Primary Template Research Articles

Enhancing Primary Care by Investing in Interprofessional Education: The SPLICE Project.

The System-transforming, Patient centered Longitudinal Interprofessional Community-based Education (SPLICE) Initiative was a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded project designed to educate and train health professions learners in team-based primary care within a clinical environment. The SPLICE project team developed multiple learning activities including case studies and simulations that integrated the IPEC Core Competencies within clinical scenarios. The interprofessional aspects were also modeled by faculty facilitators from different professions. Each activity was thoroughly evaluated by the learners using mixed methods processes including data from retrospective pretest-posttest self-assessments, open-ended surveys, and focus groups. Faculty, staff, and learners invested countless hours of volunteer time due to the enthusiasm and passion for the work supported with HRSA funding to implement and evaluate the SPLICE initiative. Outcomes include the development of an enhanced primary care simulation template; the creation of 21 unique primary care simulations that integrated the IPEC competencies; improved confidence and competence in over 700 learners; over 110 faculty trained in simulation and debriefing skills; clinical skills training for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) staff; improved quality improvement processes at a local FQHC; and a high rate of retention of the graduates in primary care. This project demonstrated a significant return on the investment beyond the initial HRSA funding.

Preparation of an Fe3O4 Nanoparticle/Carbonized Hemp Fiber Composite with Superior Microwave Absorption Performance.

The increasing concern over the negative impact of electromagnetic radiation and interference on humans has led to a growing interest in microwave-absorbing materials that are cost-effective, have a wide frequency range, and have high efficiency. In this paper, an Fe3O4 nanoparticle/carbonized hemp fiber composite was successfully prepared using hemp fibers as the primary material and template. By carefully regulating the concentration of the iron nitrate impregnation solution, accurate loading of Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto the carbonized hemp fiber was achieved. Due to its unique porous structure, the balance between impedance matching, and electromagnetic loss, the prepared Fe3O4 nanoparticle/carbonized hemp fiber composite exhibits light weight, high absorption strength, and broadband absorption characteristics. The broadest absorption bandwidth of 6.1 GHz can be achieved, covering the entire Ku-band, and the minimum refection loss is as low as -49.7 dB. More interestingly, the Fe3O4 nanoparticle/carbonized hemp fiber composite exhibits attractive microwave absorption performance in both the X-band and Ku-band even with a wide range of Fe3O4 nanoparticle loading. Furthermore, simulations of the radar cross section (RCS) have confirmed that the Fe3O4 nanoparticle/carbonized hemp fiber composite is effective in attenuating electromagnetic waves in a real environment. This work presents an economical and efficient method for the development of porous carbon-based absorbents.

Losing a child with a severe developmental intellectual disability: Israeli mothers' accounts.

Caring for a child with a severe developmental intellectual disability is often extremely challenging. Consequently, if such a child passes away, the grieving process may be complex. In the present study, we sought to characterize Israeli mothers' meaning (re)construction in the face of such loss. Eight mothers who lost a child with severe developmental intellectual disability participated in in-depth semistructured interviews. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, three primary meaning templates were identified from their narratives: regrieving the lost child, the duality of grief and relief, and continuous disenfranchisement. The findings revealed a distinctive rupture in the self-narratives of grieving mothers and depicted the intricately intertwined reality of living with and losing a severely disabled child. The interplay between personal and social aspects of this unique grief experience is highlighted, and practical implications are considered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

O-271 Two component resolution of mosaic samples in PGT-A: primary template amplification (PTA) and independent analysis using copy-number variation and allelic balance

