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Background: Social accountability aims to promote a collective ethic that upholds the fundamental values of equity, efficiency, solidarity, and social justice in healthcare and is now considered as a critical mission of academic health centers. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a pedagogical approach that uses digital technology to provide experiential international learning, specifically for increasingly diverse and multicultural healthcare work environments. The SOLID'AIRS program is an innovative French-language COIL that aims to set up international exchanges and workshops on social accountability between health sciences students. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of participation in the SOLID'AIRS program on medical and pharmacy students. Method: Five universities in four different countries were involved in SOLID'AIRS. We conducted a qualitative study by performing individual, semi-directed interviews with students who participated in the program from 2021 to 2022. A thematic analysis was conducted in five chronological phases: (1) reading, (2) descriptive coding, (3) conceptual coding, (4) identification of themes and (5) production of a coherent thematic structure. Results: After including sixteen student participants, 13 medical and 3 pharmacy students, we identified four main themes related to the impact of participation: (1) previous experiences in social accountability and international learning, (2) perception of the program, (3) perceived impacts of the program, and (4) difficulties encountered and avenues to improve the program. Overall, the program was well received by all participants who reported the advantages and limitations of the online learning format. The primary advantage of this format was its feasibility. The participants noted both professional and personal benefits of the program for their current and future practice, including greater reflexivity towards health sciences practice. Based on the challenges faced during the program, particularly in coordinating group work and communication, participants suggested increased supervision of group projects by collaborators, and organizing at least one in-person meeting for future editions. The participants reported encountering difficulties during the COIL and suggested ways of improvement. Conclusion: Participating in a COIL on social accountability appears to be an effective way to adopt a reflective approach to medical practice and should be implemented and evaluated in other educational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: ICA coil extrusion (ICA‐CE) occurs most frequently in the nasopharyngeal/sinonasal site.Evaluating the ICA coils stability, through an angiography, is of primary importance.ICA‐CE management needs to be decided based on the patient's symptoms and general status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a high-frequency (HF) magnetic pulse generator designed for low-intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation (LI-TMS) applications. HF pulse stimulation can induce a strong electric field with minimal current and enhance the penetration depth of the electric field in human tissue. The HF magnetic pulse generator was designed and fabricated using a microcontroller unit, gate driver, full-bridge coil driver, and stimulation coil. Measurements with a full-bridge circuit supply voltage of 10 V demonstrated an electric field intensity of 6.8 Vpp/m at a frequency of 1 MHz with a power dissipation of 2.45 W. Achieving a similar electric field intensity at a frequency of 100 kHz required approximately ten times the coil current. Additionally, a quasi-resonant LC load was introduced by connecting a capacitor in series with the stimulation coil, which set the resonant frequency to approximately 10% higher than the frequency of 1 MHz. This approach reduced the coil impedance, achieving higher current with the same bias supply voltage. Experimental results showed an enhanced electric field intensity of 19.1 Vpp/m with a supply voltage of only 1.8 V and reduced power dissipation of 1.11 W. The proposed HF pulse train with quasi-resonant coil system is expected to enable a low-power LI-TMS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore safe and reliable strategies and outcomes of endovascular procedures in the treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms. Retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the cases of PICA aneurysms that undergone endovascular therapy from July 2017 through January 2022 in our neurosurgical center, as well as outcomes of long-term follow-up. Total 24 cases were enrolled. Majority of the PICA aneurysms (87.5%, 21/24) presented initially with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and only 3 cases were not ruptured when they were clinically diagnosed as PICA aneurysms. The patients were endovascularly given either aneurysm occlusion with selective coils (12 cases), embolization of aneurysms and parent arteries (7 cases: 3 cases with coils and 4 cases with Onyx liquid embolic agent), or stent-assisted coiling of the aneurysms (5 cases). One patient, who had comorbidity of intracranial hemorrhage and severe cerebral vasospasm, declined further post-surgery therapy, and discharged from the hospital with anticipation of poor outcome. The rest 23 patients were followed up for 3–24 months with a recurrence rate of 17.4% (4/23). Endovascular procedure of embolizing PICA aneurysms with selective coils or stent-assisted coils is feasible, safe, and reliable. Simplified embolization of the aneurysms or occlusion of the parent artery is recommended as the first choice for the ruptured and bleeding PICA aneurysms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Intraoperative rupture (IOR) is the most common adverse event encountered during surgical clip obliteration of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Besides increasing surgeon experience and early proximal control, no methods exist to decrease IOR risk. Thus, our objective was to assess if partial endovascular coil embolization to protect the aneurysm before clipping decreases IOR. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms that were treated with surgical clipping at two tertiary academic centers. We compared patient characteristics and outcomes of those who underwent partial endovascular coil embolization to protect the aneurysm before clipping to those who did not. The primary outcome was IOR. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality and discharge destination. Results: We analyzed 100 patients. Partial endovascular aneurysm protection was performed in 27 patients. Age, sex, subarachnoid hemorrhage severity, and aneurysm location were similar between the partially-embolized and non-embolized groups. The median size of the partially-embolized aneurysms was larger (7.0 mm [interquartile range 5.95–8.7] vs. 4.6 mm [3.3–6.0]; P < 0.001). During surgical clipping, IOR occurred less frequently in the partially-embolized aneurysms than non-embolized aneurysms (2/27, 7.4%, vs. 30/73, 41%; P = 0.001). Inpatient mortality was 14.8% (4/27) in patients with partially-embolized aneurysms and 28.8% (21/73) in patients without embolization (P = 0.20). Discharge to home or inpatient rehabilitation was 74.0% in patients with partially-embolized aneurysms and 56.2% in patients without embolization (P = 0.11). A complication from partial embolization occurred in 2/27 (7.4%) patients. Conclusions: Preoperative partial endovascular coil embolization of ruptured aneurysms is associated with a reduced frequency of IOR during definitive treatment with surgical clip obliteration. These results and the impact of preoperative partial endovascular coil embolization on functional outcomes should be confirmed with a randomized trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measured voltage at the inductor in an RLC series circuit connected to a sinusoidal electromotive force depends on the current and the impedance. The latter does not only include the inductive reactance only but also the ohmic resistance of the inductor. This fact has a clear consequence on the result of the measurement as the measured voltage at the inductor is not in counterphase with the measured voltage at the capacitance as shown in theory where ideal inductors are usually considered. In this work, the resistance of a coil in an RLC circuit is obtained from the direct measurements of the phase of the voltage at the coil at resonance and the resonant frequency for different values of capacitance. This value is compared with the resistance of the coil determined directly with an ohmmeter. The agreement between both values is very good. The conventional signal generator has been replaced by a smartphone which is a very familiar device for the students. The smartphone can provide the necessary voltage supply for the experiment to be carried out successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coils are designed to have impedance characteristics appropriate for any use of the sensors, analog circuits and so on. The impedance characteristics of a coil depends on the coil shape and used materials, and these factors make coil design difficult. Therefore, we proposed a convenient method to obtain the impedance characteristics of a coil by theoretical calculation of the inductance, resistance, and capacitance. The difference between the calculated and measured values was within 15%, which demonstrated the usefulness of the proposed method. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad is the property of Frontiers Journal, Inc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Social accountability aims to promote a collective ethic that upholds the fundamental values of equity, efficiency, solidarity, and social justice in healthcare and is now considered as a critical mission of academic health centers. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a pedagogical approach that uses digital technology to provide experiential international learning, specifically for increasingly diverse and multicultural healthcare work environments. The SOLID’AIRS program is an innovative French-language COIL that aims to set up international exchanges and workshops on social accountability between health sciences students. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of participation in the SOLID’AIRS program on medical and pharmacy students. Method Five universities in four different countries were involved in SOLID’AIRS. We conducted a qualitative study by performing individual, semi-directed interviews with students who participated in the program from 2021 to 2022. A thematic analysis was conducted in five chronological phases: (1) reading, (2) descriptive coding, (3) conceptual coding, (4) identification of themes and (5) production of a coherent thematic structure. Results After including sixteen student participants, 13 medical and 3 pharmacy students, we identified four main themes related to the impact of participation: (1) previous experiences in social accountability and international learning, (2) perception of the program, (3) perceived impacts of the program, and (4) difficulties encountered and avenues to improve the program. Overall, the program was well received by all participants who reported the advantages and limitations of the online learning format. The primary advantage of this format was its feasibility. The participants noted both professional and personal benefits of the program for their current and future practice, including greater reflexivity towards health sciences practice. Based on the challenges faced during the program, particularly in coordinating group work and communication, participants suggested increased supervision of group projects by collaborators, and organizing at least one in-person meeting for future editions. The participants reported encountering difficulties during the COIL and suggested ways of improvement. Conclusion Participating in a COIL on social accountability appears to be an effective way to adopt a reflective approach to medical practice and should be implemented and evaluated in other educational contexts.

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)-projects has many challenges. Contrary to most papers on Virtual Exchange (VE) in general, or the COIL-method specifically, we analyse some of these challenges. We have found it productive to analyse the lack of students' engagement and activity through the concept of buy-in. Buy-in, within the educational sphere, refers to the degree in which individuals accept and commit to a specific educational approach. The main discourse of COIL focuses on its wide potential for skills-acquisition among participating students. What is less researched and analysed is the dynamics of challenges that are observed in these programmes, how they occur, develop and manifest in the student body. Challenges are often listed or mentioned briefly, without adequate attention provided as to why they happen or how this impacts the students experience over time (with some exceptions see; O’Dowd and Ritter, 2006). This paper aims to provide such an analysis and engage other scholars in a research-based discussion on the challenges associated with COIL to gain a fruitful understanding and develop inclusive and impactful COIL-modules.

As the popularity of virtual exchange (VE) has increased worldwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many higher education institutions are seeking the most efficient ways of building capacity for this practice. Using the context of VE implementations between the United States and Mexico as a case study, this research aimed to identify strategies for VE capacity-building that can be useful to institutions in a variety of contexts. The study included only instructors with experience implementing VE, the majority of whom had implemented VE multiple times, and used mixed methods data gathered via a questionnaire and focus groups. The findings identified specific examples of the types of resources that higher education institutions in the U.S. and Mexico may consider investing in, such as increased support for teaching with technology and different types of incentives for instructors’ continued VE engagement. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for strategies that universities worldwide can use to enhance the support they offer their VE instructors, including resource sharing with partner institutions and VE organizations.

