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Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) presents a significant challenge in diagnosis due to its varied clinical manifestations and the absence of specific biomarkers. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial, particularly given its association with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This review aims to explore the potential role of exosomes, small extracellular vesicles, in the pathogenesis of OLP and their utility as diagnostic biomarkers. Exosomes facilitate the exchange of information between cells and modulate immune responses by carrying various bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. In the context of OLP, exosomes derived from affected tissues or immune cells are thought to contribute to disease progression by mediating the transfer of pro-inflammatory molecules, including cytokines like interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha and chemokines such as CCL2, CCL5 and microRNAs such as miR-155, miR-146a, miR-21, and miR-34a, etc. Additionally, the distinct molecular contents of exosomes derived from OLP lesions may accurately represent the pathological changes occurring in these tissues. This suggests the potential of exosomes to be used as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing and tracking the progression of the disease. Understanding the immune microenvironment of OLP and the role of exosomes within this context is critical for advancing our knowledge of OLP pathogenesis and identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, challenges remain in identifying and characterising exosomes and their clinical translation. Further research is warranted to address these challenges and fully exploit exosomes' diagnostic and therapeutic potential in OLP and other inflammatory oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems have been verified to be a promising solution for reducing the imbalance between energy supply and demand; however, sensible and latent thermal storage systems have certain limitations. To minimize the issues of rapid drop of temperature in sensible storage and poor heat transfer in latent storage, novel thermal energy storage should be designed. Considering this, combined sensible-latent TES system was developed to mitigate the drawbacks of individual sensible and latent storage. This study aims to investigate experimentally the impact of various volume fractions of phase change material (PCM) in the proposed system on thermal performance and also in terms of economics. The results demonstrated that 60% PCM volume fraction had 50.03% lower capacity cost, 165.4% higher storage capacity, 168.8% higher storage density, and 26.47% efficiency than the sensible TES. Furthermore, 60% volume fraction of PCM had a 13.09% lower installation cost, 4.77% and 11.69% lower charging/discharging time, and 12.64% higher efficiency than the latent storage system. This concludes that under the assumptions of the current study, a 60% volume fraction of PCM is the optimal design parameter for a combined sensible-latent TES system for achieving the best performance in terms of cost and thermal performance. • A novel hybrid combined sensible-latent thermal energy storage system proposed • Effect of different volume fractions of PCM on thermal performance is presented. • Assessed the economic viability of different volume fractions of PCM. • 60% volume fraction of PCM is the optimal design parameter for proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global obesity pandemic, clinical scenarios requiring urgent ERCP in patients with gastric bypass surgery are on the rise, and single-session EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (SS-EDGE) can effectively address these technical challenges. The aim of this study was to evaluate and describe the safe and effective use of a through-the-scope endoscopic suturing system for anchoring the lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) during SS-EDGE. Six patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) underwent SS-EDGE at our center. A through-the-scope endoscopic suturing system was used for anchoring the LAMSs during SS-EDGE. Clinical and technical success was achieved in all 6 patients without any adverse events related to the procedure. No stent migration, pneumoperitoneum, or GI perforation was noted. At the 4-week follow-up, no stent migration was noted, and the through-the-scope suturing system remained anchored. LAMSs along with tacks were removed, and gastric fistulae were successfully closed endoscopically in all patients to prevent weight gain. Use of through-the-scope endoscopic suturing can be a safe, reliable, and potentially cost-effective novel technique for LAMS fixation to successfully perform SS-EDGE in RYGB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outpatient total knee arthroplasty (OP TKA) is found to benefit patients as well as the health care system. Studies on OP TKA have been limited to unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to determine if enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols can result in performing simultaneous bilateral TKA (SBTKA) safely and effectively in the OP setting. This retrospective study compared patients who underwent SBTKA in an OP setting (OP group, n = 100) using an ERAS protocol from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and a propensity-matched historical group (inpatient group, n = 100) operated in an inpatient setting via conventional protocol from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. The complication rate, readmission rate, visual analog score (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and