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Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences Sep 2014The aim of this review was to develop a radiographic optimisation strategy to make use of digital radiography (DR) and needle phosphor computerised radiography (CR)... (Review)
Review
The aim of this review was to develop a radiographic optimisation strategy to make use of digital radiography (DR) and needle phosphor computerised radiography (CR) detectors, in order to lower radiation dose and improve image quality for paediatrics. This review was based on evidence-based practice, of which a component was a review of the relevant literature. The resulting exposure chart was developed with two distinct groups of exposure optimisation strategies - body exposures (for head, trunk, humerus, femur) and distal extremity exposures (elbow to finger, knee to toe). Exposure variables manipulated included kilovoltage peak (kVp), target detector exposure and milli-ampere-seconds (mAs), automatic exposure control (AEC), additional beam filtration, and use of antiscatter grid. Mean dose area product (DAP) reductions of up to 83% for anterior-posterior (AP)/posterior-anterior (PA) abdomen projections were recorded postoptimisation due to manipulation of multiple-exposure variables. For body exposures, the target EI and detector exposure, and thus the required mAs were typically 20% less postoptimisation. Image quality for some distal extremity exposures was improved by lowering kVp and increasing mAs around constant entrance skin dose. It is recommended that purchasing digital X-ray equipment with high detective quantum efficiency detectors, and then optimising the exposure chart for use with these detectors is of high importance for sites performing paediatric imaging. Multiple-exposure variables may need to be manipulated to achieve optimal outcomes.
PubMed: 26229655
DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.56 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Sep 2022Delayed graft function is a frequent complication of kidney transplantation that requires dialysis in the first week posttransplant. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Delayed graft function is a frequent complication of kidney transplantation that requires dialysis in the first week posttransplant.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched for the most relevant articles in the National Institutes of Health library of medicine, as well as in transplantation, pharmacologic, and nephrological journals.
RESULTS
The main factors that may influence the development of delayed graft function (DGF) are ischemia-reperfusion injury, the source and the quality of the donated kidney, and the clinical management of the recipient. The pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion injury is complex and involves kidney hypoxia related to the duration of warm and cold ischemia, as well as the harmful effects of blood reperfusion on tubular epithelial cells and endothelial cells. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is more frequent and severe in kidneys from deceased donors than in those from living donors. Of great importance is the quality and function of the donated kidney. Kidneys from living donors and those with normal function can provide better results. In the peri-operative management of the recipient, great attention should be paid to hemodynamic stability and blood pressure; nephrotoxic medicaments should be avoided. Over time, patients with DGF may present lower graft function and survival compared to transplant recipients without DGF. Maladaptation repair, mitochondrial dysfunction, and acute rejection may explain the worse long-term outcome in patients with DGF. Many different strategies meant to prevent DGF have been evaluated, but only prolonged perfusion of dopamine and hypothermic machine perfusion have proven to be of some benefit. Whenever possible, a preemptive transplant from living donor should be preferred.
PubMed: 36294695
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12101557 -
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry Dec 2023Due to the complex physical and chemical interactions taking place in the sonicated medium, various methods have been proposed in the literature for a better...
Due to the complex physical and chemical interactions taking place in the sonicated medium, various methods have been proposed in the literature for a better understanding of the sonochemical system. In the present paper, the performance of calorimetry, iodometry, Fricke, 4-nitrophenol, HO, and ascorbic acid dosimetry techniques have been evaluated over the electric power range from 20 to 80 W (f = 300 kHz). These methods have been analyzed for distilled and seawater in light of the literature findings. It has been found that the lowest temperatures and calorimetric energies were obtained for seawater in comparison to distilled water. However, the discrepancy between both mediums disappears with the increase in the electric power up to 80 W. Compared to the calorimetry results, a similar trend was obtained for the KI dosimetry, where the discrepancy between both solutions (seawater and distilled water) increased with the reduction in the electric power down to 20 W. In contrast, over the whole range of the electric power (20-80 W), the HO dosimetry was drastically influenced by the salt composition of seawater, where, I formation was clearly reduced in comparison to the case of the distilled water. On the other hand, a fluctuated behavior was observed for the Fricke and 4-nitrophenol dosimetry methods, especially at the low electric powers (20 and 40 W). It has been found that dosimetry techniques based on ascorbic acid or potassium iodide are the best means for accurate quantification of the sonochemical activity in the irradiated liquid. As a result, it has been concluded, in terms of the dosimetry process's performance, that the dosimetry methods are in the following order: Ascorbic acid ≈ KI > Fricke > 4-nitrophenol > HO.