This paper presents the continuation of experimental investigations conducted by the present authors to measure and compare the thermal and fluid dynamic performance of a residential hydronic air coil using nanofluids. The prior experiments were limited to testing only one volumetric concentration (1%) of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanofluid. They compared it with the base fluid, a 60% ethylene glycol/40% water mixture by mass (60% EG). The original tests revealed some deficiencies in the experimental setup, which was subsequently revised and improved. This paper summarizes the results of experiments from the improved test bed using three concentrations of Al2O3 nanofluids: 1, 2, and 3% volumetric concentrations prepared with an average particle size of 45 nm in a 60% EG dispersion. The test bed in these experiments simulates a small air handling system typical of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications in cold regions. Entering conditions for the air and liquid were selected to emulate typical commercial air handling systems operating in cold climates. Contrary to previous findings, our test results revealed that nanofluids did not perform as well as expected. Prior predictions from many analytical and numerical studies had promised significant performance gain. The performance of the 1% nanofluid was generally equal to that of the base fluid under identical inlet conditions. However, the performance of the 2% and 3% nanofluids was considerably lower than that of the base fluid. The higher concentration nanofluids exhibited heat rates up to 14.6% lower than the 60% EG and up to 44.3% lower heat transfer coefficient. The 1% Al2O3/60% EG exhibited a 100% higher pressure drop across the coil than the base fluid, considering equal heat output. This performance degradation was attributed to the inability to maintain nanofluid dispersion stability, agglomeration, and subsequent decline in the thermophysical properties.

The clinical magnetic resonance scanner (field strength ≤ 3.0 T) has limited efficacy in the high-resolution imaging of experimental mice. This study introduces a novel magnetic resonance micro-coil designed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), thereby improving high-resolution imaging in experimental mice using clinical magnetic resonance scanners. Initially, a phantom was utilized to determine the maximum spatial resolution achievable by the novel micro-coil. Subsequently, 12 C57BL/6JGpt mice were included in this study, and the novel micro-coil was employed for their scanning. A clinical flexible coil was selected for comparative analysis. The scanning methodologies for both coils were consistent. The imaging clarity, noise, and artifacts produced by the two coils on mouse tissues and organs were subjectively evaluated, while the SNR and CNR of the brain, spinal cord, and liver were objectively measured. Differences in the images produced by the two coils were compared. The results indicated that the maximum spatial resolution of the novel micro-coil was 0.2 mm. Furthermore, the subjective evaluation of the images obtained using the novel micro-coil was superior to that of the flexible coil (p < 0.05). The SNR and CNR measurements for the brain, spinal cord, and liver using the novel micro-coil were significantly higher than those obtained with the flexible coil (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that the novel micro-coil is highly effective in enhancing the image quality of clinical magnetic resonance scanners in experimental mice.

Preparing future public health (U.S.) or health and social care (U.K.) professionals for international settings is imperative in today’s higher education landscape. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is an innovative form of virtual exchange (VE) that provides students with international experience, cultural competence, and an understanding of global healthcare needs. This practice report summarizes how two universities in the U.S. and U.K. co-developed a COIL unit for their public health and health and social care students to learn about international healthcare systems. Public health faculty used SUNY COIL planning strategies and backward course design to guide the planning of the COIL unit. The learning processes and outcomes were designed to support program and campus learning outcomes that align with domain areas required by the Council on Education for Public Health. The planning process, curriculum, and technology used for the COIL unit are outlined. Evaluation of the unit included achieving student learning outcomes at the course, program, and campus levels; changes in intercultural awareness based on the Intercultural Knowledge and Competence VALUE Rubric; benefits to students, research assistants, and faculty; and alignment with the qualities of VE.