Knee Society Score (KSS) were compared between the groups in the early postoperative and follow-up periods up to 1 year. We found a comparable complication rate (4 versus 7%, P =.4) and readmission rate (2 versus 3%, P =.7). The VAS score was significantly lower in the OP group on day 1, day 2, day 7, and day 14 postsurgery (P <.001). The KSS and ROM were significantly better in the OP group after 14 days (P <.001). The VAS, KSS, and ROM were comparable between the groups at 1 month and later follow-up periods (P >.05). An ERAS protocol in SBTKA patients resulted in safe same-day discharge with better early functional outcomes compared with conventional practices. The results from similar future studies can alleviate surgeon and patient concerns about OP TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nonunion represents a crucial challenge in orthopedic medicine, demanding innovative solutions. • Researchers have recognized the biocompatibility and biodegradability of magnesium implants. • Magnesium-incorporated scaffolds enhance immunomodulation, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis. • This review provides insights into the potential of Magnesium-incorporated scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. • We review the challenges in successfully translating these scaffolds towards clinical applications. Nonunion represents a crucial challenge in orthopedic medicine, demanding innovative solutions beyond the scope of traditional bone grafting methods. Among the various strategies available, magnesium (Mg) implants have been recognized for their biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, their susceptibility to rapid corrosion and degradation has garnered notable research interest in bone tissue engineering (BTE), particularly in the development of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds. These scaffolds gradually release Mg2+, which enhances immunomodulation, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis, thus facilitating effective bone regeneration. This review presents myriad fabrication techniques used to create Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds, including electrospinning, three-dimensional printing, and sol-gel synthesis. Despite these advancements, the application of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds faces challenges such as controlling the degradation rate of Mg and ensuring mechanical stability. These limitations highlight the necessity for ongoing research aimed at refining fabrication techniques to better regulate the physicochemical and osteogenic properties of scaffolds. This review provides insights into the potential of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds for BTE and the challenges that need to be addressed for their successful translation into clinical applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State programme management unit and District Programme Management Units (DPMU) are established under National Health Mission with an expectation to strengthen the management structures at the state and district levels, respectively. This is a major initiative to bring change in organisation structure and an effort to embrace change in working culture. The study was undertaken in a western Indian state to assess and compare the organisation culture in DPMUs. Districts of the state were divided into three strata based on the geographical and demographic features. One district from each stratum was randomly selected for the study. In-depth interview of nine key officials in each sampled DPMU was conducted with the use of standardised questionnaire—openness, confrontation, trust, authenticity, proactiveness, autonomy, collaboration and experimentation (OCTAPACE), developed by Pareek. Values of OCTAPACE were diversely distributed with significant difference in distribution of scores between these domains (p < 0.05). Pro-action and Trust scores were relatively higher and consistent in the study units. Values of experimentation were lower and inconsistent. There was no significant difference in the distribution of scores between three sampled DPMUs for openness, confrontation, trust, authenticity, pro-action, autonomy and experimentation (p > 0.05). However, the distribution of collaboration score was significantly less in DPMU of desert district in comparison to DPMU of plain and tribal district (p < 0.05). The lacuna in values of organisation culture should be addressed to strengthen the existing management structures at the state and district levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-To-OR is a critical process measure for trauma performance. However, this measure has not consistently demonstrated improvement in outcome. Using TQIP, we identified facilities by 75th percentile time-to-OR to categorize slow, average, and fast hospitals. Using a GEE model, we calculated odds of mortality for all penetrating abdominal trauma patients, firearm injuries only, and patients with major complication by facility speed. We additionally estimated odds of mortality at the patient level. Odds of mortality for patients at slow facilities was 1.095; 95% CI: 0.746, 1.608; p = 0.64 compared to average. Fast facility OR = 0.941; 95% CI: 0.780, 1.133; p = 0.52. At the patient-level each additional minute of time-to-OR was associated with 1.5% decreased odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.985; 95% CI:0.981, 0.989; p < 0.001). For firearm-only patients, facility speed was not associated with odds of in-hospital mortality (p -value = 0.61). Person-level time-to-OR was associated with 1.8% decreased odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.982; 