deformations. In addition, the adhesion energy (Gc) between the active layer and the modified PEDOT:PSS layer was enhanced significantly, i.e., by a factor of more than 1.5. The Gc value has a strong relationship with the sizes of the PS NP, showing the greatest enhancement when the largest size PS NPs (100 nm) were used. In addition, PS NPs significantly improve the air-stability of the PSCs by suppressing moisture adsorption and corrosion of the electrodes. Thus, the modification of ABL with PS NPs effectively enhances both the mechanical and the long-term stabilities of the PSCs without sacrificing their PCE values, demonstrating their great potential as applications in flexible organic electronics.

Systematic molecular-level design of binders incorporating Meldrum's acid for silicon anodes in lithium rechargeable batteries.

Covalent or Noncovalent? Systematic investigation of polymeric binders incorporating Meldrum's acid reveals most critical binder properties for silicon -anodes in lithium ion batteries, that is self-healing effect facilitated by a series of noncovalent interactions.

Hyperbranched ß-cyclodextrin polymer as an effective multidimensional binder for silicon anodes in lithium rechargeable batteries.

Polymeric binders play an important role in electrochemical performance of high-capacity silicon (Si) anodes that usually suffer from severe capacity fading due to unparalleled volume change of Si during cycling. In an effort to find efficient polymeric binders that could mitigate such capacity fading, herein, we introduce polymerized ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CDp) binder for Si nanoparticle anodes. Unlike one-dimensional binders, hyperbranched network structure of ß-CDp presents multidimensional hydrogen-bonding interactions with Si particles and therefore offers robust contacts between both components. Even the Si nanoparticles that lost the original contacts with the binder during cycling recover within the multidimensional binder network, thus creating a self-healing effect. Utilizing these advantageous features, ß-CDp-based Si electrode shows markedly improved cycling performance compared to those of other well-known binder cases, especially when combined with linear polymers at an appropriate ratio to form hybrid binders.

Response time of visual matching task and heart rate in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between response time of visual matching task and heart rate (HR) in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Thirty boys who were diagnosed with ADHD and are under treatment participated in the study. The experiment consisted of three phases, a total of 5 min with rest phase, control phase, and visual matching task phase. HR was measured during each phase. The HR in visual matching task phase increased, compared to that in rest phase. There was a negative correlation between response time of visual matching task and magnitude of the HR in the visual matching task phase. In other words, as HR increased, response time of the visual matching task decreased. This means that increasing in HR increased the supply of oxygen by fast circulation of blood for cognitive processing and this induced the improvement of cognitive ability in the ADHD children. This means that increasing HR increased the supply of oxygen by fast circulation of blood for cognitive processing and this induced the improvement of cognitive ability in the ADHD children. The result of this study supports previous studies that the administration of high oxygen concentration can positively affect the cognitive performance of the ADHD children. The results of the present and previous studies also may provide scientific evidence that can be used for treating patients with cognitive problems such as ADHD.

Wearable textile battery rechargeable by solar energy.

Wearable electronics represent a significant paradigm shift in consumer electronics since they eliminate the necessity for separate carriage of devices. In particular, integration of flexible electronic devices with clothes, glasses, watches, and skin will bring new opportunities beyond what can be imagined by current inflexible counterparts. Although considerable progresses have been seen for wearable electronics, lithium rechargeable batteries, the power sources of the devices, do not keep pace with such progresses due to tenuous mechanical stabilities, causing them to remain as the limiting elements in the entire technology. Herein, we revisit the key components of the battery (current collector, binder, and separator) and replace them with the materials that support robust mechanical endurance of the battery. The final full-cells in the forms of clothes and watchstraps exhibited comparable electrochemical performance to those of conventional metal foil-based cells even under severe folding-unfolding motions simulating actual wearing conditions. Furthermore, the wearable textile battery was integrated with flexible and lightweight solar cells on the battery pouch to enable convenient solar-charging capabilities.

Reinforcing Ag nanoparticle thin films with very long Ag nanowires.

We employed very long nanowires mixed into nanoparticle thin films to improve their weak crack resistance for flexible electronics. We also measured the dependence of the failure strain and resistivity of the Ag nanowire-reinforced Ag nanoparticle thin films on the wt% and sintering condition of nanowires by means of resistance measurements under tension in an in situ tensile tester. Very long nanowires of over 90 µm suppressed thin film cracking by bridging cracks in both the transverse and longitudinal directions and also reduced the electrical resistivity under tension. Moreover, diffusion and growth of nanowires induced by the thermal annealing process was observed, resulting in a highly increased failure strain. Due to the use of the same materials, effective diffusion was facilitated, thus inducing strong bonds between nanoparticles and nanowires.

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of fluoride adhesive tape (F-PVA) in reducing dentin hypersensitivity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vivo effectiveness of an experimental 2.26% fluoride polyvinyl alcohol (F-PVA) tape in reducing dentin hypersensitivity. METHODS: 30 healthy men and women (total of 79 teeth) in their third decade of life with dentin hypersensitivity were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into four groups: three experimental groups were treated with fluoride agents (F-PVA tape, Vanish varnish, and ClinPro XT varnish), and a control group was treated with gelatin as a placebo. Each fluoride agent was applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. Stimulation was applied to the subjects' teeth using compressed air and ice sticks before applying the agent, as well as at 3 days and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after applying the agent. The degree of pain was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The VAS scores were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased at 3 days and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks from baseline in both the air stream and ice stick tests. The reduction in the VAS scores for the three fluoride agents was decreased 8 weeks after their application. The F-PVA tape was found to be more effective for dentin hypersensitivity than the Vanish varnish and ClinPro XT varnish at 4 and 8 weeks of the examination period.

Changes in simple visual matching task performance and physiological signals in intellectually and developmentally disabled people due to administration of highly concentrated oxygen.

BACKGROUND: This study attempted to identify the effect of administration of highly concentrated oxygen on simple visual matching task performance, blood oxygen saturation [SpO2 (%)], and heart rate [HR (bpm)] of intellectually and developmentally disabled people. METHODS: Nineteen intellectually and developmentally disabled people (mean age 30.6 ± 5.7 years) participated in an experiment consisting of a simple visual matching task performed under 21% and 92% oxygen. SpO2 and HR were measured under both oxygen conditions. RESULTS: When 92% oxygen was supplied, the response time decreased, SpO2 increased, and HR decreased compared to the vales obtained using 21% oxygen. The response time decreased for subjects with a high SpO2 and HR during the simple visual matching task phase. CONCLUSION: This result supports the hypothesis that administration of highly concentrated oxygen can positively affect the cognitive performance of intellectually and developmentally disabled people.