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Current appropriate technology promoting social sustainability for rural, underprivileged populations is often plagued by lack of affordability, maintenance, and personal training, and is also empathetically disconnected from local people and culture. This study proposes criteria for balancing design thinking processes and appropriate technology for social sustainability. In this study, we concretized five assumptions for design thinking processes: user-oriented design with mass productivity; reiterative nature through user satisfaction surveys; affordability for purchase, maintenance, and repair services; local appropriateness; and eco-friendliness with environmental sustainability. Next, we applied the criteria to 28 representative cases from the water, energy, health, shelter, and transportation fields. The cases were evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Findings show that the criteria are necessary for setting economic, social, and environmental development goals for underprivileged regions after considering local contexts. Cultural empathy and collaboration with locals are key for finding practical solutions and co-creating options iteratively. Further, the cases were compared quantitatively using radar diagrams, histograms, and graphs showing average values and standard deviations, providing an objective measure for appropriate technology. Notably, both qualitative and quantitative approaches can serve as useful guidelines for designers, developers, and local users when developing appropriate technology for social sustainability in underprivileged regions.

This study aimed to identify the physiological 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake in cats using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and determine its characteristics by comparing physiological differences with dogs. Seven healthy cats and six healthy beagle dogs were examined using FDG-PET/CT. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn over 41 detailed structures of 5 gross structures (brain, head and neck, musculoskeleton, thorax, and abdomen). The mean and maximum standard uptake values (SUVmean and SUVmax) were calculated for each ROI. Physiological variation was classified as having increased radiopharmaceutical activity with no evidence of abnormal clinical or radiological findings. The brain had the highest SUV, which was observed in the cerebellum of both cats (SUVmean: 4.90 ± 1.04, SUVmax: 6.04 ± 1.24) and dogs (SUVmean: 3.15 ± 0.57, SUVmax: 3.90 ± 0.74). Cats had a significantly higher intracranial uptake than dogs did (P < 0.01). In the digestive system, the SUVs of the duodenum and jejunum were significantly higher in dogs than in cats (P < 0.05). FDG uptake of the submandibular tip, tonsils, neck of the gallbladder, and caudal colliculus were physiologically increased in cats. This study demonstrates physiological FDG uptake in normal tissues, and the differences between cats and dogs were interpreted based on species-specificity. This information contributes to improving the accurate diagnosis of cancer in cats and will aid in understanding glucose metabolism in both cats and dogs.

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly occurs in dogs, but there is lack of information about potential biomarkers of clinical and histopathologic severity. Objective To examine the role of serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) concentrations in dogs with IBD. Animals Seventeen dogs with IBD and 25 healthy dogs. Methods In this prospective study, duodenal histopathologic severity was graded, and the clinical severity of IBD was assessed by the canine IBD assessment index (CIBDAI) score in dogs with IBD. Serum CRP and HMGB1 concentrations were compared between IBD and healthy dogs and analyzed according to histopathologic grade in dogs with IBD. The correlations between serum CRP and HMGB1 concentrations and the CIBDAI score were evaluated. Results Dogs with IBD had higher serum CRP (median [range] = 20.39 [1.53‐67.69] μg/mL vs 2.31 [0.17‐11.49] μg/mL; P

Background Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a neuron‐specific cytoskeletal protein expressed in axons. Damaged axons of the central nervous system release NfLs into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood. In humans with neurologic diseases, NfL is used as a biomarker. Objectives To identify the potential of NfL as a supportive tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE) in dogs. Animals Twenty‐six client‐owned healthy dogs, 10 normal Beagle dogs, and 38 client‐owned MUE dogs. Methods Cohort study. The concentrations of NfL in serum and CSF were measured using single‐molecule array technology. Results Median NfL concentration was significantly higher in MUE dogs (serum, 125 pg/mL; CSF, 14 700 pg/mL) than in healthy dogs (serum, 11.8 pg/mL, P