95% CI: 0.977, 0.987; p < 0.001) with each additional minute of time-to-OR. Similarly, failure-to-rescue analysis showed no difference in in-hospital mortality at the patient level (p = 0.62) and 0.4% decreased odds of in-hospital mortality with each additional minute of time-to-OR at the patient level (OR 0.996; 95% CI: 0.993, 0.999; p = 0.004). Despite the use of time-to-OR as a metric of trauma performance, there is little evidence for improvement in mortality or complication rate with improved time-to-OR at the facility or patient level. Performance metrics for trauma should be developed that more appropriately approximate patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer is a deadly malignancy, one of the most common for women, evidencing the need for effective new chemotherapeutic agents to treat the disease. Lignans are widely occurring natural products with important pharmacological effects, including anticancer activities. Five arylnaphthalene lignans, isolated from Monsonia angustifolia and M. glauca (Geraniaceae), were investigated for their cytotoxicity against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The best activity (IC 50 1.2 μM) was exerted by justicidin B (4). The presence of additional methoxy groups in the "northern part" of the arylnaphthalene scaffold, at C-6 and/or C-7, lowered the cytotoxicity. Even more significantly, a free hydroxy group at C-7, leads to a drastic decrease in potency, by two orders of magnitude. Live-cell imaging experiments revealed that 4 induces changes in cancer cells morphology, effecting their elongation and eventual death. Justicidin B (4) inhibited formation of HeLa cell colonies in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic investigations showed that 4 modulates the expression of key proteins involved in apoptosis, suggesting that it induces cell death through several mechanisms. [Display omitted] • Justicidin B and four other lignans were isolated from two Monsonia species. • Justicidin B exhibits strong cytotoxic activity against HeLa cervical cancer cells. • Oxygen functions in the northern part of the arylnaphthalene decrease the activity. • Justicidin B induces changes in HeLa cell morphology and inhibits colony formation. • Mechanistically, it targets key proteins involved in apoptosis regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of brain tumour using Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (3D MRI) is computationally multifaceted task. Currently, hospitals employ 2D MRI scans, followed by manual evaluation by experienced doctors, aided by a Computerized Diagnostic Tool (CDT). This research aims to develop an advanced CDT to significantly enhance the accuracy of brain tumor assessment. The CDT presented in this study evaluates Axial-View (AV), Coronal-View (CV), and Sagittal-View (SV) MRI images. It encompasses a comprehensive pipeline, including pre-processing, post-processing, feature extraction, feature selection, and categorization phases. Various tumor segmentation techniques, including active contour, level-set, watershed, and region growing, are thoroughly explored. Additionally, a comparative analysis of classification methods such as SVM, ANFIS, k-NN, Random Forest, and Adaboost is conducted. Experimental validation using the BRATS 2016 dataset and real-time 2D MRI data demonstrates that the proposed CDT consistently achieves an average classification accuracy exceeding 95% in tumor-based categorization. This research represents a significant advancement in brain tumor assessment, leveraging machine learning and advanced MRI techniques to improve diagnostic precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive exploration of the development of an AI-driven Gen-Alpha education guidance indicator for Oman, employing cutting-edge machine learning techniques. The primary objective is to deliver a highly personalized support system and guidance mechanism that accompanies students throughout their academic journey. The research places a spotlight on the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the realm of education. It skillfully demonstrates AI's robust capabilities in accurately forecasting student performance through the effective use of data mining and advanced machine learning techniques. An integral aspect of this research is the application of AI in aiding students to navigate the involved process of subject selection for their higher education pursuits. This multidimensional process encompasses exhaustive data collection, the detailed creation of a sophisticated machine learning model, and the application of a diverse array of state-of-the-art algorithms. Among these algorithms, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Trees, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machines (SVM) stand out prominently. Notably, the SVM algorithm emerges as the outright winner, delivering an extraordinary accuracy rate of 77%. This remarkable achievement underscores the model's unwavering robustness and its potential to redefine the educational landscape in Oman. In essence, this paper transcends the boundaries of conventional research and offers conclusive validation of AI's revolutionary potential in reshaping educational paradigms. By facilitating data-driven decision-making, the AI-driven Gen-Alpha education guidance indicator empowers students to embark on their educational journeys well-informed and confident, thereby playing a pivotal role in advancing Oman's education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic and wearing face mask is recommended across the globe to break the transmission chain of infection. The masks available in the market are of different types and materials and tend to alter the voice characteristics of the speaker. This can therefore impair optimal communication and the present study is a systematic review exploring the effect of various masks on voice production parameters. Systematic review. The titles and abstracts screening was carried out for the inclusion of articles using eight electronic databases spanning the period from 1st January 2020 to 30th April 2021. 