Search

The rapid and accurate detection of pathogens is vital for effective disease management and control. This paper introduces a novel framework for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection. Real-world samples often present unwanted noise in the signal, particularly when utilizing portable point-of-care devices. To overcome this challenge, a framework using AI for noise reduction from a portable potentiostat is proposed in this work. This approach involves employing a denoising autoencoder (DAE) to effectively remove noise from the electrochemical signals generated from a portable potentiostat by utilizing training datasets generated from benchtop potentiostat for training the DAE, bringing the performance of portable devices on par with their benchtop counterparts. This enhancement is crucial for point-of-care applications where environmental and operational factors often compromise data quality. Smartphones are often used as interfaces for portable electrochemical devices, the proposed framework can leverage the computational capabilities of smartphones to run the DAE model for processing electrochemical signals in real-time, thus making it compatible with fully point-of-care solution. The proposed system has been validated using COVID-19 and dengue DPV data, demonstrating its potential as a powerful tool in the rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. The integration of AI into electrochemical biosensing offers a more reliable and accessible option for healthcare professionals and researchers.

Viral detection has been studied predominantly in the last few years, along with the morbidity of COVID-19. Biosensors have been widely used for the detection of various biological molecules, showing a high potential for miniaturization and a friendly approach towards detection. Nanomaterials play a significant role in the development of biosensing devices due to their distinct morphological, optical, electrical, chemical, and physical properties, which improve their sensing efficiency. Therefore, the present work reports the fabrication of an electrochemical immunosensor adorned with gold nanoparticles coupled to a redox indicator-labeled antibody conjugate for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The fabricated immunosensor can detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within a linear detection range of 10–100 ngmL−1 and offer a sensitivity of 0.013 × 10−3 mA ng−1mLmm−2. The adopted concept can be extended further for the detection of other viral antibodies with high sensitivity and display high prospects for miniaturization, hence offering tremendous commercialization potential.

Anisotropic gold nanostructures have fascinated with their exceptional electronic properties, henceforth exploited for the fabrication of electrochemical sensors. However, their synthesis approaches are tedious and often require a growth template. Modern lifestyle has caused an upsurge in the risk of heart attack and requires urgent medical attention. Cardiac troponin I can serve as a biomarker in identification of suspected myocardial infection (heart attack). Hence the present work demonstrates the fabrication of a sensing platform developed by assimilating anisotropic gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with anti cTnI antibody (acTnI) for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The uniqueness and ease of synthesis by a template-free approach provides an extra edge for the fabrication of AuNC coated electrodes. The template-free growth of anisotropic AuNCs onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates offers high sensitivity (2.2 × 10−4 A ng−1 mL cm−2) to the developed sensor. The immunosensor was validated by spiking different concentrations of cTnI in artificial serum with negligible interference under optimized conditions. The sensor shows a wide range of detection from 0.06–100 ng/mL with an ultralow detection limit. Thus, it suggests that the template-free immunosensor can potentially be used to screen the traces of cTnI present in blood serum samples, and the AuNCs based platform holds great promise as a transduction matrix, hence it can be exploited for broader sensing applications.