Abstract Study question How does accurate, unbiased whole genome amplification and tiered, independent, two component analysis impact PGT-A results? Summary answer When compared to previous methods a PGT-A workflow utilizing PTA followed by a CNV and allelic balance-based analysis generated more conclusive results. What is known already Accurate PGT-A results require unbiased error-free whole genome amplification from the trophectoderm biopsy and smart bioinformatics utilities to fully analyze and consider the large complex datasets. PTA generates fewer errors, greater coverage, and reduced allele drop-out offering the best starting point to interpret the genome of each embryo. Current PGT-A platforms leverage either normalized CNV data OR allelic balance at single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), to detect alterations in the embryonic genome. A pipeline leveraging improved amplification technology and consolidated CNV and SNP data, particularly for putative mosaic and segmental mosaic calls, could reduce uncertainty and provide more accurate PGT-A results. Study design, size, duration A retrospective analysis of PGT-A results was undertaken with samples originating from multiple clinics and processed in a single laboratory, from January through December, 2023. Approximately 500 samples were processed simultaneously through two independent PGT-A pipelines. The primary objective was to compare the performance of CNV-only PGT-A with a test leveraging both CNV and SNP data. A secondary objective was to observe the resolution of mosaic embryos. Participants/materials, setting, methods De-identified samples were amplified with PTA and sequenced with both shotgun (coverage-based CNV) and capture (SNP-based)-approaches. Method specific analysis was applied to the resulting data. An initial bioinformatics approach analyzed CNV data only for variations in copy-number along the genome, proposing stretches of aneuploidy or mosaicism. A second, tiered analysis extended this data and incorporated SNP-based allelic balance to evaluate candidate regions and confirm the presence of aneuploidy and/or quantify mosaic levels. Main results and the role of chance Genome-wide read coverage and SNP data confirmed that PTA accurately and completely amplified the genetic material in each sample with broad distribution of informative data and a low allele drop-out rate. High concordance (95%) was observed for euploid and full aneuploid (whole chromosome and segmental) embryos classified with CNV-alone and CNV/SNV combined analysis. SNP data was processed, and B-allele ratios were used to confirm aneuploidies with particular utility in resolving the location of segmental changes. The classification of mosaic samples was altered in the pipeline leveraging both CNV and SNP data. Of 54 mosaic samples tested, 75% remained mosaic after independent consideration of SNP data, ∼15% and 6% of high-level mosaics were resolved to full aneuploid and euploid, respectively, and ∼25% of low-level mosaics reverted to a euploid classification. The deep SNP data produced during targeted sequencing confirmed the altered allele ratio predicted by CNV data and re-confirmed the presence and proportion of aneuploid cells. Mosaic levels were highly correlated in 90% of re-confirmed mosaic samples. This suggests that the classification of these samples as mosaic is precise and accurate and suggests a strong utility for a two component PGT-A pipeline leveraging CNV and SNV data generated from PTA embryos. Limitations, reasons for caution This was a retrospective study with limited sample numbers. Wider implications of the findings The study highlights the strong advantages of a hybrid PGT-A pipeline, leveraging PTA and two component analysis of coverage and allelic balance, particularly to resolve mosaic embryos more accurately. Overall, this could reduce uncertainty and deliver more confident PGT-A results for embryo transfer decision making. Trial registration number not applicable

Ultrasonic Plasticizing and Pressing of High-Aspect Ratio Micropillar Arrays with Superhydrophobic and Superoleophilic Properties

An ultrasonic plasticizing and pressing method (UPP) that fully utilizes ultrasonic vibration is proposed for fabricating thermoplastic polymer surface microstructures with high aspect ratios (ARs). The characteristics of UPP are elucidated based on the plasticization of the raw material, the melt flow, and the stress on the template microstructure during the forming process. Initially, the micronscale single-stage micropillar arrays (the highest AR of 4.1) were fabricated by using 304 stainless steel thin sheets with micronscale pore (through-hole) arrays as primary templates. Subsequently, anodic aluminum oxides (AAOs) with ordered nanoscale pore arrays were added as secondary templates, and the micro/nanoscale hierarchical micropillar arrays (the highest AR up to 24.1) were successfully fabricated, which verifies the feasibility and forming capability of UPP. The superiority and achievements of UPP are illustrated by comparing the prepared hierarchical micropillar arrays with those prepared in the previous work in four indexes: microstructure scale, aspect ratio, forming time, and preheating temperature of the raw material. Finally, the water contact angle (WCA) and oil droplet complete immersion time of the surface microstructures were measured by a droplet shape analyzer, and the results indicate that the prepared micropillar arrays are superhydrophobic and superoleophilic.

Identification of a mosaic MTOR variant in purified neuronal DNA in a patient with focal cortical dysplasia using a novel depth electrode harvesting technique.