Electric power is impossible to imagine in the world. Wires are typically used to transmit power. Envision a future in which wireless power transfer is probable: Mobile phones, household robots, digital audio players (DAPs), laptop computers, and bearable electronics can charge themselves, freeing us from the need to be joint to a power source by a wire. A wireless mobile charging system using the electromagnetic field is intended to clarify its concept by elucidating it. Users can charge their mobile phones wirelessly in this system without the need to plug in the mobile adapter. A charging pad demonstrates the process of charging a mobile phone, requiring users only to place their adapter circuit on it. The transmitting and receiving parts of this system are designed and built as two distinct entities, each utilizing a coupling electromagnetic field. The oscillation circuit converts DC energy into AC energy, which in turn induces a magnetic field by passing through a frequency. This causes the receiver coil to be induced with an alternating current. The magnetic field coupling between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil can be calculated using Ampere's law, Biot-Savart's law, and Faraday's law. In this paper, The ability of the wireless mobile charger is calculated by varying the space between the coils in a system that utilizes an electromagnetic field for charging wirelessly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the continuation of experimental investigations conducted by the present authors to measure and compare the thermal and fluid dynamic performance of a residential hydronic air coil using nanofluids. The prior experiments were limited to testing only one volumetric concentration (1%) of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanofluid. They compared it with the base fluid, a 60% ethylene glycol/40% water mixture by mass (60% EG). The original tests revealed some deficiencies in the experimental setup, which was subsequently revised and improved. This paper summarizes the results of experiments from the improved test bed using three concentrations of Al2O3 nanofluids: 1, 2, and 3% volumetric concentrations prepared with an average particle size of 45 nm in a 60% EG dispersion. The test bed in these experiments simulates a small air handling system typical of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications in cold regions. Entering conditions for the air and liquid were selected to emulate typical commercial air handling systems operating in cold climates. Contrary to previous findings, our test results revealed that nanofluids did not perform as well as expected. Prior predictions from many analytical and numerical studies had promised significant performance gain. The performance of the 1% nanofluid was generally equal to that of the base fluid under identical inlet conditions. However, the performance of the 2% and 3% nanofluids was considerably lower than that of the base fluid. The higher concentration nanofluids exhibited heat rates up to 14.6% lower than the 60% EG and up to 44.3% lower heat transfer coefficient. The 1% Al2O3/60% EG exhibited a 100% higher pressure drop across the coil than the base fluid, considering equal heat output. This performance degradation was attributed to the inability to maintain nanofluid dispersion stability, agglomeration, and subsequent decline in the thermophysical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of South China University of Technology (Natural Science Edition) is the property of South China University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The clinical magnetic resonance scanner (field strength ≤ 3.0 T) has limited efficacy in the high-resolution imaging of experimental mice. This study introduces a novel magnetic resonance micro-coil designed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), thereby improving high-resolution imaging in experimental mice using clinical magnetic resonance scanners. Initially, a phantom was utilized to determine the maximum spatial resolution achievable by the novel micro-coil. Subsequently, 12 C57BL/6JGpt mice were included in this study, and the novel micro-coil was employed for their scanning. A clinical flexible coil was selected for comparative analysis. The scanning methodologies for both coils were consistent. The imaging clarity, noise, and artifacts produced by the two coils on mouse tissues and organs were subjectively evaluated, while the SNR and CNR of the brain, spinal cord, and liver were objectively measured. Differences in the images produced by the two coils were compared. The results indicated that the maximum spatial resolution of the novel micro-coil was 0.2 mm. Furthermore, the subjective evaluation of the images obtained using the novel micro-coil was superior to that of the flexible coil (p < 0.05). The SNR and CNR measurements for the brain, spinal cord, and liver using the novel micro-coil were significantly higher than those obtained with the flexible coil (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that the novel micro-coil is highly effective in enhancing the image quality of clinical magnetic resonance scanners in experimental mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coil is used for electrical connection and energy conversion in the electromagnetic pulse welding (EMPW) process, so its structure affects the welding effect. In this work, for the dual H-shaped (DH) coil, the influence of the symmetry coefficient on the Cu-Al sheets EMPW was studied through the simulation and experiment. When the voltage was 7 kV and the symmetry coefficient g was 0.75, 1, and 1.33, the Vc-β trajectory curve contained by the simulation combined with the welding window curve (WWC) to analyze the dynamic process and welding effect. The relative impact speed was the fastest and the corresponding weld seam length was the longest when g was 1.33. The welding experiment results were consisted with the simulation results, it was beneficial to weld the Cu-Al sheets when g was 133. The symmetry coefficient could change the impact speed and angle to affect the welding effect. This work is of great significance for DH coil design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite growing evidence for the effectiveness of stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC) in treating acutely ruptured aneurysms, the safety of stent placement in acute phase remains controversial because of concerns for stent-induced thromboembolism and hemorrhagic events attributable to the necessity of antiplatelet therapy. Therefore, we investigated the safety and efficacy of SAC with periprocedural dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) compared with the coiling-only technique to determine whether it is a promising treatment strategy for ruptured aneurysms. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 203 enrolled patients with acutely ruptured aneurysms, categorizing them into two groups: SAC and coiling-only groups. Comparative analyses between the two groups regarding angiographic results, clinical outcomes, and procedure-related complications were performed. A subgroup analysis of procedural complications was conducted on patients who did not receive chronic antithrombotic medications to alleviate their influence before hospitalization. Results: 130 (64.0%) patients were treated using the coiling-only technique, whereas 73 (36.0%) underwent SAC. There was a trend to a higher complete obliteration rate (p = 0.061) and significantly lower recanalization rate (p = 0.030) at angiographic follow-up in the SAC group compared to the coiling-only group. Postprocedural cerebral infarction occurred less frequently in the SAC group (8.2%) than in the coiling-only group (17.7%), showing a significant difference (p = 0.044). Although the ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage rate was significantly higher in the SAC group than in the coiling-only group (26.2% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.031), the incidence of symptomatic ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage was comparable. Subgroup analysis excluding patients receiving chronic antithrombotic medications showed similar results. Conclusion: SAC with periprocedural DAPT could be a safe and effective treatment strategy for acutely ruptured aneurysms. Moreover, it might have a protective effect on postprocedural cerebral infarction without increasing the risk of symptomatic hemorrhagic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Gekko coil system in treating intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in clinical practice. A prospective multicenter randomized open-label parallel positive control noninferiority trial was conducted by 11 centers in China. Patients with a target IA were randomized 1:1 to coiling with either Gekko or Axium coils. The primary outcome was successful aneurysm occlusion at 6 months postoperative follow-up, whereas the secondary outcomes included the successful occlusion aneurysm rate in the immediate postoperative period, recanalization rate at the 6 months follow-up, and technical success and security. Between May 2018 and September 2020, 256 patients were enrolled and randomized. Per-protocol analysis showed that the successful aneurysm occlusion rate at 6 months was 96.08% for the Gekko coil group compared with 96.12% in the Axium coil group, with a difference of –0.04% (P = 0.877). The successful immediate aneurysm occlusion rates were 86.00% and 77.45% in the Gekko coil group and the Axium coil group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.116), whereas the recanalization rates during the 6 months follow-up were 2.02% and 1.96% in the Gekko and Axium coil groups, respectively, which was not statistically significant (P = 1.000). This trial showed that the Gekko coil system was noninferior to the Axium coil system in terms of efficacy and safety for IA embolization. In clinical practice, the Gekko coil system can be considered safe and effective for treating patients with IA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the use of conventional gel or coil and "new" generation hydrogel used as an embolic agent in endovascular applications. In general, embolic agents have deep or multidistrict vascular penetration properties as they ensure complete occlusion of vessels by exploiting the patient's coagulation system, which recognises them as substances foreign to the body, thus triggering the coagulation cascade. This is why they are widely used in the treatment of endovascular corrections (EV repair), arteriovenous malformations (AVM), endoleaks (E), visceral aneurysms or pseudo-aneurysms, and embolisation of pre-surgical or post-surgical (iatrogenic) lesions. Conventional gels such as Onyx or coils are now commercially available, both of which are frequently used in endovascular interventional procedures, as they are minimally invasive and have numerous advantages over conventional open repair (OR) surgery. Recently, these agents have been modified and optimised to develop new embolic substances in the form of hydrogels based on alginate, chitosan, fibroin and other polymers to ensure embolisation through phase transition phenomena. The main aim of this work was to expand on the data already known in the literature concerning the application of these devices in the endovascular field, focusing on the advantages, disadvantages and safety profiles of conventional and innovative embolic agents and also through some clinical cases reported. The clinical case series concerns the correction and exclusion of endoleak type I or type II appeared after an endovascular procedure of exclusion of aneurysmal abdominal aortic (EVAR) with a coil (coil penumbra released by a LANTERN microcatheter), the exclusion of renal arterial malformation (MAV) with a coil (penumbra coil released by a LANTERN microcatheter) and the correction of endoleak through the application of Onyx 18 in the arteries where sealing by the endoprosthesis was not guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preemptive selective embolization of aneurysm sac side branches (ASSBs) has been proposed to prevent type II endoleak after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study aimed to explore if an embolization strategy using microvascular plugs (MVP) reduces intervention time and radiation dose compared to platinum-fibered microcoils. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the devices in occluding the treated artery was assessed. Methods: Sixty patients scheduled for EVAR underwent percutaneous preemptive embolization of ASSBs using MVPs or coils after a 1:1 randomization. Follow-up imaging was performed during aortic stentgraft implantation. Results: Overall, 170 ASSBs were successfully occluded (83 arteries by MVPs and 87 by coils) and no acute treatment failure occurred. The mean procedure time was significantly lower in the group treated with MVPs (55 ± 4 min) compared to coil occlusion (67 ± 3 min; p = 0.018), which was paralleled by a numerically lower radiation dose (119 Gy/cm2 vs. 140 Gy/cm2; p = 0.45). No difference was found for contrast agent use (34 ml MVP group vs 35 ml coil group; p = 0.87). At follow-up, reopening of lumbar arteries was seen in nine cases (four after coil embolization; five after MVPs). Conclusion: Both microvascular plugs and coils can be effectively used for preemptive embolization of aneurysm sac side branches before EVAR. Use of plugs offers a benefit in terms of intervention time. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03842930 Registered 15 February 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state detection of power cables is very important to ensure the reliability of the power supply. Traditional sensors are mostly based on electric field detection. The operation is complex, and its efficiency needs to be improved. This paper optimizes the design and development of the magnetic field detection sensor for AC power cables. First, through the establishment of the magnetic field sensor model, it is determined that permalloy is the material of the magnetic core, the optimal aspect ratio of the magnetic core is 20, and the ratio of coil length to core length is 0.3. Second, the coil-simulation model is established, and it is determined that the optimal number of turns of the coil is 11,000 turns, the diameter of the enameled copper wire is 0.08 mm, and the equivalent magnetic field noise of the sensor is 0.06 pT. Finally, the amplifying circuit based on negative magnetic flux feedback is designed, the sensor is assembled, and the experimental circuit is built for the sensitivity test. The results show that the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor is 327.6 mV/μT. The sensor designed in this