The rapid and accurate detection of pathogens is vital for effective disease management and control. This paper introduces a novel framework for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection. Real-world samples often present unwanted noise in the signal, particularly when utilizing portable point-of-care devices. To overcome this challenge, a framework using AI for noise reduction from a portable potentiostat is proposed in this work. This approach involves employing a denoising autoencoder (DAE) to effectively remove noise from the electrochemical signals generated from a portable potentiostat by utilizing training datasets generated from benchtop potentiostat for training the DAE, bringing the performance of portable devices on par with their benchtop counterparts. This enhancement is crucial for point-of-care applications where environmental and operational factors often compromise data quality. Smartphones are often used as interfaces for portable electrochemical devices, the proposed framework can leverage the computational capabilities of smartphones to run the DAE model for processing electrochemical signals in real-time, thus making it compatible with fully point-of-care solution. The proposed system has been validated using COVID-19 and dengue DPV data, demonstrating its potential as a powerful tool in the rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. The integration of AI into electrochemical biosensing offers a more reliable and accessible option for healthcare professionals and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct obstetric causes of maternal mortality account for approximately 86% of all global maternal deaths. In Nepal, 12% of all deaths of women of reproductive age are due to preventable obstetric complications in significant part due to the limited distribution and skill level of human resources. Objectives: To address this, the Advanced Skilled Birth Attendant (ASBA) task-shifting initiative was developed to train medical officers to perform Cesarean sections (CSs) and manage obstetric emergencies in Nepal. Until now, there has been limited study of the program's efficacy. Methods: A survey targeting all 234 ASBA graduates resulted in 93 usable surveys for multivariate regression. Additionally, seven rural government hospitals with ASBA graduates were selected for 13 in-depth interviews and 6 focus group discussions. Results were then triangulated. Results: Immediately after training, 92.7% of ASBA graduates reported performing CSs, with the majority (65.6%) continuing to perform CSs today. Of the ASBAs not performing CSs, 51.7% could be explained by the lack of a functional operating theater, despite being at hospitals expected to provide CSs. ASBAs were significantly more likely to be performing CSs with a family physician or another ASBA present (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Their work was perceived to increase the use of services, improve access, reduce out-referrals, and reduce the burden of CSs on any one staff member. Conclusions: The ASBA program successfully reduces human resource shortages, expands the provision of life-saving Cesarean section, and improves the working conditions in rural hospitals within the LMIC setting. Paper context: Main findings: When stationed at lower-level health facilities with functional operating theaters, Medical Officers trained to perform Cesarean sections effectively utilized their skills, addressing the human resource shortage contributing to maternal and child mortality in low-resource settings, improving access to life-saving surgical care, reducing the burden of Cesarean sections on individual staff members, facilitating a positive working environment, and decreasing the need for out-referrals from lower-level hospitals. Added knowledge: This research expands the evidence for task-shifting programs in regions beyond sub-Saharan Africa and provides information on the Cesarean sections done by Non-physician Clinicians and the wider impacts on the working environment where they are stationed. Global health impact for policy and action: These results provide support for national task-shifting initiatives to both increase access to life-saving surgical care, but also to improving the wider working environment at health facilities, which may contribute to positive health care worker retention and overall improved access to Cesarean sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A year on from the end of coronavirus disease pandemic, there has been a resurgence in interest in international travel from South Korea. In the event of unexpected illness whilst abroad, there is a lack of information regarding the provision of medical services, repatriation, and treatment outcomes, both abroad and upon return to South Korea. A 39-year-old male experienced swelling, redness, and severe pain in his right upper arm, axilla, and anterior chest wall after undergoing intravenous cannulation in Laos. He received treatment in South Korea, 5 days after symptom onset, delayed by his travel back to South Korea. Upon diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis emergency surgery was conducted promptly. Subsequently, he underwent multiple surgeries. The patient’s wound was closed 13 days postadmission. He was discharged on the 33rd day without complications, although continued rehabilitation was required.