Recent studies have identified brain somatic variants as a cause of focal epilepsy. These studies relied on resected tissue from epilepsy surgery, which is not available in most patients. The use of trace tissue adherent to depth electrodes used for stereo electroencephalography (EEG) has been proposed as an alternative but is hampered by the low cell quality and contamination by nonbrain cells. Here, we use our improved depth electrode harvesting technique that purifies neuronal nuclei to achieve molecular diagnosis in a patient with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Depth electrode tips were collected, pooled by brain region and seizure onset zone, and nuclei were isolated and sorted using fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting (FANS). Somatic DNA was amplified from neuronal and astrocyte nuclei using primary template amplification followed by exome sequencing of neuronal DNA from the affected pool, unaffected pool, and saliva. The identified variant was validated using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An 11-year-old male with drug-resistant genetic-structural epilepsy due to left anterior insula FCD had seizures from age 3 years. Stereo EEG confirmed seizure onset in the left anterior insula. The two anterior insula electrodes were combined as the affected pool and three frontal electrodes as the unaffected pool. FANS isolated 140 neuronal nuclei from the affected and 245 neuronal nuclei from the unaffected pool. A novel somatic missense MTOR variant (p.Leu489Met, CADD score 23.7) was identified in the affected neuronal sample. Droplet digital PCR confirmed a mosaic gradient (variant allele frequency = .78% in affected neuronal sample; variant was absent in all other samples). Our findings confirm that harvesting neuronal DNA from depth electrodes followed by molecular analysis to identify brain somatic variants is feasible. Our novel method represents a significant improvement compared to the previous method by focusing the analysis on high-quality cells of the cell type of interest.

Tetraalkoxysilane-Assisted Self-Emulsification Templating for Controlled Mesostructured Silica Nanoparticles.

Although mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been intensively investigated, their mesostructure and formation mechanism are still a topic of debate. Here, we show that MSNS are generated at the interface of the biphasic water-surfactant-triethanolamine-tetraalkoxysilane (TAOS) quaternary system. The spontaneous microemulsification of the hydrophobic TAOS generates microdroplets and direct micelles that both determine the particle size and the pore size. We confirmed also that the dendritic morphology with conical pores is an intermediate species, which readily transforms into regular MSNs concomitantly with the collapse of the microemulsion due to the continuous consumption of TAOS. The prominent effect of the microemulsion on the mechanism growth as a primary template is thoroughly investigated and named here tetraalkoxysilane-assisted self-emulsification templating.

Tunable Construction of Sandwich-Type Double-[1 + 1] and Half-Folded [2 + 2] Schiff-Base Complexes Controlled by the Combination of Primary and Secondary Template Effects.

The first-row transition-metal ions Mn2+-Cu2+ could serve as effective templates to construct three types of double-[1 + 1], [2 + 2], and [1 + 1] Schiff-base dinuclear macrocyclic complexes in the presence of dialdehydes with different pendant arms and a common 1,8-diamine. The extremely flexible nature of macrocyclic ligands allows for the multiple template-directed syntheses, but the final products could be finely tuned by the subtle variations of Mn2+-Cu2+ ions in a 3d-electronic configuration, radius, and coordination number/geometry as well as the auxiliary (pendant-armed and anionic) template effect at the same time. Two borderlines are observed at the Co2+ ion for forming double-[1 + 1] and [2 + 2] metallacycles involving the H2pdd precursor and the [1 + 1] Cu2+ complex for double-[1 + 1] and [2 + 2] macrocycles containing the H2hpdd unit, respectively. The structural diversity is originated from the non-perfect match between [1 + 1]/[2 + 2] Schiff-base macrocycles and dinuclear metal centers; hence, a compromise between the metal coordination modes and alterations of the ligand conformation takes place.