paper has the advantages of small size, high sensitivity, ease of carry, and high reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Discuss the safety and effectiveness of flow diverter device and traditional stent inthetreatment of unruptured ophthalmic segment aneurysms. Methods A retrospective analysis from January 2017 to January 2023 was performed on the clinical data of 70 cases of unruptured aneurysms in the Department of Neurosurgery of Southern Theater General Hospital treated with stent-assisted embolization. According to the type of implanted stents, theywere divided into flow diverter device group （n = 21） and traditional stent group （n = 49）, and the postoperative clinical effects and complications of the two groups were compared. Results The two groups of patients followed 3 to 24 months, with an average of （14.4 ± 1.82） months. The results of perioperative and follow-up showed that the inclusion rate was higher in the flow diverter device group and the traditional stent group （93.3% vs. 87.9%）, with no significant difference（P > 0.05）, and the incidence of perioperative and shortterm complications was lower（0 vs. 6.1%） in the flow diverter device group than in the traditional stent group, and there currencies rate in the flow diverter device group was lower than that in the traditional stent group（0 vs. 6.1%）, but the difference was not significant （P > 0.05）. Conclusion Flow diverter devices and traditional stents in the treatment of unruptured ophthalmic segment aneurysmsare feasible, safe and effective. Preliminary results suggest that the incidence of short-term complications and retreatment is lower after treatment with flow diverter devices, and the operation time is short, but further studies are needed to validate long-term complications in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterial and methodsResultsConclusionsThis study was designed to conduct pooled comparisons of the relative clinical efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided localization for pulmonary nodules (PNs) using either coil- or liquid material-based approaches.Relevant articles published as of July 2023 were identified in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Wanfang databases, and pooled analyses of relevant endpoints were then conducted.Six articles that enrolled 287 patients (341 PNs) and 247 patients (301 PNs) that had respectively undergone CT-guided localization procedures using coil- and liquid material-based approaches prior to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) were included in this meta-analysis. The liquid material group exhibited a significantly higher pooled successful localization rate as compared to the coil group (p = 0.01), together with significantly lower pooled total complication rates (p = 0.0008) and pneumothorax rates (p = 0.01). Both groups exhibited similar rates of pulmonary hemorrhage (p = 0.44) and successful wedge resection (p = 0.26). Liquid-based localization was also associated with significant reductions in pooled localization and VATS procedure durations (p = 0.004 and 0.007).These data are consistent with CT-guided localization procedures performed using liquid materials being safer and more efficacious than coil-based localization in patients with PNs prior to VATS resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether participating in a five-week asynchronous video exchange program would affect the intercultural competence of undergraduate students at a university in Japan. Participants collaborated with Taiwanese university students on the topic of sustainable tourism and exchanged self-introduction videos, presentations on local tourism, and feedback. A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study. The Intercultural Competence Scale for University EFL Learners was used to gather quantitative data, and participants' scores were significantly higher in the post-test in four out of five dimensions. As for qualitative data, a survey with open-ended questions was administered to explore how participants perceived the virtual exchange experience. Several themes emerged including communication, culture, and interpersonal interaction, and participants demonstrated traits related to intercultural competence. Findings in this study have provided evidence to support the positive effects of asynchronous video virtual exchange on cultivating intercultural competence among undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the change in input impedance according to the coupling coefficient and self-inductance of the coil of a wireless power transfer system is analyzed. The input impedance is the impedance of the power inverter that plays a decisive role in determining the harmonic current of the coil. When the air gap between the transmitting and receiving coils decreased and the coupling coefficient of the wireless power transfer system increased, the slope of the input impedance decreased, and ultimately, the input impedance in the harmonic component decreased; moreover, the larger the inductance of the transmitting coil, the larger the input impedance of the system. The change in the analyzed input impedance was verified through simulations and experiments. Ultimately, measurements proved that the input impedance changes according to the change in the coupling coefficient and coil self-inductance, which affects the harmonic current. As mathematically analyzed, the larger the coupling coefficient and the smaller the self-inductance of the coil, the lower the input impedance of the harmonic component and the higher the harmonic current flowing in the coil, with a difference of less than 3 % between the simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol embolization in treating traumatic arteriovenous fistulas (TAVFs).Materials and methodsFrom March 2012 to April 2020, 42 consecutive patients (29.9 ± 15.1 years, range: 3–68 years) with peripheral TAVFs underwent ethanol embolization. All patients underwent clinical and imaging follow-ups (40.0 ± 25.9 months, range: 3–90 months). The mean time to onset of symptoms after trauma was 5.4 ± 5.9 months (range: 0.5–30 months). Among the patients, 27 (64.3%) reported that the TAVFs occurred after blunt trauma, 10 (23.8%) presented after penetrating trauma (with 4 patients involving penetration by infusion indwelling needles), and 3 (7.1%) had a history of surgery. Treatment effects, devascularization rates, and complications were evaluated at follow-ups conducted at 1–3 month intervals.ResultsSeventy-one embolization procedures were performed, with a mean of 1.6 ± 0.7 procedures per patient. Thirty-four patients received coil-assisted ethanol embolization. Absolute ethanol was used in all procedures, with an average volume of 7.1 ± 4.2 ml per procedure (range: 1–18 ml); 28 patients (28/42, 66.7%) received coil embolization in 36 procedures (36/71, 50.7%). Upon re-examination, 39 patients (92.9%) achieved 100% devascularization; of these, 29 patients (74.4%) with Schobinger stage II TAVFs improved to stage I or became asymptomatic. Overall, 30 cases (66.7%) achieved a complete response, while the other 12 cases (33.3%) showed a partial response. In addition, no major complications were observed postoperatively, apart from minor complications.ConclusionsCoil-assisted ethanol embolization can effectively manage TAVFs with an acceptable risk of mild complications.