Introduction In remote areas, an absence of doctors and nurses leads to poor health outcomes for local populations. (1) To increase access to health-care workers, the World Health Organization recommends [...], Problem District hospitals in Nepal struggle to provide essential services such as caesarean sections. Approach Retention of health workers is critical to the delivery of long-term, quality health-care services. To promote retention and enhance performance in rural public hospitals, the Government of Nepal and the Nick Simons Institute progressively implemented a rural staff support programme in remote hospitals. After competitive selection for a compulsory-service scholarship and training, family practice doctors who could do basic surgery, orthopaedics and obstetrics were hired under a binding three-year contract in each participating hospital. Comfortable living quarters and an Internet connection were provided for the resident doctors; in- service training for all staff and capacity development for each hospital's management committee were provided. Local setting Nepal's mountainous landscape, poverty and inequitable rural/urban distribution of health workers pose barriers to adequate health care. Relevant changes Between 2011 and 2015 family practice doctors were maintained in all seven programme hospitals. All hospitals became providers of comprehensive emergency obstetric care and served more patients. Compared with hospitals not within the programme, deliveries increased significantly (203% versus 71% increase, respectively; P=0.002).The programme recently expanded to 14 hospitals. Lessons learnt A package of human resource supports can improve the retention of doctors and the use of remote hospitals. Factors contributing to the success of this programme were compulsory-service scholarship, central personnel management, performance-based incentives and the provision of comfortable living quarters. Probleme Les hopitaux de district du Nepal ont du mal a fournir des services essentiels tels que des cesariennes. Approche Le maintien des professionnels de sante s'avere crucial pour pouvoir fournir des services medicaux de qualite sur le long terme. Afin d'ameliorer ce maintien ainsi que les performances des hopitaux publics situes en zone rurale, le gouvernement nepalais et le Nick Simons Institute ont progressivement mis en place un programme de soutien du personnel dans les hopitaux recules. Apres une selectlon par concours pour beneficier d'une formation et d'une bourse conditlonnee a un service obligatoire, des medecins generalistes pouvant realiser des actes basiques dans le domalne chirurgical, prthopedique et obstetrique ont ete recrutes dans chaque hopital participant au titre d'un contrat de trois ans. Un logement confortable et une connexion Internet ont ete fournis aux medecins residents; dans chaque hopital, l'ensemble du personnel a beneficie d'une formation continue et le comite de gestion d'un renforcement des competences. Environnement local Le relief montagneux du Nepal, la pauvrete et la repartition inequitable des professionnels de sante entre milieu rural / urbain sont autant d'obstacles a l'offre de soins adequats. Changements significatifs Entre 2011 et 2015, les medecins generalistes sont restes dans l'ensemble des sept hopitaux du programme. Tous ces hopitaux ont pu delivrer des soins obstetricaux d'urgence et prendre en charge davantage de patients. Compares a des hopitaux ne faisant pas partie du programme, les soins dispenses ont considerablement augmente (augmentation de 203% contre 71%, respectivement; P=0,002). Le programme a recemment ete etendu a 14 hopitaux. Lecons tirees Des dlspositifs de soutien des ressources humaines peuvent ameliorer le maintien des medecins et le recours aux hopitaux situes dans des zones reculees. Les facteurs qui ont contribue a la reussite de ce programme sont la bourse conditionnee a un service obligatoire, la gestion centralisee du personnel, les primes au rendement et la mise a disposition de logements confortables. Situacion Los hospitales de distrito en Nepal tienen dificultades para proporcionar servicios basicos como cesareas. Enfoque La retencion del personal sanitario es indispensable para suministrar servicios medicos de calidad a largo plazo. Para promover la retencion y mejorar el rendimiento en los hospitales publicos rurales, el Gobierno de Nepal y el Instituto Nick Simons aplicaron de forma progresiva un programa de apoyo al personal rural en hospitales remotos. Tras una seleccion competitiva para una beca de servicio obligatorio y formacion, se contrato en cada hospital participante a medicos de familia que pudieran llevar a cabo una cirugia basica, ortopedias y obstetricia con un contrato vinculante de tres anos. Se proporciono una comoda residencia y conexion a internet a los medicos residentes y tambien formacion en el servido para todo el personal y desarrollo de capacidades para el comite de gestion de cada hospital. Marco regional En Nepal, el paisaje montanoso, la pobreza y la injusta distribucion del personal sanitario entre las zonas rurales y urbanas obstaculizan una adecuada atencion sanitaria. Cambios importantes Entre 2011 y 2015 se mantuvieron medicos de familia en los siete hospitales del programa. Todos los hospitales se volvieron proveedores de atencion obstetrica de emergencia integral y atendieron a mas pacientes. En comparacion con otros hospitales que no se encontraban en el programa, el numero de partos aumento significativamente (aumento del 203% frente al 71 %, respectivamente; P = 0,002). Recientemente, el programa se extendio hasta los 14 hospitales. Lecciones aprendidas Un paquete de apoyo a los recursos humanos puede mejorar la retencion de medicos y el uso de hospitales remotos. Los factores que contribuyeron al exito de este programa fueron la beca de servicio obligatorio, la gerencia central de recursos, los incentivos basados en el rendimiento y la provision de una residencia comoda.