Micromechanical properties of spray-dried core-shell silica aggregates along with drug release tests

In order to enhance the quality of spray-dried products or to adjust material properties for new applications, precise control of the aggregate structure is desirable. For the purpose of preparing hierarchically structured aggregates in the micrometer range, the formulation of the suspension can be specifically designed, utilizing defined nanoparticulate building blocks to achieve a highly uniform structure and porosity. Further adjustments can be made by combining two types of primary particles that differ in size. Thereby, a segregation effect is observed, where nanoparticles with larger particle sizes accumulate rather within the core of an aggregate and those with smaller particle sizes gather mainly near the outer surface, resulting in the formation of a shell. Furthermore, it is possible to produce tailor-made porosities using template particles (e.g. polystyrene) of different sizes as part of the coarse and fine fractions. The removal of these particles by a subsequent tempering process can lead to aggregates with defined porous structures and thus, to different mechanical aggregate properties that can be specifically set by adjusting the process and formulation parameters. As a result, a promising building kit for the hierarchically structure formation via spray drying processes were achieved. For the detailed characterization structural and mechanical material properties were investigated, using e.g. mercury intrusion and SEM. The influence of the formulation parameters of the suspension (primary particle size and template content) on the micromechanical properties of the aggregate structures was systematically investigated by nanoindentation to elucidate structure-property relationships regarding, for example elastic and plastic deformation. As a result, a correlation could be established between the experimentally determined mechanical parameters and the aggregate porosities. Such microstructures with defined properties can be used in a variety of applications, including catalysis or as drug carriers. For instance, these spray-dried aggregates were loaded with ibuprofen as an exemplary active pharmaceutical ingredient and investigated with regard to their drug release behavior.

Minimally invasive retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for men with testis cancer: a retrospective cohort study of safety and feasibility

To describe the perioperative safety, functional and immediate post-operative oncological outcomes of minimally invasive RPLND (miRPLND) for testis cancer. We performed a retrospective multi-centre cohort study on testis cancer patients treated with miRPLND from 16 institutions in eight countries. We measured clinician-reported outcomes stratified by indication. We performed logistic regression to identify predictors for maintained postoperative ejaculatory function. Data for 457 men undergoing miRPLND were studied. miRPLND comprised laparoscopic (n = 56) or robotic (n = 401) miRPLND. Indications included pre-chemotherapy in 305 and post-chemotherapy in 152 men. The median retroperitoneal mass size was 32mm and operative time 270min. Intraoperative complications occurred in 20 (4%) and postoperative complications in 26 (6%). In multivariable regression, nerve sparing, and template resection improved ejaculatory function significantly (template vs bilateral resection [odds ratio (OR) 19.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.5-75.6], nerve sparing vs non-nerve sparing [OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.3-16.1]). In 91 men treated with primary RPLND, nerve sparing and template resection, normal postoperative ejaculation was reported in 96%. During a median follow-up of 33months, relapse was detected in 39 (9%) of which one with port site (< 1%), one with peritoneal recurrence and 10 (2%) with retroperitoneum recurrences. The low proportion of complications or peritoneal recurrences and high proportion of men with normal postoperative ejaculatory function supports further miRPLND studies.

Preparation of hollow mesoporous boron nitride spheres with surface decorated by CuO: A bifunctional acid-base catalyst for the green synthesis of some heterocyclic [3,3,3] propellane derivatives in water media

In this study, we try to develop an effective route to the preparation of hollow mesoporous boron nitride spheres (HMBNS) with surface decorated by CuO for the synthesis of some heterocyclic [3,3,3] propellane derivatives under green conditions. Hollow boron nitride spheres were synthesized using the carbon spheres (as a primary template) through the reaction of boric acid and urea follow by surface decoration with CuO. The carbonic template was removed by thermal treatment and hollow boron nitride spheres/CuO (HBNS/CuO) was prepared. In addition to boron and nitrogen which have catalytic role, loading of CuO on the boron nitride shell surfaces, creates a special bifunctional acid-base catalyst to synthesis of heterocyclic [3,3,3] propellane derivatives. The structure of prepared catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, BET, FE-SEM, EDX and TEM methods and the influence of the catalyst activity was explored for the synthesis of heterocyclic [3,3,3] propellane derivatives in water media at room temperature. Green conditions, easy recovery of catalyst as well as high to excellent yield of products are some of the merits of presented method.