Single lung transplantation (SLTx) has been used to treat end-stage lung disease. A common complication after SLTx is hyperinflation of the native emphysematous lung (NLH). Previous attempts to reduce the NLH have been tried using surgery, endoscopic valves, etc. with variable outcomes. Lung volume reduction coils can be used for treating hyperinflation in emphysema patients irrespective of collateral ventilation (CV). We here report a case of native lung hyperinflation in SLTx treated with lung volume reduction coils. This treatment appears to be a safe treatment option when dealing with CV-positive NLH in SLTx recipients.

Goal: This study presents a novel MRI coil design approach explicitly tailored for chick embryo measurements, with the primary objective of improving sensitivity and coverage. Methods: The limitations posed by conventional birdcage coils were addressed by introducing a curvature feature into a standard coil. The performance of the modified coil was assessed using EM simulations and experimental evaluations, which were subsequently validated using a 7 T MRI scanner. A comparative analysis was conducted against a standard quadrature low-pass birdcage coil to evaluate key factors. Results: The proposed coil demonstrated improved SNR and uniformity, particularly in the proximity of the end-rings. These results were consistent with the findings obtained from the simulations. Conclusions: The use of our innovative birdcage coil design holds promise and offers practical potential for in ovo studies.

Animal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) research is meaningful for exploring the mechanism of TMS and promoting the clinical promotion of new therapeutic methods. Tracing back the physiological phenomena caused by TMS is limited by the spatial resolution of the induced electric field. Through human and animal experiments, life science has proven that electric field direction affects the effect of magnetic stimulation, but this factor has not been introduced into the design of animal TMS coils. Therefore, this paper aims to design the TMS coil (EC-X) with controllable induced electric field direction, by finding the most favorable electric field direction for target activation, which can reduce interference to non-target areas and improve stimulation accuracy and energy utilization. Firstly, the structure of EC-X is proposed, establishing the Electromagnetic field Analytical Calculation Model (EM-ACM) for the arbitrarily shaped coil in the air domain, it is theoretically proven that EC-X can achieve direction control of the electric field. Then, the coil structure (such as coil length and angle) is optimized based on maximum ampere-turn $AN_{max}$ and stimulation focusing degree $F_{c}$ . Finally, the measurement of xy plane magnetic field distribution proves the accuracy of EM-ACM calculation results, which indirectly proves the feasibility of EC-X. Compared with the Figure-8 coil, EC-X can change the planar electric field direction without moving the coil, which has potential application value.

In this article, a rectangular coil in the form of a flexible printed circuit board (F-PCB) with FR4 substrate is designed and fabricated. Owing to its flexibility, the coil can be curved which facilities its use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Two samples of this F-PCB coil are faced each other in place, aiming to achieve a range with a uniform magnetic field in the middle of the coils. The performance of the proposed structure is compared with a planar PCB structure. Although the developed coil is intended for NMR spectroscopy, it can also be used in other applications such as wireless power transfer. As a special application, the proposed coil can be adopted in a portable NMR spectroscopy device for analysis and identification of metal minerals. Advantaged from reduced weight and occupied volume, precise design, flexibility and increased efficiency, the presented F-PCB coil can be considered as a promising alternative to the conventional coil. The finite element method (FEM) simulations are performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software and the results have been analyzed in the frequency domain. The results show that the proposed coil has 92% uniformity of the magnetic field in wide frequency range of 3–6 MHz that is used in NMR. The experimental results obtained from the fabrication device under test are compared with simulation results. The measured magnetic field in the sample area is 102 µT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transvenous embolization of high-grade dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) is challenging particularly when the direct sinus access is favorable due to the complex venous anatomy which prohibits endovascular access via the transfemoral approach. Method: The procedure was conducted in the hybrid operating suite, where a burr hole was performed, followed by direct catheterization of the superior sagittal sinus. Coil embolization was then executed to achieve complete obliteration of the fistula. Conclusion: The direct puncture of the superior sagittal sinus is a safe and effective method for treating complex dAVFs. This approach grants access to the fistula channel which facilitates curative embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to use and optimize a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for three-dimensional (3D) images of small samples obtained from breast cell cultures in vitro. The basis of this study was to design MRI equipment to enable imaging of MCF-7 breast cancer cell cultures (about 1 million cells) in 1.5 and 2 mL glass tubes and/or bioreactors with an external diameter of less than 20 mm. Additionally, the development of software to calculate longitudinal and transverse relaxation times is described. Imaging tests were performed using a clinical MRI