-
PloS One 2024To describe the implementation of a test-negative design case-control study in California during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the implementation of a test-negative design case-control study in California during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
STUDY DESIGN
Test-negative case-control study.
METHODS
Between February 24, 2021 - February 24, 2022, a team of 34 interviewers called 38,470 Californians, enrolling 1,885 that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (cases) and 1,871 testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 (controls) for 20-minute telephone survey. We estimated adjusted odds ratios for answering the phone and consenting to participate using mixed effects logistic regression. We used a web-based anonymous survey to compile interviewer experiences.
RESULTS
Cases had 1.29-fold (95% CI: 1.24-1.35) higher adjusted odds of answering the phone and 1.69-fold (1.56-1.83) higher adjusted odds of consenting to participate compared to controls. Calls placed from 4pm to 6pm had the highest adjusted odds of being answered. Some interviewers experienced mental wellness challenges interacting with participants with physical (e.g., food, shelter, etc.) and emotional (e.g., grief counseling) needs, and enduring verbal harassment from individuals called.
CONCLUSIONS
Calls placed during afternoon hours may optimize response rate when enrolling controls to a case-control study during a public health emergency response. Proactive check-ins and continual collection of interviewer experience(s) and may help maintain mental wellbeing of investigation workforce. Remaining adaptive to the dynamic needs of the investigation team is critical to a successful study, especially in emergent public health crises, like that represented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Case-Control Studies; California; Male; Female; Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Middle Aged; Telephone; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pandemics; Adolescent; Aged; Young Adult; COVID-19 Testing
PubMed: 38771784
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301070 -
Frontiers in Robotics and AI 2024
PubMed: 38770438
DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2024.1407421 -
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry... May 2024This study introduces a machine learning (ML)-assisted image segmentation method for automatic bubble identification in gas-solid quasi-2D fluidized beds, offering...
This study introduces a machine learning (ML)-assisted image segmentation method for automatic bubble identification in gas-solid quasi-2D fluidized beds, offering enhanced accuracy in bubble recognition. Binary images are segmented by the ML method, and an in-house Lagrangian tracking technique is developed to track bubble evolution. The ML-assisted segmentation method requires few training data, achieves an accuracy of 98.75%, and allows for filtering out common sources of uncertainty in hydrodynamics, such as varying illumination conditions and out-of-focus regions, thus providing an efficient tool to study bubbling in a standard, consistent, and repeatable manner. In this work, the ML-assisted methodology is tested in a particularly challenging case: structured oscillating fluidized beds, where the spatial and time evolution of the bubble position, velocity, and shape are characteristics of the nucleation-propagation-rupture cycle. The new method is validated across various operational conditions and particle sizes, demonstrating versatility and effectiveness. It shows the ability to capture challenging bubbling dynamics and subtle changes in velocity and size distributions observed in beds of varying particle size. New characteristic features of oscillating beds are identified, including the effect of frequency and particle size on the bubble morphology, aspect, and shape factors and their relationship with the stability of the flow, quantified through the rate of coalescence and splitting events. This type of combination of classic analysis with the application of the ML assisted techniques provides a powerful tool to improve standardization and address the reproducibility of hydrodynamic studies, with the potential to be extended from gas-solid fluidization to other multiphase flow systems.
PubMed: 38765275
DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c00631 -
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology... Jun 2024ICH Q3A/B guidelines provide qualification thresholds for impurities or degradation products in new drug substances and products. However, the guidelines note that...
ICH Q3A/B guidelines provide qualification thresholds for impurities or degradation products in new drug substances and products. However, the guidelines note that certain impurities/degradation products may warrant further safety evaluation for being unusually potent or toxic. The purpose of this study was to confirm that especially toxic non-mutagenic compounds are rare and to identify classes of compounds that could warrant lower qualification thresholds. A total of 2815 compounds were evaluated, of which 2213 were assessed as non-mutagenic. For the purpose of this analysis, compounds were considered potent when the point of departure was ≤0.2 mg/kg/day based on the qualification threshold (1 mg/day or 0.02 mg/kg/day for a 50 kg human) in a new drug substance, with an additional 10-fold margin. Only 54 of the entire set (2.4%) would be considered potent based on this conservative potency analysis, confirming that the existing ICH Q3A/B qualification thresholds are appropriate for the majority of impurities. If the Q3A/B threshold, without the additional 10-fold margin is used, 14 compounds (0.6%) are considered "highly potent". Very few non-mutagenic structural classes were identified, including organothiophosphates and derivatives, polychlorinated benzenes and polychlorinated polycyclic aliphatics, that correlate with potential high potency, consistent with prior publications.