Selective Cancellable Multi-Biometric Template Generation Scheme Based on Multi-Exposure Feature Fusion

This article introduces a new cancellable multi-biometric system based on the combination of a selective encryption method and a deep-learning-based fusion technology. The biometric face image is treated with an automatic face segmentation algorithm (Viola-Jones), and the image of the selected eye is XORed with a PRNG (Pseudo Random Number Generator) matrix. The output array is used to create a primary biometric template. This process changes the histogram of the selected eye image. Arnold’s Cat Map is used to superimpose the PRN pixels only on the pixels of the primary image. Arnold’s cat map deformed eyes are encrypted using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt the biometric data stored in the database. In addition, the AES master key is used for the same person in the identity verification process to verify the biometric identity. It is created from the fingers of the right hand, and the right eye is integrated into this process using deep learning technology. The deep learning fusion process can prevent attacks on the biometric system as a whole. In order to avoid damage to the eye or fingerprint images, the design considers the other eye and fingerprint images.

PD53-05 EJACULATION AFTER ROBOTIC RETROPERITONEAL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION STRATIFIED BY INDICATION, SURGICAL TEMPLATE, AND NERVE SPARING

PD53-05 EJACULATION AFTER ROBOTIC RETROPERITONEAL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION STRATIFIED BY INDICATION, SURGICAL TEMPLATE, AND NERVE SPARING

Discovery of juglone and its derivatives as potent SARS-CoV-2 main proteinase inhibitors.

SARS-CoV-2 as a positive-sense single-stranded RNA coronavirus caused the global outbreak of COVID-19. The main protease (Mpro) of the virus as the major enzyme processing viral polyproteins contributed to the replication and transcription of SARS-CoV-2 in host cells, and has been characterized as an attractive target in drug discovery. Herein, a set of 1,4-naphthoquinones with juglone skeleton were prepared and evaluated for the inhibitory efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. More than half of the tested naphthoquinones could effectively inhibit the target enzyme with an inhibition rate of more than 90% at the concentration of 10 μM. In the structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis, the characteristics of substituents and their position on juglone core scaffold were recognized as key ingredients for enzyme inhibitory activity. The most active compound, 2-acetyl-8-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (15), which exhibited much higher potency in enzyme inhibitions than shikonin as the positive control, displayed an IC50 value of 72.07 ± 4.84 nM towards Mpro-mediated hydrolysis of the fluorescently labeled peptide. It fit well into the active site cavity of the enzyme by forming hydrogen bonds with adjacent amino acid residues in molecular docking studies. The results from in vitro antiviral activity evaluation demonstrated that the most potent Mpro inhibitor could significantly suppress the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells within the low micromolar concentrations, with its EC50 value of about 4.55 μM. It was non-toxic towards the host Vero E6 cells under tested concentrations. The present research work implied that juglone skeleton could be a primary template for the development of potent Mpro inhibitors.

Establishment of a cell-based quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay for detection of multivalent rotavirus vaccine.

Because of deficiencies of traditional potency tests in rotavirus detection, a one-step TaqMan probe-based quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay combined with cell-based method was established to determine the infectious potency of the target virus in multivalent live rotavirus vaccines in vitro. Series dilutions of rotavirus samples were inoculated into Vero cells and cultured for 24 hours. The cells were lysed and the potency was detected by RT-qPCR. The reference standards with a known titer (lgCCID50 /mL) were assayed in parallel, and the potencies of each sample were determined using parallel line method. The specificity, precision and accuracy of the assay were evaluated, respectively.The results showed that messenger RNA produced during rotavirus replication was the primary template of RT-qPCR and the primers and probes were specific to each strain. The coefficient of variation of different wells and different working days did not exceed 6% and the results of the assay were proved to be concordant with those of cell culture infective dose 50% with a relative deviation less than 5%.This assay is a more rapid, cost-effective and high-throughput way for detecting multivalent rotavirus vaccine, and will be a valuable tool in the quality control and stability monitoring of live multivalent rotavirus vaccine.

244An automated beat exclusion algorithm to improve beat-to-beat P-wave morphology analysis