Background : Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a common canine autoimmune skin disease, in which systemic manifestations are absent. Skin Lesions are usually present on the nasal planum, and characterised by erythema, depigmentation, erosion, ulceration, and crusting. The diagnosis is based on histopathological results, which should demonstrate lymphoplasmacytic lichenoid-interface dermatitis. Human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIg) has been used in veterinary medicine to treat cutaneous diseases including erythema multiforme, PF, and severe adverse cutaneous drug reactions. In human medicine, it has been effective to treat DLE. This report firstly describes the clinical response to hIVIg in a dog with DLE resistant to common immunosuppressive drugs. Case : A 5-year-old, intact female Shih Tzu presented with a 1-month history of slowly progressive black crusting on the nasal planum, chin, and claw. Based on the results of a dermatologic examination, superficial pyoderma was diagnosed. The skin lesions did not improve during and after anti-infective treatment. After removing the crusts, a skin biopsy was obtained from the muzzle. Histopathology of lesional skin biopsy specimens revealed lymphoplasmacytic interface dermatitis at the dermoepidermal junction. Microscopic examination also revealed vacuolar changes and pigmentary incontinence of the basal layer as a lichenoid tissue reaction. No mites or fungi were detected on the skin section. The absence of acantholytic cells excluded pemphigus foliaceus, which is also characterised by the lesions of the nasal planum. Based on the distribution of the lesions, histopathology and exclusion of other dermatoses, the dog was diagnosed with DLE. The skin lesions temporarily improved after treatment with prednisolone (2 mg/kg PO q12h). However, after tapering the dose of prednisolone, new black crusts developed on the nasal planum and claw. Although the dog was successively treated with other immunosuppressive drugs, including azathioprine, cyclosporin with dexamethasone, and mycophenolate mofetil, black crusts still remained. Due to the low efficacy of these immunosuppressive drugs, hIVIg was administered at 0.5 g/kg once daily for 4 days, for a total dose of 2 g/kg. During hIVIg administration, the crusted lesions gradually improved. After the hIVIg administration, the dog was treated with prednisolone (1 mg/kg PO q12h). The lesions were almost in complete remission at 21 days after an additional application of prednisolone. The skin lesions did not recur, and the treatment was eventually discontinued after 6 weeks of additional prednisolone application. Discussion : The standard treatment of canine DLE includes glucocorticoids, and second-line immunosuppressive drugs, such as azathioprine and cyclosporine, are usually added in cases resistant to steroids. This case suggests that hIVIg may be beneficial as an adjunctive treatment option for canine DLE, especially when the application of standard immunosuppressive drugs is limited due to adverse effects or low efficacy. There is evidence from several studies that the steroid-sparing effect of hIVIg is significant in human patients. In the current case, the effective dose of prednisolone was reduced to 2 mg/kg/day after hIVIg administration, and prednisolone therapy was finally discontinued completely. The hIVIg appears to lower the daily steroid dose requirement in this dog. Keywords: autoimmune skin disease, discoid lupus erythematosus, canine dermatology, immunosuppressive drug, human intravenous immunoglobulin.

Daytime radiative cooling is an eco-friendly, temperature-cooling mechanism that uses the inherent properties of a material without energy consumption. To realize a high daytime radiative cooling ability, it is necessary to minimize light absorption in the solar spectrum (0.3–2.5 μm) and maximize the emissivity in the atmospheric transmittance window (8–13 μm). Currently, the solar reflective layer of a radiative cooling material has the limitation of absorbing UV light, which can reduce the cooling performance. We attempted to solve this problem via UV-to-visible wavelength conversion using CdSe/ZnS giant core-shell structures. By applying this strategy, a wavelength conversion-type radiative cooling emitter (WC-RCE) was fabricated using “giant” CdSe/ZnS core-shell nanocrystals embedded into a polymeric membrane to establish minimized absorption within the UV and short-visible regions, which constitute up to 17.28% of the total solar spectrum. The applied g-NCs have a high photoluminescence quantum yield and a large Stokes shift, and can resolve the absorption in reflective layers, such as silver, by re-emitting the wavelength of the absorbed UV rays into the visible region. Compared with a conventional RCE, the WC-RCE achieves further cooling by 0.38 °C on average from outdoor measurements. Thus, a wavelength conversion strategy was confirmed for efficient daytime radiative cooling.

In this study, we fabricated easily applicable and processible colored passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) films using a solution process with colloidal nanoparticle-based inks. White PDRC films were prepared using hollow silica nanoparticle (H–SiO2)-based colloidal inks and polymeric binders and spray coating. The films have an average reflectivity of 97.2% and emissivity of 94.3% and their temperature is 6.12 °C lower than the ambient temperature during the daytime at outdoor measurement. We also fabricated colored PDRC films by depositing Cu-based quantum dots (QDs) on white PDRC films. The Cu-based QDs partially absorb light in the visible spectrum, allowing yellow, red, and brown colors, that are highly efficient in preventing heat generation. The absorbed energy is converted into another wavelength and emitted as photons based on the photoluminescence effect. Based on the wavelength conversion, the yellow, red, and brown PDRC films can re-emit powers of 14.06, 28.36, and 43.92 W/m2, respectively, resulting in the prevention of heating. The results of outdoor measurements confirm that the temperature of the yellow and red PDRC films decreases by 3.25 and 0.51 °C, respectively, compared with the ambient temperature. Furthermore, we numerically and experimentally determined the daytime cooling performance of two brown PDRC films with different quantum efficiencies. Our results confirm that these easily processable colored PDRC films are more efficient daytime cooling than commercial paint color films on various substrates.

A 1-year-old, castrated male mixed-breed dog presented with diffuse, purple lesions arranged in an irregular patchy pattern, with a slight elevation on the right hindlimb extending from the tarsus joint to the upper region of the thigh. Dermatological examinations and fungal and bacterial cultures revealed no infectious agents. The therapeutic response to antibiotics and antifungal agents was negative. A histopathology examination of the lesion revealed vascular proliferation with vasodilation and numerous varying-sized vessels. Mast-cell-dominated perivascular cuffing was also noted. The dog was diagnosed with cutaneous angiomatosis due to diffuse lesions and the histopathology findings of hemangioma.