Topics: Drug Contamination; Humans; Animals; Risk Assessment; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 38761967
DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2024.105645 -
Organometallics May 2024In order to establish design criteria for Rh C-H borylation catalysts, analogues of the successful catalyst [Rh(Ind)(SIDipp)(COE)] (Ind = η-indenyl, SIDipp =...
In order to establish design criteria for Rh C-H borylation catalysts, analogues of the successful catalyst [Rh(Ind)(SIDipp)(COE)] (Ind = η-indenyl, SIDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene, and COE = -cyclooctene) were synthesized by changing the indenyl and carbene ligands. [RhCp(SIDipp)(COE)] () formed alongside the C-C activated, cyclometalated byproduct [RhCp(κC,C-SIDipp')(Pr)] (; SIDipp' = 1-(6-isopropylphenyl)-3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Computational modeling of COE dissociation showed that both C-C and C-H activation of the SIDipp aryl group is thermally attainable and reversible under experimental conditions, with the C-C activation products being the more thermodynamically stable species. Oxidative addition of with SiH(OEt) gave the Rh silyl hydride [RhCp(H){Si(OEt)}(SIDipp)] (). [Rh(Ind)(IDipp)(COE)] (; IDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazole-2-ylidene), the carbonyl analogue [Rh(Ind)(IDipp)(CO)] (; ν = 1940 cm, cf. 1944 cm for [Rh(Ind)(SIDipp)(COE)]), and [Rh(Ind)(IMe)(COE)] (; IMe = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene) were also characterized, but attempts to synthesize Rh carbene complexes with fluorenyl or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrofluorenyl ligands were not successful. For the catalytic C-H borylation of benzene using Bpin, was inactive at 80 °C, and [Rh(Ind)(SIDipp)(COE)] was superior to all other complexes tested due to the shortest induction period. However, the addition of HBpin to precatalyst eliminated the induction period. Catalytic -alkane C-H borylation using [Rh(Ind)(NHC)(COE)] gave yields of up to 21% alkylBpin, but [RhCp*(CH)] was the better catalyst.
PubMed: 38756993
DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.4c00025 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces May 2024Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate among women. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel therapies to effectively treat this disease. In...
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate among women. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel therapies to effectively treat this disease. In this study, iron selenide nanorods (FeSe NRs) were designed for use in magnetic hyperthermic, photothermal, and chemodynamic therapy (MHT/PTT/CDT) for breast cancer. To illustrate their efficacy, FeSe NRs were modified with the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate (MTX). MTX-modified FeSe (FeSe-MTX) exhibited excellent controlled drug release properties. Fe released from FeSe NRs induced the release of OH from HO via a Fenton/Fenton-like reaction, enhancing the efficacy of CDT. Under alternating magnetic field (AMF) stimulation and 808 nm laser irradiation, FeSe-MTX exerted potent hyperthermic and photothermal effects by suppressing tumor growth in a breast cancer nude mouse model. In addition, FeSe NRs can be used for magnetic resonance imaging in vivo by incorporating their superparamagnetic characteristics into a single nanomaterial. Overall, we presented a novel technique for the precise delivery of functional nanosystems to tumors that can enhance the efficacy of breast cancer treatment.
Topics: Methotrexate; Animals; Nanotubes; Mice; Female; Humans; Hyperthermia, Induced; Mice, Nude; Breast Neoplasms; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Photothermal Therapy; Iron; Selenium Compounds; Cell Line, Tumor; Infrared Rays
PubMed: 38739745
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18450 -
PloS One 2024Global scallop fisheries are economically important but are associated with environmental impacts to seabed communities resulting from the direct physical contact of the...