PubMed: 37944338
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106647 -
Nature Communications Oct 2023Extreme fast charging of Ampere-hour (Ah)-scale electrochemical energy storage devices targeting charging times of less than 10 minutes are desired to increase...
Extreme fast charging of Ampere-hour (Ah)-scale electrochemical energy storage devices targeting charging times of less than 10 minutes are desired to increase widespread adoption. However, this metric is difficult to achieve in conventional Li-ion batteries due to their inherent reaction mechanism and safety hazards at high current densities. In this work, we report 1 Ah soft-package potassium-ion hybrid supercapacitors (PIHCs), which combine the merits of high-energy density of battery-type negative electrodes and high-power density of capacitor-type positive electrodes. The PIHC consists of a defect-rich, high specific surface area N-doped carbon nanotube-based positive electrode, MnO quantum dots inlaid spacing-expanded carbon nanotube-based negative electrode, carbonate-based non-aqueous electrolyte, and a binder- and current collector-free cell design. Through the optimization of the cell configuration, electrodes, and electrolyte, the full cells (1 Ah) exhibit a cell voltage up to 4.8 V, high full-cell level specific energy of 140 Wh kg (based on the whole mass of device) with a full charge of 6 minutes. An 88% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 10 C (10 A) and a voltage retention of 99% at 25 ± 1 °C are also demonstrated.
PubMed: 37828005
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42108-6 -
Journal of Magnetic Resonance (San... Dec 2023We demonstrate the construction of 7 Tesla and 12 Tesla all high-temperature-superconducting (HTS) magnets, small enough to fit on your wrist. The size of the magnet...
We demonstrate the construction of 7 Tesla and 12 Tesla all high-temperature-superconducting (HTS) magnets, small enough to fit on your wrist. The size of the magnet reduces the cost of fabrication, decreases the fringe field to permit facile siting of magnets, and decreases the stored energy of high field magnets. These small HTS-based magnets are being developed for gyrotron microwave sources for use in high-field nuclear magnetic resonance applications. The 7 Tesla and 12 Tesla magnets employ a no-insulation winding technique and are cooled to 4.2 Kelvin in a liquid helium cryostat. The 7 Tesla magnet is a single pancake coil, made of only 9.4 m of HTS tape, with an inner diameter of 8 mm and an outer diameter of 24 mm. This magnet was charged up to 1168 Amperes, generating a field of 7.3 Tesla. The 12 Tesla magnet is comprised of two pancake coils (inner diameter of 10 mm and outer diameter of 27 mm) connected in series. This magnet reached its maximum field at a current of 850 Amperes.
PubMed: 37976810
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2023.107588 -
Frontiers in Robotics and AI 2022
PubMed: 36158604
DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.965113 -
Current Opinion in Microbiology Apr 2023Earth's climate crisis threatens to disrupt ecosystem services and destabilize food security. Microbiome management will be a crucial component of a comprehensive... (Review)
Review
Earth's climate crisis threatens to disrupt ecosystem services and destabilize food security. Microbiome management will be a crucial component of a comprehensive strategy to maintain stable microbinal functions for ecosystems and plants in the face of climate change. Microbiome rescue is the directed, community-level recovery of microbial populations and functions lost after an environmental disturbance. Microbiome rescue aims to propel a resilience trajectory for community functions. Rescue can be achieved via demographic, functional, adaptive, or evolutionary recovery of disturbance-sensitive populations. Various ecological mechanisms support rescue, including dispersal, reactivation from dormancy, functional redundancy, plasticity, and diversification, and these mechanisms can interact. Notably, controlling microbial reactivation from dormancy is a potentially fruitful but underexplored target for rescue.
