Synthesis of Graphitic Carbon Coated ZnPS3 and its Superior Electrochemical Properties for Lithium and Sodium Ion Storage.

Graphitic carbon-coated ZnPS3 is prepared via direct phosphosulfurization and high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and first introduced as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The HEMM process with MWCNTs reduces the particle size of as-synthesized ZnPS3 bulk to 100-500 nm and yields the ≈5 nm thick graphitic carbon coated ZnPS3 nanoparticles, which are the nanocomposites of 5 nm sized nanocrystallites embedded in the amorphous matrix. The ZnPS3 electrode undergoes the combined conversion and alloying reactions with Li and Na ions and exhibits high initial discharge and charge capacities in both LIBs and SIBs. The graphitic carbon-coated ZnPS3 electrode exhibits excellent high-rate capability and long-term cyclability. The superior electrochemical properties can be attributed to high electrical conductivity, high Li ion mobility, and high reversibility and structural stability derived from the graphitic carbon-coated nanoparticles. This study demonstrates that the novel graphitic carbon-coated ZnPS3 is a promising anode material for both LIBs and SIBs and the graphitic carbon coating methodology by HEMM is expected to apply to the various metal oxides, sulfides, and phosphides.

Real-time heart rate variability according to ambulatory glucose profile in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Autonomic neuropathy commonly occurs as a long-term complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and can be diagnosed based on heart rate variability (HRV), calculated from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. There are limited data on HRV using real-time ECG and ambulatory glucose monitoring in patients with DM. The aim of this study was to investigate real-time HRV according to ambulatory glucose levels in patients with DM. Methods: A total of 43 patients (66.3 ± 7.5 years) with DM underwent continuous real-time ECG monitoring (225.7 ± 107.3 h) for HRV and ambulatory glucose monitoring using a remote monitoring system. We compared the HRV according to the ambulatory glucose profile. Data were analyzed according to the target in glucose range (TIR). Results: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the patients according to the TIR. During monitoring, we checked ECG and ambulatory glucose levels (a total of 15,090 times) simultaneously for all patients. Both time- and frequency-domain HRVs were lower when the patients had poorly controlled glucose levels (TIR < 70%) compared with well controlled glucose levels (TIR > 70%). In addition, heart and respiratory rates increased with real-time glucose levels (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Poorly controlled glucose levels were independently associated with lower HRV in patients with DM. This was further substantiated by the independent continuous association between real-time measurements of hyperglycemia and lower HRV. These data strongly suggest that cardiac autonomic dysfunction is caused by elevated blood sugar levels.

Comparative assessment of relapse and failure between CAD/CAM stainless steel and standard stainless steel fixed retainers in orthodontic retention patients.

OBJECTIVES: To compare relapse and failure rates of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and standard fixed retainers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, single-blinded, prospective randomized clinical trial included 46 patients who completed active orthodontic treatment and complied with retention visits. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups: CAD/CAM group with multistranded stainless steel wires (CAD/CAM, n = 16), Lab group with the same multistranded wires (lab, n = 16), and control group with stainless steel Ortho-FlexTech wires (traditional, n = 14). Intraoral scans were obtained at placement of fixed retainers (T1), 3-month visit (T2), and 6-month visit (T3) and measured for intercanine width and Little's Irregularity Index. Failures were recorded. RESULTS: The CAD/CAM group experienced less intercanine width decrease than the traditional group at 3 months (mean difference, 0.83 ± 0.16 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-1.22; P < .001) and 6 months (mean difference, 1.23 ± 0.40 mm; 95% CI, 0.19-2.27; P < .05). The CAD/CAM group experienced less increase in Little's Irregularity Index compared with the lab group within 3 months (mean difference, 0.81 ± 0.27 mm; 95% CI, 0.12-1.49; P < .05). Failures from greatest to least were experienced by the lab group (43.8%), the CAD/CAM group (25%), and the traditional group (14.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Within 6 months of bonding fixed retainers, CAD/CAM fixed retainers showed less relapse than lab-based and traditional chairside retainers and less failures than lab-based retainers.

Successful management of atrio-esophageal fistula after cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation.

An increase in cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation for treating refractory atrial fibrillation has resulted in an increased prevalence of complications. Among numerous complications of radiofrequency catheter ablation, atrio-esophageal fistula, although rare, is known to have fatal results. We report a case of successful management of an atrio-esophageal fistula as a complication of cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation.

A new specimen management system using RFID technology.

The specimen management system with barcode needs to be improved in order to solve inherent problems in work performance. This study describes the application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) which is the solution for the problems associated with specimen labeling and management. A new specimen management system and architecture with RFID technology for clinical laboratory was designed. The suggested system was tested in various conditions such as durability to temperature and aspect of effective utilization of new work flow under a virtual hospital clinical laboratory environment. This system demonstrates its potential application in clinical laboratories for improving work flow and specimen management. The suggested specimen management system with RFID technology has advantages in comparison to the traditional specimen management system with barcode in the aspect of mass specimen processing, robust durability of temperature, humidity changes, and effective specimen tracking.

Personalized healthcare comment service for hypertension patients using mobile device.

Hypotension and hypertension are chronic diseases, which can be effectively prevented and controlled by constantly monitoring. In this study, personalized healthcare comment service for hypertension patients is proposed and implemented. We have developed algorithms of health state code generation and doctor's comments for patients on case-by-case basis. This prototype service shows how such personalized comments can manage patients with hypertension using blood pressure monitor and mobile device.

Multimodal function optimization based on the survival of the fitness kind of the evolution strategy.

In this paper, a new algorithm for the multimodal function optimization is proposed, base on the concept of the survival of the fitness rule of evolution. The proposed algorithm has common criteria not to be invaded by each other. Thus, there is only one survivor in a partial solution space in which one optimal point locates. To verify the proposed algorithm, three multimodal functions--Alex function 5, six-hump camel back function, and Rastrigin's function--are tested.