10 articles (8 published & 2 in pre-print) that met the inclusion criteria were considered for this systematic review and the pooled age range was 18 –69 years. Three primary studies from the USA, 2 each from Australia & Italy, one each from Brazil, China, and Germany were found to have investigated the influence of wearing N95, KN95, surgical and fabric masks on voice related measures. The users significantly reported vocal fatigue, discomfort, and also perceived voice problems. Attenuation of speech sound amplitude was highest for the transparent mask followed by cloth mask, N95, KN95, and surgical mask. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been repeatedly endorsing the need to use a face mask in the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, for an unintruded voice production, the surgical mask is recommended for everyone, including healthcare professionals when they are not in close contact with patients, and not involved in aerosol-generating procedures. For teachers, doing direct teaching (offline classes), 'surgical mask' can reduce the vocal load of teachers, smoothen the teacher-student interaction and thereby facilitate better learning by the students. Additionally, it would be useful to protect oneself from the risk of developing voice problems by following standard vocal healthcare tips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study is one of the first to evaluate the performance of the new Injury Severity Score (NISS) in an African context using an expert panel as the referential standard. • NISS significantly underestimated trauma severity among patients evaluated at a tertiary trauma center in South Africa (average 11-point difference) with a greater degree of underestimation for penetrating trauma. • South African physician experts assigned higher severity for anatomic injuries that required emergent stabilization, consumed limited resources such as cross-sectional imaging or specialty care, or placed the patient at risk for complications and disability. • Future research should evaluate performance of NISS and other injury severity scoring tools in resource-constrained settings using large cohorts across multiple centers with similar resource capability. The new injury severity score (NISS) is widely used within trauma outcomes research. NISS is a composite anatomic severity score derived from the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) protocol. It has been postulated that NISS underestimates trauma severity in resource-constrained settings, which may contribute to erroneous research conclusions. We formally compare NISS to an expert panel's assessment of injury severity in South Africa. This was a retrospective chart review of adult trauma patients seen in a tertiary trauma center. Randomly selected medical records were reviewed by an AIS-certified rater who assigned an AIS severity score for each anatomic injury. A panel of five South African trauma experts independently reviewed the same charts and assigned consensus severity scores using a similar scale for comparability. NISS was calculated as the sum of the squares of the three highest assigned severity scores per patient. The difference in average NISS between rater and expert panel was assessed using a multivariable linear mixed effects regression adjusted for patient demographics, injury mechanism and type. Of 49 patients with 190 anatomic injuries, the majority were male (n = 38), the average age was 36 (range 18–80), with either a penetrating (n = 23) or blunt (n = 26) injury, resulting in 4 deaths. Mean NISS was 16 (SD 15) for the AIS rater compared to 28 (SD 20) for the expert panel. Adjusted for potential confounders, AIS rater NISS was on average 11 points (95 % CI: 7, 15) lower than the expert panel NISS (p < 0.001). Injury type was an effect modifier, with the difference between the AIS rater and expert panel being greater in penetrating versus blunt injury (16 vs. 7; p = 0.04). Crush injury was not well-captured by AIS protocol. NISS may under-estimate the 'true' injury severity in a middle-income country trauma hospital, particularly for patients with penetrating injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of sign language has significant importance as an application that addresses the communication challenges faced by those within the Deaf and hard-of-hearing populations. This study introduces a methodology for the identification of sign language using spatio-temporal attributes, specifically concentrating on two distinct sign language datasets: the CSL (Chinese Sign Language) alphabet and the ArSL (Arabic Sign Language) alphabet. The study's objective is to create a powerful recognition system capable of reliably identifying sign language motions. A combination of spatio-temporal characteristics collected from video sequences of sign language motions is used in the suggested technique. These characteristics capture the spatial layout as well as the temporal dynamics of the motions, allowing the model to recognise signals with more precision. Experiments were carried out on the CSL and ArSL alphabet datasets to validate the method's efficacy. The findings of the trials are encouraging. The suggested system recognized CSL alphabet signs with an accuracy of 90.87% and ArSL alphabet signs