Topics: Ecosystem; Microbiota; Biological Evolution; Climate Change
PubMed: 36657335
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102263 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Autosomal-Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a monogenic disorder initiated by mutations in either or genes, responsible for encoding polycystin 1 and... (Review)
Review
Autosomal-Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a monogenic disorder initiated by mutations in either or genes, responsible for encoding polycystin 1 and polycystin 2, respectively. These proteins are primarily located within the primary cilia. The disease follows an inexorable progression, leading most patients to severe renal failure around the age of 50, and extra-renal complications are frequent. A cure for ADPKD remains elusive, but some measures can be employed to manage symptoms and slow cyst growth. Tolvaptan, a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, is the only drug that has been proven to attenuate ADPKD progression. Recently, autophagy, a cellular recycling system that facilitates the breakdown and reuse of aged or damaged cellular components, has emerged as a potential contributor to the pathogenesis of ADPKD. However, the precise role of autophagy in ADPKD remains a subject of investigation, displaying a potentially twofold impact. On the one hand, impaired autophagy may promote cyst formation by inducing apoptosis, while on the other hand, excessive autophagy may lead to fibrosis through epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Promising results of autophagy inducers have been observed in preclinical studies. Clinical trials are warranted to thoroughly assess the long-term safety and efficacy of a combination of autophagy inducers with metabolic and/or aquaferetic drugs. This research aims to shed light on the complex involvement of autophagy in ADPKD, explore the regulation of autophagy in disease progression, and highlight the potential of combination therapies as a promising avenue for future investigations.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Kidney; Autophagy; Cysts
PubMed: 37834113
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914666 -
Micromachines Oct 2022The memristor is one of the modern microelectronics key devices. Due to the nanometer scale and complex processes physic, the development of memristor state study...
The memristor is one of the modern microelectronics key devices. Due to the nanometer scale and complex processes physic, the development of memristor state study approaches faces limitations of classical methods to observe the processes. We propose a new approach to investigate the degradation of six Ni/SiN/p+Si-based memristors up to their failure. The basis of the proposed idea is the joint analysis of resistance change curves with the volt-ampere characteristics registered by the auxiliary signal. The paper considers the existence of stable switching regions of the high-resistance state and their interpretation as stable states in which the device evolves. The stable regions' volt-ampere characteristics were simulated using a compact mobility modification model and a first-presented target function to solve the optimization problem.
PubMed: 36296044
DOI: 10.3390/mi13101691 -
Journal of the American Mosquito... Mar 2023The most prevalent insect sampling and surveillance problem is powering insect traps in the field. Most modern light traps use 6-V power supplies such as the Centers for...
The most prevalent insect sampling and surveillance problem is powering insect traps in the field. Most modern light traps use 6-V power supplies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suction trap. Buck converter modules efficiently reduce 12-V direct current power to 6-V, which permits the use of higher voltage batteries with lower voltage traps, resulting in longer operational duration and reduced labor requirements associated with replacing and recharging batteries in the field. We evaluated several battery configurations of 6- and 12-V lead-acid batteries in various sizes (10-20 ampere-hours) and addressed, in the circuit design, common problems that occur when using the buck converter (such as crossing polarity and excessive battery depletion). The efficacy of each configuration was assessed by measuring the voltage and suction while powering a 6-V CDC light trap. The buck converter permitted the use of cheaper and more commonly available 12-V batteries to run the CDC light traps and resulted in longer effective operation time as measured by air speed.
Topics: United States; Time Factors; Mosquito Control
PubMed: 36657062
DOI: 10.2987/22-7061