With the increasing utilisation of deep learning (DL) for detecting and classifying distress in concrete surfaces, the demand for accurate and precise models has risen. This study proposes a novel empirical approach of multilayer optimisation for two prominent DL models, namely ResNet101 and Xception, to classify distress in concrete surfaces. Both models were trained using 20,000 images depicting various types of cracks and tested with another set of 20,000 images. Four algorithms (Sequential Motion Optimisation (SMO), shuffled frog-leaping algorithm (SFLA), grey wolf optimisation (GWO), walrus optimisation (WO)) were then applied to enhance classification accuracy. After evaluating the DL models’ overall performance, the four algorithms were grouped into two layers. The first layer comprised SMO, SFLA, GWO and their combined application. Subsequently, the second stage implemented the WO optimiser to enhance performance further. The outcomes demonstrated a substantial positive impact on the accuracy of both CNN models. Specifically, ResNet101 achieved 98.9% accuracy and Xception reached 99.2% accuracy. In the accuracy breakdown, ResNet101 achieved 97.6% accuracy and Xception achieved 98.3% accuracy in the first stage, compared to 87.4% for Xception and 83.1% for ResNet101 before optimisation. Given that this approach achieves over 99% accuracy in detecting cracks on concrete surfaces, it offers a significant improvement in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of structural health surveys for large buildings. Furthermore, it provides structural engineers with precise data to accurately determine and implement the required maintenance actions.

Viral detection has been studied predominantly in the last few years, along with the morbidity of COVID-19. Biosensors have been widely used for the detection of various biological molecules, showing a high potential for miniaturization and a friendly approach towards detection. Nanomaterials play a significant role in the development of biosensing devices due to their distinct morphological, optical, electrical, chemical, and physical properties, which improve their sensing efficiency. Therefore, the present work reports the fabrication of an electrochemical immunosensor adorned with gold nanoparticles coupled to a redox indicator-labeled antibody conjugate for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The fabricated immunosensor can detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within a linear detection range of 10–100 ngmL−1 and offer a sensitivity of 0.013 × 10−3 mA ng−1mLmm−2. The adopted concept can be extended further for the detection of other viral antibodies with high sensitivity and display high prospects for miniaturization, hence offering tremendous commercialization potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and abnormal blood vessels. As hyperproliferation is driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by activated immune cells, therapeutic strategies often target these cytokines to manage the disease. However, the role of abnormally developed blood vessels has often been overlooked in treatment approaches. In this study, we focused on blood vessels in psoriatic lesions and investigated the potential interplay between immune and endothelial cells by adopting imiquimod treated mice as in vivo model, together with various cell biological, biochemical, and structural analyses. We found that activated immune cells can generate reactive oxygen species, subsequently inducing oxidative stress in endothelial cells. Oxidative stress impairs endothelial cell layer integrity, thereby facilitating transendothelial migration of immune cells. Mechanistically, oxidative conditions inhibit Tie2 activation, potentially by modifying its cysteine residues, leading to deactivation of its vessel-stabilizing functions. Additionally, we demonstrated that reactivating Tie2 under such conditions could restore endothelial barrier function and alleviate the disease. These results suggest that Tie2 serves as a receptor that is directly responsive to oxidative environments, thereby modulating its kinase activity. Furthermore, we suggest that Tie2 reactivation is a promising alternative therapeutic approach for psoriasis.