scanner OPTIMA 360 manufactured by GEMS. Due to the size of the tested objects, it was necessary to design additional receiving circuits allowing for the study of MCF-7 cell cultures placed in glass bioreactors. The examined sample's volume did not exceed 2.0 mL nor did the number of cells exceed 1 million. This work also included a modification of the sequence to allow for the analysis of T1 and T2 relaxation times. The analysis was performed using the MATLAB package (produced by MathWorks). The created application is based on medical MR images saved in the DICOM3.0 standard which ensures that the data analyzed are reliable and unchangeable in an unintentional manner that could affect the measurement results. The possibility of using 1.5 T MRI systems for cell culture research providing quantitative information from in vitro studies was realized. The scanning resolution for FOV = 5 cm and the matrix was achieved at a level of resolution of less than 0.1 mm/pixel. Receiving elements were built allowing for the acquisition of data for MRI image reconstruction confirmed by images of a phantom with a known structure and geometry. Magnetic resonance sequences were modified for the saturation recovery (SR) method, the purpose of which was to determine relaxation times. An application in MATLAB was developed that allows for the analysis of T1 and T2 relaxation times. The relaxation times of cell cultures were determined over a 6-week period. In the first week, the T1 time value was 1100 ± 40 ms, which decreased to 673 ± 59 ms by the sixth week. For T2, the results were 171 ± 10 ms and 128 ± 12 ms, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We propose a comprehensive workflow to design and build fully customized dense receive arrays for MRI, providing prediction of SNR and g‐factor. Combined with additive manufacturing, this method allows an efficient implementation for any arbitrary loop configuration. To demonstrate the methodology, an innovative two‐layer, 32‐channel receive array is proposed. Methods: The design workflow is based on numerical simulations using a commercial 3D electromagnetic software associated with circuit model co‐simulations to provide the most accurate results in an efficient time. A model to compute the noise covariance matrix from circuit model scattering parameters is proposed. A 32‐channel receive array at 7 T is simulated and fabricated with a two‐layer design made of non‐geometrically decoupled loops. Decoupling between loops is achieved using home‐built direct high‐impedance preamplifiers. The loops are 3D‐printed with a new additive manufacturing technique to speed up integration while preserving the detailed geometry as simulated. The SNR and parallel‐imaging performances of the proposed design are compared with a commercial coil, and in vivo images are acquired. Results: The comparison of SNR and g‐factors showed a good agreement between simulations and measurements. Experimental values are comparable with the ones measured on the commercial coil. Preliminary in vivo images also ensured the absence of any unexpected artifacts. Conclusion: A new design and performance analysis workflow is proposed and tested with a non‐conventional 32‐channel prototype at 7 T. Additive manufacturing of dense arrays of loops for brain imaging at ultrahigh field is validated for clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The vaso- and psychoactive endogenous Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has repeatedly been shown to be excessively released after subarachnoid hemorrhage and in numerous psychiatric disorders. NPY is stored in sympathetic perivascular nerve fibers around the major cerebral arteries. This prospective study was designed to analyze the impact of microsurgical and endovascular manipulation of the cerebral vasculature versus cranio- and durotomy alone on the serum levels of NPY. Methods: 58 patients (drop-out n = 3; m:f = 26:29; mean age 52.0 ± 14.1 years) were prospectively enrolled. The vascular group underwent repair for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) of the anterior circulation [endovascular aneurysm occlusion (EV) n = 13; microsurgical clipping (MS) n = 17]; in the non-vascular group, 14 patients received microsurgical resection of a small-sized convexity meningioma (CM), and 11 patients with surgically treated degenerative lumbar spine disease (LD) served as control. Plasma was drawn (1) before treatment (t0), (2) periprocedurally (t1), (3) 6 h postprocedurally (t2), (4) 72 h postprocedurally (t3), and (5) at the 6-week follow-up (FU; t4) to determine the NPY levels via competitive enzyme immunoassay in duplicate serum samples. We statistically evaluated differences between groups by calculating one-way ANOVA and for changes along the time points using repeated measure ANOVA. Results: Except for time point t0, the serum concentrations of NPY ranged significantly higher in the vascular than in the non-vascular group (p < 0.001), with a slight decrease in both vascular subgroups 6 h postprocedurally, followed by a gradual increase above baseline levels until FU. At t3, the EV subgroup showed significantly higher NPY levels (mean ± standard deviation) than the MS subgroup (0.569 ± 0.198 ng/mL vs. 0.415 ± 0.192 ng/mL, p = 0.0217). The highest NPY concentrations were measured in the EV subgroup at t1, t3, and t4, reaching a climax at FU (0.551 ± 0.304 ng/mL). Conclusion: Our study reveals a first insight into the short-term dynamics of the serum levels of endogenous NPY in neurosurgical and endovascular procedures, respectively: Direct manipulation within but also next to the major cerebral arteries induces an excessive release of NPY into the serum. Our findings raise the interesting question of the potential capacity of NPY in modulating the psycho-behavioral outcome of neurovascular patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]