with an accuracy of 89.46%. These high accuracy rates show the power of the spatiotemporal feature-based method for sign language identification. The system's success on two different sign languages implies that it is adaptable and useful in a wide variety of sign language applications. This study contributes to the evolution of assistive technology, making sign language recognition more accessible and efficient for those who communicate using sign language. Furthermore, the findings pave the way for additional research into spatiotemporal feature-based approaches in sign language recognition, with potential applications in real-world settings such as sign language interpretation and communication support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes the treatment of two maxillary central incisors following a traumatic injury with tooth #8 developing replacement resorption and #9 developing inflammatory root resorption. A 10-year-old girl presented complaining of pain in her maxillary central incisors. Upon clinical examination, teeth #8 and #9 were tender to percussion and palpation of the buccal soft tissues. Thermal and electrical pulpal sensitivity tests for teeth #8 and #9 were negative. An intraoral periapical radiograph revealed resorptive defects in tooth #8, which were filled with bone-like tissue, while tooth #9 had radiolucent resorptive defects along the root surface and a periapical radiolucency. A diagnosis of replacement resorption was made for tooth #8 and external inflammatory root resorption for tooth #9. Tooth #8 was treated with a multidisciplinary approach utilizing a guided template for premolar autotransplantation with an immediate veneer restoration, while tooth #9 was managed with root canal treatment using a tricalcium silicate cement to fill the canal. At the 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24-month follow-ups, the patient remained asymptomatic, and there was no radiographic evidence of root or periapical pathosis on either tooth. The root-end of the donor tooth transplanted to the #8 site continued to develop. This case report highlights successful interdisciplinary management of two forms of root resorption using modern treatment strategies that provided immediate function and esthetics to the maxillary central incisors in a young patient following trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to (1) compare post-treatment outcomes of operative and nonoperative management of acute appendicitis in multi-morbid patients and (2) evaluate the generalizability of prior clinical trials by determining whether outcomes differ in multi-morbid patients compared to the young and healthy patients who resemble prior clinical trial participants. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2017. We included 368,537 patients with acute, uncomplicated appendicitis who were classified as having 0 or 2+ comorbidities. We compared inpatient morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and costs using propensity scores. Unmeasured confounding was addressed with probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Overall, 5% of patients without comorbidities were treated nonoperatively versus 20% of multi-morbid patients. Compared to surgery, nonoperative management was associated with a 3.5% decrease in complications (95% confidence interval 3%–4%) for multi-morbid patients, but there was no significant difference for patients without comorbidity. However, nonoperative management was associated with a 1.5% increase in mortality for multimorbid patients (95% confidence interval 1.3%–1.7%). Costs and length of stay were lower for all patients treated with surgery. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that results were robust to the effects of unmeasured confounding. Our results raise concerns about the generalizability of clinical trials that compared nonoperative and operative management of appendicitis because (1) those trials enrolled mostly young and healthy patients, and (2) results in multi-morbid patients differ from outcomes in younger and healthier patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newborn screening (NBS) programs for severe combined immunodeficiency facilitate early diagnosis of severe combined immunodeficiency and promote early treatment with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, resulting in improved clinical outcomes. Infants with congenital athymia are also identified through NBS because of severe T-cell lymphopenia. With the expanding introduction of NBS programs, referrals of athymic patients for treatment with thymus transplantation have recently increased at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) (London, United Kingdom). We studied the impact of NBS on timely diagnosis and treatment of athymic infants with thymus transplantation at GOSH. We compared age at referral and complications between athymic infants diagnosed after clinical presentation (n = 25) and infants identified through NBS (n = 19) who were referred for thymus transplantation at GOSH between October 2019 and February 2023. We assessed whether age at time of treatment influences thymic output at 6 and 12 months after transplantation. The infants referred after identification through NBS were significantly younger and had fewer complications, in particular fewer infections. All deaths occurred in the group of those who did not undergo NBS, including 6 patients before and 2 after thymus transplantation because of preexisting infections. In the absence of significant comorbidities or diagnostic uncertainties, timely treatment was achieved more frequently after NBS. Treatment when younger than age 4 months was associated with higher thymic output at 6 and 12 months after transplantation. NBS contributes to earlier recognition of congenital athymia, promoting referral of athymic patients for thymus transplantation before they acquire infections or other complications and facilitating treatment at a younger age, thus playing an important role in improving their outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erythrodermic psoriasis is an acute inflammatory condition presenting as erythema and scaling involving more than 90% of body surface area in patients with a history of psoriasis vulgaris. If not treated promptly, metabolic complications and infections due to acute skin failure can cause significant morbidity and mortality in this condition. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is considered to be the key player in initiating the inflammatory cascade in psoriasis. IL-17 blockers have been successfully used in the management of psoriasis vulgaris. However, its use in unstable erythrodermic psoriasis is limited to isolated case reports. We hereby report an observational study of nine patients of unstable psoriatic erythroderma successfully managed with injection secukinumab and followed up over the next 24 months. Nine patients were managed during the study period, and a successful outcome was noted in all the patients. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index response rate improved by at least 75% from baseline in 33.3% (3⁄9) at week 4 and improved to 88.9% (8⁄9) at week 12. None of the patients had a recurrence of erythroderma till 24 months of followup. The study concluded that secukinumab is quick, safe, and efficient in psoriatic erythroderma, and there was no relapse of erythroderma in any of the patients in the 24 months of followup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Home blood pressure monitoring in a population at high risk of preeclampsia is an acceptable intervention for patients and providers. • This study suggests that home blood pressure monitoring in patients at high risk of developing preeclampsia is an acceptable way to improve disease detection and management. • This study was undertaken to assess patient perception of HBPM among diverse patients at high risk of preeclampsia. Pregnant patients of racial/ethnic minorities have higher preeclampsia rates. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has been investigated for disparity reduction. Smaller studies showed patients find HBPM to be a helpful intervention postpartum. Further investigation is needed to define the role of HPBM in an at-risk and diverse population antepartum. To assess patient perception of HBPM among diverse patients at high risk of disease development. Prospective study conducted from April 2020-September 2021. HBPM kits were advertised and interested parties across the United States responded. Cuff Kits were then distributed to participating providers. Providers distributed the kits to patients meeting high-risk criteria for disease development, prioritizing those of racial/ethnic minorities. Surveys were distributed quarterly to providers and patients to assess HBPM perception. 2910 Cuff Kits were distributed to patients at 179 sites in 14 states. Of those, 1160 were distributed to Black patients, 1045 to White patients, and 500 to Hispanic patients. 117 patients completed surveys, with most patients finding Cuff Kits "very valuable" or "valuable" (68.4% and 19.7%, respectively). Most providers (73.4%) felt the Cuff Kits influenced patient care. Most patients receiving Cuff Kits reported a beneficial impact on disease understanding and most belonged to racial/ethnic groups at higher risk of adverse outcomes. Providers found HBPM had a beneficial impact on care. Though more research is needed to illustrate the impact of HBPM on outcomes, this study suggests that among racial/ethnic minorities and those at the high risk, HBPM is a well-received intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the moment, there is a growing interest in composite materials with matrices based on thermoplastic polymers; these materials are superior to traditional carbon fiber plastics due to higher fracture toughness and impact strength, low smoke generation during combustion, and high thermal and chemical resistance. The deformation behavior of such composite materials due to the high plastic deformation of the matrix differs from the behavior of traditional composites, which must be considered when performing calculations. In our study, as a model object, the features of the microstructure of single carbon thread impregnated with polysulfone were studied in order to evaluate the distribution of misorientation angles of elementary fibers, the degree of their damage, the thickness of the polymer matrix interlayers between elementary fibers in threads impregnated with more viscous thermoplastic binders. Statistical analysis of a large array of micrographs was carried out using specially developed algorithms for computer processing of electron microscopic images of a composite material. Algorithms for processing arrays of images using machine vision algorithms are proposed. Based on the analysis of the data array, the distributions of carbon fibers impregnated with polysulfone were plotted over the misorientation angle of the filaments and over the interfilament distance in the longitudinal and cross sections of the fiber. Using the machine learning method, an algorithm for detecting violations of the filament structure was implemented. The data obtained can be used to refine the calculations of the strength and deformation characteristics of composite materials with thermoplastic matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]