The use of biochar to fix carbon in the long term has become promising for reducing CO2 emissions, with eucalyptus bark being an excellent source of raw material for its production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of applying eucalyptus bark biochar on soil CO2 emissions, in an area planted with eucalyptus. A randomized block design, with a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, was used, encompassing two pyrolysis temperatures (350 and 600 ºC) and five biochar doses (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 Mg ha-1), with three replications, where the doses corresponded to 25 % of the dose used at planting. The soil CO₂ emissions, humidity and temperature were measured at 90, 97, 105, 112, 120 and 127 days of surface application of biochar. The 5 Mg ha-1 dose contributed to reduce the accumulated CO₂ emissions by 65 and 24 %, respectively for the pyrolysis temperatures of 350 and 600 ºC, when compared to the 0 Mg ha-1 dose, thus contributing to mitigate emissions and support agricultural and environmental sustainability. In order to reduce the CO2 flow, the period indicated for its application is when the soil temperature is higher and the soil humidity is lower.

Abstract Rapid and efficient cell line development (CLD) process is essential to expedite therapeutic protein development. However, the performance of widely used glutamine‐based selection systems is limited by low selection efficiency, stringency, and the inability to select multiple genes. Therefore, an AND‐gate synthetic selection system is rationally designed using split intein‐mediated protein ligation of glutamine synthetase (GS) (SiMPl‐GS). Split sites of the GS are selected using a computational approach and validated with GS‐knockout Chinese hamster ovary cells for their potential to enable cell survival in a glutamine‐free medium. In CLD, SiMPl‐GS outperforms the wild‐type GS by selectively enriching high producers. Unlike wild‐type GS, SiMPl‐GS results in cell pools in which most cells produce high levels of therapeutic proteins. Harnessing orthogonal split intein pairs further enables the selection of four plasmids with a single selection, streamlining multispecific antibody‐producing CLD. Taken together, SiMPl‐GS is a simple yet effective means to expedite CLD for therapeutic protein production.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma frequently recurs after surgery, necessitating personalized clinical approaches based on tumor avatar models. However, location-dependent oxygen concentrations resulting from the dual hepatic vascular supply drive the inherent heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment, which presents challenges in developing an avatar model. In this study, tissue samples from 12 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are cultured directly on a chip and separated based on preference of oxygen concentration. Establishing a dual gradient system with drug perfusion perpendicular to the oxygen gradient enables the simultaneous separation of cells and evaluation of drug responsiveness. The results are further cross-validated by implanting the chips into mice at various oxygen levels using a patient-derived xenograft model. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells exposed to hypoxia exhibit invasive and recurrent characteristics that mirror clinical outcomes. This chip provides valuable insights into treatment prognosis by identifying the dominant hepatocellular carcinoma type in each patient, potentially guiding personalized therapeutic interventions.

Purpose The present study aimed to investigate the frequency and extent of compensatory common bile duct (CBD) dilatation after cholecystectomy, assess the time between cholecystectomy and CBD dilatation, and identify potentially useful CT findings suggestive of obstructive CBD dilatation. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 121 patients without biliary obstruction who underwent multiple CT scans before and after cholecystectomy at a single center between 2009 and 2011. The maximum short-axis diameters of the CBD and intrahepatic duct (IHD) were measured on each CT scan. In addition, the clinical and CT findings of 11 patients who were initially excluded from the study because of CBD stones or periampullary tumors were examined to identify distinguishing features between obstructive and non-obstructive CBD dilatation after cholecystectomy. Results The mean (standard deviation) short-axis maximum CBD diameter of 121 patients was 5.6 (± 1.9) mm in the axial plane before cholecystectomy but increased to 7.9 (± 2.6) mm after cholecystectomy (p < 0.001). Of the 106 patients with a pre-cholecystectomy axial CBD diameter of < 8 mm, 39 (36.8%) showed CBD dilatation of ≥ 8 mm after cholecystectomy. Six of the 17 patients with long-term (> 2 years) serial follow-up CT scans (35.3%) eventually showed a significant (> 1.5-fold) increase in the axial CBD diameter, all within two years after cholecystectomy. Of the 121 patients without obstruction or related symptoms, only one patient (0.1%) showed IHD dilatation > 3 mm after cholecystectomy. In contrast, all 11 patients with CBD obstruction had abdominal pain and abnormal laboratory indices, and 81.8% (9/11) had significant dilatation of the IHD and CBD. Conclusion Compensatory non-obstructive CBD dilatation commonly occurs after cholecystectomy to a similar extent as obstructive dilatation. However, the presence of relevant symptoms, significant IHD dilatation, or further CBD dilatation 2–3 years after cholecystectomy should raise suspicion of CBD obstruction.

Anisotropic gold nanostructures have fascinated with their exceptional electronic properties, henceforth exploited for the fabrication of electrochemical sensors. However, their synthesis approaches are tedious and often require a growth template. Modern lifestyle has caused an upsurge in the risk of heart attack and requires urgent medical attention. Cardiac troponin I can serve as a biomarker in identification of suspected myocardial infection (heart attack). Hence the present work demonstrates the fabrication of a sensing platform developed by assimilating anisotropic gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with anti cTnI antibody (acTnI) for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The uniqueness and ease of synthesis by a template-free approach provides an extra edge for the fabrication of AuNC coated electrodes. The template-free growth of anisotropic AuNCs onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates offers high sensitivity (2.2 × 10−4 A ng−1 mL cm−2) to the developed sensor. The immunosensor was validated by spiking different concentrations of cTnI in artificial serum with negligible interference under optimized conditions. The sensor shows a wide range of detection from 0.06–100 ng/mL with an ultralow detection limit. Thus, it suggests that the template-free immunosensor can potentially be used to screen the traces of cTnI present in blood serum samples, and the AuNCs based platform holds great promise as a transduction matrix, hence it can be exploited for broader sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Mathematical literacy and mathematical problemsolving are crucial abilities that link mathematics content to real life applications, facilitating both mathematics understanding and mathematical processes. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the STEMEN (STEM and educational neuroscience) teaching model in enhancing mathematical literacy and problem-solving skills. Methodology - This study adopted a pre-test and post-test control group design. Among 156 Grade 9 students from a secondary school in Phayao, Thailand, 70 were randomly selected. The STEMEN teaching model was implemented in the experimental group, while the 5E teaching model, typically used in a normal classroom was employed in the control group. Two types of tests, namely the mathematical literacy test and the mathematical problem-solving test, were used as research instruments. Pre and post-data were collected from both the experimental and control groups. Repeated measures ANOVA with Wilks’ lambda was employed to analyze the mean comparison for mathematical literacy and mathematical problem-solving. Findings - The findings revealed that the mean scores for mathematical literacy and mathematical problem-solving were relatively higher in the STEMEN teaching model group compared to the 5E teaching model group. These results provide insights into the effectiveness of the STEMEN teaching model in enhancing learning outcomes, particularly mathematical literacy and problem-solving in mathematics. Significance – The results of this study showed that the STEMEN teaching model was effective in increasing learning outcomes, including mathematical literacy and problem-solving. These outcomes should enable teachers to design effective and efficient instructional strategies for enhancing mathematical literacy and problem-solving in classrooms.

Background/Aim Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOBMRI) further enhances the identification of additional hepatic nodules compared with computed tomography (CT) alone; however, the optimal treatment for such additional nodules remains unclear. We investigated the long-term oncological effect of aggressive treatment strategies for additional lesions identified using EOB-MRI in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Data from 522 patients diagnosed with solitary HCC using CT between January 2008 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to compare the oncologic outcomes between patients with solitary HCC and those with additional nodules on EOB-MRI after aggressive treatment (resection or radiofrequency ablation [RFA]). Results Among the 383 patients included, 59 had additional nodules identified using EOB-MRI. Compared with patients with solitary HCC, those with additional nodules on EOB-MRI had elevated total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase; had a lower platelet count, higher MELD score, and highly associated with liver cirrhosis (P

Computer vision has emerged as a promising tool for improving safety at construction sites through automatic scene recognition. However, traditional approaches require significant labor-intensive and time-consuming efforts for annotations. Although weakly supervised learning has the advantage of localizing objects without location information, the conventional class activation map (CAM) technique struggles with small and linear object localization and background noise at construction sites. For effective scene recognition related to construction safety, the spatial relationships between precisely localized objects are crucial. Due to the limitations of traditional CAM techniques in localizing small and linear objects, using CAM for construction safety monitoring remains inaccurate. Therefore, this study proposes a weakly supervised learning approach with an improved CAM for enhancing object detection in construction sites. The improved CAM localizes objects of various scales and is robust against background interference. Spatial relationships between localized objects are employed to determine the status of scenes for construction safety monitoring. Experiment using datasets associated with falls from ladders (FFL) demonstrates that the improved CAM surpasses the traditional CAM in mIoU (mean intersection over union) for the object localization performance as well as in the accuracy and F1-Score for recognizing unsafe scenes. This demonstrates the robust potential of employing CAM as a weakly supervised learning strategy, underlining its substantial feasibility for preventing hazards in construction sites. The proposed framework can minimize annotation efforts, demonstrating the potential of CAM as a viable computer vision technique for efficiently detecting hazards at construction sites.

Background: Prokinetic agents are effective in increasing gastrointestinal (GI) contractility and alleviating constipation, often caused by slow intestinal motility. Lubiprostone (LUB), known for activating CLC-2 chloride channels, increases the chloride ion concentration in the GI tract, supporting water retention and stool movement. Despite its therapeutic efficacy, the exact mechanisms underlying its pharmacological action are poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether LUB activates the canonical transient receptor potential cation channel type 4 (TRPC4) through stimulation with E-type prostaglandin receptor (EP) type 3. Methods: Using isotonic tension recordings on mouse colon strips, we examined LUB-induced contractility in both proximal and distal colon segments. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to determine mRNA levels of EP1-4 receptor subtypes in distal colonic muscular strips and isolated myocytes. The effects of a TRPC4 blocker and EP3 antagonist on LUB-stimulated contractions were also evaluated. Results: LUB showed significant contraction in the distal segment compared to the proximal segment. EP3 receptor mRNA levels were highly expressed in the distal colon tissue, which correlated with the observed enhanced contraction. Furthermore, LUB-induced spontaneous contractions in distal colon muscles were reduced by a TRPC4 blocker or EP3 antagonist, indicating that LUB-stimulated EP3 receptor activation may lead to TRPC4 activation and increased intracellular calcium in colonic smooth muscle. Conclusions: These findings suggest that LUB improves mass movement through indirect activation of the TRPC4 channel in the distal colon. The segment-specific action of prokinetic agents like LUB provides compelling evidence for a personalized approach to symptom management, supporting the defecation reflex.

Historically, the central nervous system (CNS) was regarded as ‘immune-privileged’, possessing its own distinct immune cell population. This immune privilege was thought to be established by a tight blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal-fluid barrier (BCSFB), which prevented the crossing of peripheral immune cells and their secreted factors into the CNS parenchyma. However, recent studies have revealed the presence of peripheral immune cells in proximity to various brain-border niches such as the choroid plexus, cranial bone marrow (CBM), meninges, and perivascular spaces. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that peripheral immune cells may be able to infiltrate the brain through these sites and play significant roles in driving neuronal cell death and pathology progression in neurodegenerative disease. Thus, in this review, we explore how the brain-border immune niches may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). We then discuss several emerging options for harnessing the neuroimmune potential of these niches to improve the prognosis and treatment of these debilitative disorders using novel insights from recent studies.

The construction sector is known for exposing workers to numerous potential hazards, with falls from heights being the leading cause. These fatal fall accidents not only result in human loss but also impose significant financial costs on construction projects. However, current safety planning and management is typically carried out manually using safety documents and 2D models, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive. There is also a lack of visualization for the placement of temporary safety facilities (TSFs) during construction. Meanwhile, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has the potential to be used as a comprehensive workspace planning for TSFs in a scheduling manner. Therefore, this study proposes the development of a construction safety dashboard to inform workers about fall hazards using spatial–temporal data stored in 4D BIM. The proposed approach includes four modules: (1) identification and assessment of risk from identified work activities, (2) development of 4D BIM model, (3) creation of a dashboard to share safety knowledge, and (4) validation of the dashboard through interviews with safety managers and site workers. This approach is tested on a stadium project, particularly focusing on roof work activities, where workers are most prone to fall hazards. The proposed method aims to provide ease for site workers to access safety knowledge, including risk identification (including risk, fatality, location, and time), visualization of TSFs, personal protective equipment, and safety work instructions. This interactive dashboard also enables safety managers to plan safety measures, allocate TSFs efficiently, and make well-informed decisions to effectively mitigate risks.

Performing risk assessments in construction requires collecting and analyzing project data and historical safety accident data, which is challenging due to the inherent complexities and dynamic nature of construction projects. To address these challenges, building information modeling (BIM) has been leveraged as a centralized digital repository that integrates data and provides a holistic 3D view of a project. Previous studies have highlighted BIM’s significant functions for risk assessment, such as visualization, simulation, and clash detection. However, these studies often overlook the incorporation of temporal information, which is crucial for assessing risks accounting for the dynamic conditions of construction sites. This study develops a 4D BIM-based risk-assessment framework by integrating spatial and temporal data to respond to dynamic site changes. The framework leverages 4D BIM to combine 3D model data with time-, resource-, and logistics-related information, enhancing the tracking and evaluation of construction progress. The study involves investigating major construction accidents, classifying their risk factors, establishing risk-factor identification algorithms, and implementing the framework on a web-based platform for validation. This approach offers a comprehensive risk-identification strategy, applicable to multiple accident types, with intuitive visualization using BIM models, benefiting from managers’ experiential knowledge and enabling effective risk assessments and mitigation strategies. Consequently, potential safety risks at construction sites can be efficiently identified using interconnected spatial and temporal data while tracking changes in risk levels in real time and visualizing them on a web-based platform.

Abstract Compostable materials constitute roughly half of waste generated globally, but only 5% of waste is actually processed through composting, suggesting that expanding compost programs may be an effective way to process waste. Compostable waste, if properly collected and processed, has value‐added end use options including: residential and park landscaping, remediation of brownfield sites, and as growing media in urban agriculture (UA). Since 2001, our lab has partnered with The Food Project, a non‐profit focused on youth leadership development through urban farming. From 2006 to 2022 we collected compost materials that were delivered to the farm from a variety of local sources and analyzed a suite of biogeochemical properties including lead (Pb) concentrations, organic carbon, and grain size distribution. Pb concentrations of Boston's municipal compost always exceeded the current City of San Francisco soil and compost purchase standard (80 μg/g). In 2012 Boston's composting program was halted when it exceeded the 400 μg/g Environmental Protection Agency's Pb in soil benchmark. Urban Pb is geomobile and must be managed to minimize resuspension and transport of fines whose Pb concentration is often elevated compared to bulk compost. Consequently, urban farmers have to source lower Pb compost from suburban suppliers at significantly greater cost. Over a 15 year period and through several city vendor contracts, Pb concentrations in municipal compost remain at levels that warrant continued surveillance and risk assessment.

Limited residence time of drugs in the ocular surface, poor bioavailability and side effects are the major challenges in ophthalmic treatment. From the last decade, the pharmaceutical industry is in search of a reliable ophthalmic drug delivery system. In the present study, we demonstrate amine‐functionalized mucoadhesive MIL88B(FeMOF) as a drug delivery cargo to encapsulate ophthalmic drug Timolol (TM) at a rate of 195 μg/mg. Invitro release of TM (only upto 63 %) from loaded FeMOF (TM@FeMOF) within 10 h without burst effect was a noticeable feature that anticipates enhanced preocular retention by the sustained release of TM through extensive H‐bonding of the amine group of MOFs with mucin. A novel and facile approach using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) were harnessed for rapid quantification of TM during in‐vitro release studies, further validated by HPLC measurement(<10 % deviation). The encouraging results from in‐vitro studies forecast the success story of TM@FeMOF as a biocompatible, biodegradable, and sustainable ophthalmic drug delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]