Global scallop fisheries are economically important but are associated with environmental impacts to seabed communities resulting from the direct physical contact of the fishing gear with the seabed. Gear modifications attempting to reduce this contact must be economically feasible such that the catch numbers for the target species is maintained or increased. This study investigated the outcome of reducing seabed contact on retained catch of scallops and bycatch by the addition of skids to the bottom of the collecting bag of scallop dredges. We used a paired control experimental design to investigate the impact of the gear modification in different habitat types. The modified skid dredge generally caught more marketable scallops per unit area fished compared with the standard dredge (+5%). However, the skid dredge also retained more bycatch (+11%) and more undersize scallops (+16%). The performance of the two dredges was habitat specific which indicates the importance of adjusting management measures in relation to habitat type. To realize the potential environmental benefits associated with the improvement in catchability of this gear modification, further gear modification is required to reduce the catch of undersize scallops and bycatch. Furthermore we advocate that technical gear innovations in scallop dredging need to be part of a comprehensive and effective fisheries management system.
Topics: Pectinidae; Animals; Fisheries; Ecosystem; Conservation of Natural Resources
PubMed: 38739607
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302225 -
Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation Apr 2024The determination of precise exercise intensity is essential for effective exercise rehabilitation. The Borg rating of perceived exertion category ratio (CR) scale is...
The determination of precise exercise intensity is essential for effective exercise rehabilitation. The Borg rating of perceived exertion category ratio (CR) scale is utilized to prescribe an appropriate level of exertion intensity. A Borg CR of approximately 13 coincides with the ventilatory aerobic threshold (VAT). Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) exhibit various symptoms. We hypothesized that the workload at Borg CR13 (Borg CR13-Watt) differs from the workload at the VAT level (VAT-Watt) in AF patients with restored sinus rhythm (SR) following ablation. Accordingly, the relationship between Borg CR13-Watt and VAT-Watt was studied in patients with restored SR. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed at 101±88 days after ablation in 150 patients using a bicycle ergometer. No adverse events were observed during CPET. Borg CR13-Watt was significantly higher than VAT-Watt (67.2±27.8 Watt vs. 54.7±17.6 Watt, <0.0001). Borg CR13-Watt showed significant linear regression with VAT-Watt (regression coefficient, 0.49, <0.01; correlation coefficient, 0.80, <0.01). Higher Borg CR13-Watt was associated with greater differences between Borg CR13-Watt and VAT-Watt (ΔWatt). The Bland-Altman plot showed nonconcordance between the two. Male sex, use of antiarrhythmic drugs, and smoking had contributed to the increased ΔWatt. Duration from ablation to time of CPET did not correlate with ΔWatt. Therefore, Borg CR13-Watt did not coincide with VAT-Watt in patients with restored SR. Higher Borg CR13-Watt was associated with greater ΔWatt. Prescribing exertion intensity as determined solely by perceived exertion is inadequate. CPET is required to determine the precise exercise intensity in AF patients with restored SR after ablation.
PubMed: 38737463
DOI: 10.12965/jer.2448056.028 -
Biophysical Reviews Apr 2024This Commentary describes an open call for submissions to the upcoming Biophysical Reviews' Issue Focus: The 7th Nanoengineering for Mechanobiology (Genova, Italy). The...
This Commentary describes an open call for submissions to the upcoming Biophysical Reviews' Issue Focus: The 7th Nanoengineering for Mechanobiology (Genova, Italy). The submission deadline is August 1st of 2024. Interested parties are requested to make contact with the Issue Focus editors prior to submission.
PubMed: 38737207
DOI: 10.1007/s12551-024-01193-7 -
PNAS Nexus Jan 2024Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the thorax is widely used for the detection and monitoring of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, CT images can contain artifacts due...
Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the thorax is widely used for the detection and monitoring of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, CT images can contain artifacts due to the acquisition or the processes involved in image reconstruction. Radiologists often have to distinguish between such artifacts and actual PEs. We provide a proof of concept in the form of a scalable hypothesis testing method for CT, to enable quantifying uncertainty of possible PEs. In particular, we introduce a Bayesian Framework to quantify the uncertainty of an observed compact structure that can be identified as a PE. We assess the ability of the method to operate under high-noise environments and with insufficient data.
PubMed: 38737009
DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad404