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bis-Phenol A (BPA), bis-Phenol S (BPS), and bis-Phenol F (BPF) are important polymer industry plasticizers. Regulatory measures have restricted the use of BPA in plastic formulations, especially for those which come in contact with food products. Rapid, accurate spectroscopic measurements are required for distinguishing which of the three are present. The bis-phenol groups are structurally identical. The second set of bis-groups (CH3-C-CH3, O=S=O, and H-C-H, respectively) are discretely different chemically, but vibrational modes corresponding to these groups are not unique identifiers, routinely overlapping with wavenumbers present in other members of the set. The dual modality method identifies the specific wavenumbers in which the Infrared (IR) signal is near zero and the Raman relative intensity is maximum, and those in which the Raman signal is minimum and the IR signal is maximum. The normalized intensity ratio between IR and Raman enhances the signal [BPA 10.6 (1508 cm−1); BPS 7.4 (751 cm−1); BPF 5.1 (1100 cm−1)]. The ratio between Raman and IR in BPF is also enhanced: 6.3 (845 cm−1). Discerning which specific wavenumbers are most enhanced is experimentally feasible, though not necessarily at present theoretically predictable. This study demonstrates that IR and Raman spectra are not just complimentary, but together they are confirmatory even when the normalized intensity ratios of corresponding wavenumbers are most different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited empirical research and insight into the experiences of therapy trainees who are being taught more than one psychotherapeutic approach during their training. Further understanding is warranted to ensure that a dual modality approach to training (that is, where therapists are trained in two paradigmatically distinct modalities) is experienced as worthwhile and acceptable to trainees and to better understand any challenges faced when transitioning between approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate trainees' experiences of transitioning from psychodynamic counselling to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on a two‐year master's degree that offers a dual modality approach to training. Data were collected from a sample of 8 trainees using an online semistructured questionnaire. These data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's (2020) reflexive thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified: (1) perceived competence; (2) preparedness; (3) professional advantages; and (4) external challenges. The findings suggested considerable individual variation in the ease with which participants navigated the transition between therapeutic modalities. Those who found the transition easier used the structure of CBT to provide a framework and point of difference that allowed them to temporarily suspend their psychodynamic learning in order to embrace a new therapeutic approach. Others experienced the move to CBT as posing a threat to their developing identities as counsellors. Recommendations are made on how to prepare trainees for the transition including exploring the psychological impact of transitions, increasing opportunities for reflective practice and facilitating exploration of what it means to be a therapist trained in two distinct therapeutic modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to generate visually useful imagery by preventing cropping while maintaining resolution and minimizing the degradation of stability and distortion to enhance the stability of a video for Augmented Reality applications. The focus is placed on conducting research that balances maintaining execution speed with performance improvements. By processing Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor data using the Versatile Quaternion-based Filter algorithm and optical flow, our research first applies motion compensation to frames of input video. To address cropping, PCA-flow-based video stabilization is then performed. Furthermore, to mitigate distortion occurring during the full-frame video creation process, neural rendering is applied, resulting in the output of stabilized frames. The anticipated effect of using an IMU sensor is the production of full-frame videos that maintain visual quality while increasing the stability of a video. Our technique contributes to correcting video shakes and has the advantage of generating visually useful imagery at low cost. Thus, we propose a novel hybrid full-frame video stabilization algorithm that produces full-frame videos after motion compensation with an IMU sensor. Evaluating our method against three metrics, the Stability score, Distortion value, and Cropping ratio, results indicated that stabilization was more effectively achieved with robustness to flow inaccuracy when effectively using an IMU sensor. In particular, among the evaluation outcomes, within the "Turn" category, our method exhibited an 18% enhancement in the Stability score and a 3% improvement in the Distortion value compared to the average results of previously proposed full-frame video stabilization-based methods, including PCA flow, neural rendering, and DIFRINT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

bis-Phenol A (BPA), bis-Phenol S (BPS), and bis-Phenol F (BPF) are important polymer industry plasticizers. Regulatory measures have restricted the use of BPA in plastic formulations, especially for those which come in contact with food products. Rapid, accurate spectroscopic measurements are required for distinguishing which of the three are present. The bis-phenol groups are structurally identical. The second set of bis-groups (CH3-C-CH3, O=S=O, and H-C-H, respectively) are discretely different chemically, but vibrational modes corresponding to these groups are not unique identifiers, routinely overlapping with wavenumbers present in other members of the set. The dual modality method identifies the specific wavenumbers in which the Infrared (IR) signal is near zero and the Raman relative intensity is maximum, and those in which the Raman signal is minimum and the IR signal is maximum. The normalized intensity ratio between IR and Raman enhances the signal [BPA 10.6 (1508 cm−1); BPS 7.4 (751 cm−1); BPF 5.1 (1100 cm−1)]. The ratio between Raman and IR in BPF is also enhanced: 6.3 (845 cm−1). Discerning which specific wavenumbers are most enhanced is experimentally feasible, though not necessarily at present theoretically predictable. This study demonstrates that IR and Raman spectra are not just complimentary, but together they are confirmatory even when the normalized intensity ratios of corresponding wavenumbers are most different.

This study aims to generate visually useful imagery by preventing cropping while maintaining resolution and minimizing the degradation of stability and distortion to enhance the stability of a video for Augmented Reality applications. The focus is placed on conducting research that balances maintaining execution speed with performance improvements. By processing Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor data using the Versatile Quaternion-based Filter algorithm and optical flow, our research first applies motion compensation to frames of input video. To address cropping, PCA-flow-based video stabilization is then performed. Furthermore, to mitigate distortion occurring during the full-frame video creation process, neural rendering is applied, resulting in the output of stabilized frames. The anticipated effect of using an IMU sensor is the production of full-frame videos that maintain visual quality while increasing the stability of a video. Our technique contributes to correcting video shakes and has the advantage of generating visually useful imagery at low cost. Thus, we propose a novel hybrid full-frame video stabilization algorithm that produces full-frame videos after motion compensation with an IMU sensor. Evaluating our method against three metrics, the Stability score, Distortion value, and Cropping ratio, results indicated that stabilization was more effectively achieved with robustness to flow inaccuracy when effectively using an IMU sensor. In particular, among the evaluation outcomes, within the “Turn” category, our method exhibited an 18% enhancement in the Stability score and a 3% improvement in the Distortion value compared to the average results of previously proposed full-frame video stabilization-based methods, including PCA flow, neural rendering, and DIFRINT.

Background: Gastrectomy with extended (D2) lymphadenectomy is considered standard of care for gastric cancer to provide the best possible outcomes and pathologic staging. However, D2 gastrectomy is a technically demanding operation and reported to be associated with increased complications and mortality. Application of sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept in gastric cancer has the potential to reduce patient morbidity; however, SLN techniques are not established for gastrectomy, in part due to lack of practical tracers. An effective and convenient tracer with enhanced SLN accumulation is critically needed. Methods: Mannose-labelled magnetic tracer 'FerroTrace' and fluorescent dye indocyanine green (ICG) were injected laparoscopically into the stomach submucosa of 8 healthy swine under general anaesthesia. Intraoperative fluorescence imaging was used to highlight draining lymphatic pathways containing ICG, while preoperative T2-weighted MRI and ex vivo magnetometer probe measurements were used to identify nodes containing FerroTrace. Lymphadenectomy was performed either robotically (n = 2) or via laparotomy (n = 6). Results: Mixing ICG and FerroTrace ensured concurrence of fluorescent and magnetic signals in SLNs. An initial trial with robotic dissection removed all magnetic LNs (n = 4). In the subsequent laparotomy study that targeted all ICG-LNs based on intraoperative fluorescence imaging, dissection removed an average of 4.7 ± 1.2 fluorescent, and 2.0 ± 1.3 magnetic LNs per animal. Both MRI and magnetometer detected 100% of SLNs (n = 7). FerroTrace demonstrated high specificity to SLNs, which contained 76 ± 30% of total lymphotropic iron, and 88 ± 20 % of the overall magnetometer signal. Conclusions: Through utilisation of this dual tracer approach, SLNs were identified via preoperative MRI, visualised intraoperatively with fluorescence imaging, and confirmed with a magnetometer. This combination pairs the sensitivity of ICG with SLN-specific FerroTrace and can be used for reliable SLN detection in gastric cancer, with potential applications in neoadjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new dual modality monitoring technique is presented to demonstrate its interest to investigate the salt precipitation dynamics induced by gas flow-through drying. It consists of imaging simultaneously a core flood using both Neutron and X-ray beams. A method to calibrate and process the two signals is presented. It takes advantage of the difference in attenuation between the two ionizing radiations to quantify the different phase saturations and compositions as well as the reduction of porosity caused by salt precipitation. A set of experiments has been conducted at the NeXT-Grenoble beamline of the Institute Laue-Langevin facilities (ILL, France). Experiments were conducted on a homogeneous rock sample of Bentheimer sandstone using dry nitrogen and a 100 g/L KBr brine. The two first experiments aimed to calibrate the dual modality for the different phases. The last two experiments have been conducted with a brine capillary contact maintained at the gas outlet. Experimental data have given new insights into the organization of the three phases (the brine, the gas, and the precipitated salt) when a salt bank is formed in the sample. These quantities computed using dual-modality imaging show great similarities with published work. The salt accumulation was used to estimate the flow rate of brine pumped through the capillary contact to compensate for the brine evaporation in the gas phase. Observations have shown that a reduction of the initial porosity in some sections of the sample by 12–14% was enough to trigger a gas draw-down characterized by the migration of the salt toward the gas inlet. In some conditions (low gas inlet pressure for example), the rise of the water could be fast enough to form a second salt bank higher in the sample. It has been observed that the formation of the second salt bank could spread the precipitated salt in a less damaging configuration for the gas flow, triggering a phase of gas build-up characterized by the withdrawal of the water. These phases of gas draw-down and build-up could alternate until the sample clogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent based on organic gadolinium (Gd) nanoparticles was designed, synthesized and tested. Based on a biocompatible condensation reaction between 1, 2-aminothiol and cyano group, organic Gd nanoparticles with well-controlled diameter in the range of 8~23 nm were successfully synthesized. When used as the MRI contrast agent, the organic Gd-nanoparticles exhibited slowly weakened longitudinal relaxivity with time. Meanwhile, its transverse relaxivity was observed to be enhanced firstly and then gradually weakened, which could be attributed to the diameter increase of the Gd-nanoparticles. The simultaneous existence of time-dependent longitudinal and transverse relaxivities of the organic Gd-nanoparticles suggests their potential to be advanced T1-T2 dual-modal contrast agent for MRI.

Abstract Purpose To develop a novel fluorine-18 (18F)-labeled arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD)-coupled ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticle (USPIO) (hereafter, referred to as 18F-RGD@USPIO) and conduct an in-depth investigation to monitor the anti-angiogenic therapeutic effects by using a novel dual-modality PET/MRI probe. Methods The RGD peptide and 18F were coupled onto USPIO by click chemistry. In vitro experiments including determination of stability, cytotoxicity, cell binding of the obtained 18F-RGD@USPIO were carried out, and the targeting kinetics and bio-distribution were tested on an MDA-MB-231 tumor model. A total of 20 (n = 10 per group) MDA-MB-231 xenograft-bearing mice were treated with bevacizumab or placebo (intraperitoneal injections of bevacizumab or a volume-equivalent placebo solution at the dose of 5 mg/kg for consecutive 7 days, respectively), and underwent PET/CT and MRI examinations with 18F-RGD@USPIO before and after treatment. Imaging findings were validated by histological analysis with regard to β3-integrin expression (CD61 expression), microvascular density (CD31 expression), and proliferation (Ki-67 expression). Results Excellent stability, low toxicity, and good specificity to endothelial of 18F-RGD@USPIO were confirmed. The best time point for MRI scan was 6 h post-injection. No intergroup differences were observed in tumor volume development between baseline and day 7. However, 18F-RGD@USPIO binding was significantly reduced after bevacizumab treatment compared with placebo, both on MRI (P

The combination of metal detection (MD) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been successfully deployed to combat the threat from buried antipersonnel landmines. A number of issues arise from the close integration of these two sensing modalities. One issue is the proximity of the metallic GPR antennas to the MD coils, which affects the performance of the MD due to the eddy currents created within the GPR antenna structure. In this article, the effect of traditional solid bowtie antenna design on an MD is investigated, and avenues for the reduction of the eddy currents are explored. Three modifications to the solid bowtie design are proposed and evaluated. This article presents the measurements of the MD response to all four antenna designs using a magnetic induction spectroscopy sensor. It was found that the MD response to the bowtie antenna can be reduced by 91%–98% across the MD operating frequency band, without significantly altering the RF performance, such as reflection and transmission coefficient and radiation pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is a clinical need for agents that target glioma cells for non-invasive and intraoperative imaging to guide therapeutic intervention and improve the prognosis of glioma. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-14 is overexpressed in glioma with negligible expression in normal brain, presenting MMP-14 as an attractive biomarker for imaging glioma. In this study, we designed a peptide probe containing a near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) dye/quencher pair, a positron emission tomography (PET) radionuclide, and a moiety with high affinity to MMP-14. This novel substrate-binding peptide allows dual modality imaging of glioma only after cleavage by MMP-14 to activate the quenched NIRF signal, enhancing probe specificity and imaging contrast. Methods: MMP-14 expression and activity in human glioma tissues and cells were measured in vitro by immunofluorescence and gel zymography. Cleavage of the novel substrate and substrate-binding peptides by glioma cells in vitro and glioma xenograft tumors in vivo was determined by NIRF imaging. Biodistribution of the radiolabeled MMP-14-binding peptide or substrate-binding peptide was determined in mice bearing orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) glioma tumors by PET imaging. Results: Glioma cells with MMP-14 activity showed activation and retention of NIRF signal from the cleaved peptides. Resected mouse brains with PDX glioma tumors showed tumor-to-background NIRF ratios of 7.6–11.1 at 4 h after i.v. injection of the peptides. PET/CT images showed localization of activity in orthotopic PDX tumors after i.v. injection of 68Ga-binding peptide or 64Cu-substrate-binding peptide; uptake of the radiolabeled peptides in tumors was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by blocking with the non-labeled-binding peptide. PET and NIRF signals correlated linearly in the orthotopic PDX tumors. Immunohistochemistry showed co-localization of MMP-14 expression and NIRF signal in the resected tumors. Conclusions: The novel MMP-14 substrate-binding peptide enabled PET/NIRF imaging of glioma models in mice, warranting future image-guided resection studies with the probe in preclinical glioma models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) probe integrating white‐light microscopy (WLM) modality that provides guidance for PAM imaging and complementary information is implemented. One single core of an imaging fiber bundle is employed to deliver a pulsed laser for photoacoustic excitation for PAM mode, which provides high resolution with deep penetration. Meanwhile, for WLM mode, the imaging fiber bundle is used to transmit two‐dimensional superficial images. Lateral resolution of 7.2 μm for PAM is achieved. Since miniature components are used, the probe diameter is only 1.7 mm. Imaging of phantom and animals in vivo is conducted to show the imaging capability of the probe. The probe has several advantages by introducing the WLM mode, such as being able to conveniently identify regions of interest and align the focus for PAM mode. The prototype of an endoscope shows potential to facilitate clinical photoacoustic endoscopic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect herbivores use olfactory and visual cues during host plant finding. Although insect responses to these cues typically are assessed separately, in nature herbivores respond to olfactory and visual cues simultaneously. We demonstrate the functionality of a "double-stacked y-tube device" (D-SYD) to measure bioassay responses of a specialist herbivore to olfactory and visual cues of potential host plants either presented individually or in combination. We tested the ability of the Eurasian specialist seed-feeding weevil, Mogulones borraginis, to distinguish between its Eurasian host, Cynoglossum officinale, which is invasive in North America, and a closely related confamilial native North American non-target, Andersonglossum occidentale. Weevils distinguished C. officinale from A. occidentale based on olfactory and visual cues. When olfactory and visual cues were offered simultaneously, weevils preferentially selected C. officinale more strongly and more rapidly than when either single cue was offered. When olfactory and visual cues were mismatched, weevils were no longer able to discriminate between the plant species and exhibited longer response times. There were no differences in behavioral responses to floral scents from greenhouse-propagated plants and those collected from plants in the field using a portable volatile collection system (PVCS). The bioassay approach demonstrated here using D-SYD and PVCS can assess behavioral responses of insects to olfactory and visual plant cues alone or together and measure their relative contributions to host discrimination. This will have utility for theoretical and applied questions concerning the host selection behavior of insect herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cooperative catalysis between HRP and nanocomposite improved sensitivity of sensor. • DNA-switching protocol toward AFB 1 overcomes complex matrices interference. • The limit of 0.2 pg/mL for AFB 1 is qualified for the safety inspection of AFB 1. • Dual-modality strategy provides an accurate means for monitoring trace pollutants. Herein, the cooperative catalysis effect between nanocomposite (AgPd NPs/POD-M/PEI-rGO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was applied for the fast and sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB 1). Upon specific and competitive binding of HRP@DNA and AFB 1 to cDNA, the working electrode presented different catalytic capacities for supporting electrolytes (TMB and H 2 O 2). In the redox mechanism of TMB and H 2 O 2 , HRP and nanocomposite effectively catalyzed the oxidization of TMB to form the one-electron oxidation intermediate TMB+, and contributed the electrical signals and absorbance signals. Electrochemistry and colorimetric analyses were successfully realized for AFB 1 detection with 0.2 pg/mL and 8 pg/mL of detection limits, respectively, which is much lower than that of traditional HPLC methods. Overall, this method had significant reliability and sensitivity, offering a promising potential for conveniently evaluating the quality of agri-products polluted with AFB 1. Moreover, this approach provides a new idea for fast and accurate detection of mycotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid (CNN + LSTM) deep learning bimodal CAD algorithm is developed. • Automated features extracted using CNN are input to LSTM for classification. • Proposed approach is used to classify breast lesions using dual modality. • The proposed method outperforms the traditional unimodal CAD systems. • Higher classification accuracy is achieved using proposed bimodal approach. Traditional methods of diagnosing breast cancer (BC) suffer from human errors, are less accurate, and consume time. A computer-aided detection (CAD) system can overcome the above-stated limitations and help radiologists with accurate decision-making. However, the existing studies using single imaging modalities have shown limited clinical use due to its low diagnostic accuracy and reliability when compared to multimodal system. Thus, we aim to develop a hybrid deep learning bimodal CAD algorithm for the classification of breast lesions using mammogram and ultrasound imaging modalities combined. A combined convolutional neural network (CNN) and long-short term memory (LSTM) model is implemented using images from both mammogram and ultrasound modalities to improve the early diagnosis of BC. A new real-time dataset consisting of 43 mammogram images and 43 ultrasound images collected from 31 patients is used in this work. Further, each group consists of 25 benign and 18 malignant images. The number of images is increased to 1032 (516 for each modality) using different data augmentation techniques. The proposed bimodal CAD algorithm achieves a classification accuracy of 99.35% and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.99 over the traditional unimodal CAD systems, which attain the classification accuracy of 97.16% and 98.84% using mammogram and ultrasound, respectively. The proposed bimodal CAD algorithm using combined mammogram and ultrasound outperforms the traditional unimodal CAD systems. The bimodal CAD algorithm can avoid unnecessary biopsies and encourage its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Imaging is a very important technique in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer diseases. This study developed a dual modality (fluorescence/MR) imaging technique for cancer cell lines (HeLa) and T 2 -weighted phantom imaging by using a mixed lanthanide (Dy/Er/Tb) oxide nanoparticles. To further enhance the solubility, stability and biocompatibility of mixed lanthanide oxide, the nanoparticles were coated with folic acid as well as G4.5 PAMAM dendrimer. The coated nanoparticles were then compared, the later with results demonstrating pronounced effects in both T 2 weighted phantom MR and fluorescence imaging of the cancer cell lines. Imaging enhancement was attributed to a synergistic effect of the fluorescent properties and higher water solubility of the PAMAM dendrimer when compared to the folic acid. Besides, mixed lanthanides of Dy and Tb were used for T 2 weighted MR imaging, while mixed lanthanides of Er and Tb were used for fluorescence imaging in the near infrared and visible regions, and were synthesized in the facile composition control. Hence, the mixed lanthanide oxides are packed together, and stable, which is used to facilitate biomedical imaging in vitro . To conclude, the G4.5 PAMAM dendrimer coated mixed lanthanide oxide nanoparticles will be used for dual-modality (fluorescence/MR imaging) cancer cell line detection in both in vitro and in vivo study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an electromagnetic sensor which can operate simultaneously in capacitive and inductive modalities with sensitivities to permittivity, conductivity, and permeability is developed, and a novel measurement strategy is proposed accordingly. The sensor is composed of two planar spiral coils with a track width of 4 mm, which promotes its capacitive mode. The capacitive coupling is measured in common mode, while the inductive coupling is measured in differential mode. In capacitive mode, the sensor is sensitive to changes in permittivity, i.e., the dielectric material distribution; while in inductive mode, it is sensitive to magnetically permeable material and electrically conductive material. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the sensor can simultaneously measure dielectric and conductive materials. This novel sensing element has been designed and implemented. Experimental results verified its effectiveness in dual modality measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The synthesis and application of porphyrins has seen a huge shift towards research in porphyrin bio-molecular based systems in the past decade. The preferential localization of porphyrins in tumors, as well as their ability to generate reactive singlet oxygen and low dark toxicities has resulted in their use in therapeutic applications such as photodynamic therapy. However, their inherent lack of bio-distribution due to water insolubility has shifted research into porphyrin-nanomaterial conjugated systems to address this challenge. This has broadened their bio-applications, viz. bio-sensors, fluorescence tracking, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging to photo-immuno-therapy just to highlight a few. This paper reviews the unique theranostic role of porphyrins in disease diagnosis and therapy. The review highlights porphyrin conjugated systems and their applications. The review ends by bringing current challenges and future perspectives of porphyrin based conjugated systems and their respective applications into light.