Abstract Background A manually beat-to-beat P-wave analysis has previously revealed the existence of multiple P-wave morphologies in patients with paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (AF) while on sinus rhythm, distinguishing them from healthy, AF free patients. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an Automated Beat Exclusion algorithm (ABE) that excludes noisy or ectopic beats, replacing manual beat evaluation during beat-to-beat P-wave analysis, by assessing its effect on inter-rater variability and reproducibility. Methods Beat-to-beat P-wave morphology analysis was performed on 34 ten-minute ECG recordings of patients with a history of AF. Each recording was analyzed independently by two clinical experts for a total of four analysis runs; once with ABE and once again with the manual exclusion of ineligible beats. The inter-rater variability and reproducibility of the analysis with and without ABE were assessed by comparing the agreement of analysis runs with respect to secondary morphology detection, primary morphology ECG template and the percentage of both, as these aspects have been previously used to discriminate PAF patients from controls. Results Comparing ABE to manual exclusion in detecting secondary P-wave morphologies displayed substantial (Cohen"s k = 0.69) to almost perfect (k = 0.82) agreement. Area difference among auto and manually calculated main morphology templates was in every case &amp;lt;5% (p &amp;lt; 0.01) and the correlation coefficient was &amp;gt;0.99 (p &amp;lt; 0.01). Finally, the percentages of beats classified to the primary or secondary morphology per recording by each analysis were strongly correlated, for both main and secondary P-wave morphologies, ranging from ρ=0.756 to ρ=0.940 (picture) Conclusion The use of the ABE algorithm does not diminish inter-rater variability and reproducibility of the analysis. The primary and secondary P-wave morphologies produced by all analyses were similar, both in terms of their template and their frequency. Based on the results of this study, the ABE algorithm incorporated in the beat-to-beat P-wave morphology analysis drastically reduces operator workload without influencing the quality of the analysis. Abstract Figure.

Using quality improvement strategies to strengthen regional systems for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health in the Northern Territory.

In the Katherine region, Northern Territory, barriers to eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people include unclear eye care referral processes, challenges coordinating patient eye care between various providers, complex socioeconomic determinants and a lengthy outpatient ophthalmology waiting list. Mixed methods participatory approach using a regional needs analysis, clinical file audit and stakeholder survey, to develop, implement and monitor quality improvement strategies. Collaboration with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and regional eye care stakeholders in the Katherine region. Clinical audit data captured frequency and rates of primary eye checks, ophthalmology referrals and spectacle prescriptions. A survey was developed and applied to assess stakeholder perspectives of regional eye care systems. Quality improvement strategies informed by regional data (clinical audits and survey) included increasing service delivery to match eye care needs, primary eye care training for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services staff, updating Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services primary care templates and forming a regional eye care coalition group. Post-implementation, rates and frequency of recorded optometry examinations, number of spectacles prescribed and rates of annual dilated fundus examinations for patients with diabetes increased. There was a decrease in the number of patients with diabetes who had never had an eye examination. Eye care stakeholders perceived a marked improvement in the effectiveness of the regional eye care system. Our findings highlight the importance of engaging services and stakeholders to ensure a systems approach that is evidence-informed, contextually appropriate and reflects commitment to improved eye health outcomes.

Multimodal Image Fusion in Biometric Authentication

During this study, a unique multimodal biometric system was constructed. This system incorporated a variety of unimodal biometric inputs, including fingerprints, palmprints, knuckle prints, and retina images. The multimodal system generated the fused template via feature-level fusion, which combined several different biometric characteristics. The Gabor filter extracted the features from the various biometric aspects. The fusion of the extracted information from the fingerprint, knuckle print, palmprint, and retina into a single template, which was then saved in the database for authentication, resulted in a reduction in both the spatial and temporal complexity of the process. A novel technique for safeguarding fingerprint privacy has been developed to contribute to the study. This system integrates the unique fingerprints of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger into a single new template. It was suggested that the Fixed-Size Template (FEFST) technique may be used might develop a novel strategy for the extraction of fingerprint features. From each of the fingerprints, the minute locations of the ridge end and ridge bifurcations as well as their orientations relative to the reference points were retrieved. The primary template was derived from the fingerprint that included the greatest number of ridge ends. For the purpose of generating the combined minutiae template, the templates of the other two fingerprints were incorporated into this template. The merged minutiae template that was developed was then saved in a database so that registration could take place. During the authentication process, the system received the three query fingerprints, and those fingerprints were compared to the previously saved template.

Biathlon Injury and Illness Surveillance project (BIIS): development of biathlon-specific surveillance forms in English, Russian, French and German

ObjectiveThe aim of this project was to adapt the English, French, German and Russian versions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury and illness surveillance form to be sport-specific for...

Green dual-template synthesis of AgPd core–shell nanoparticles with enhanced electrocatalytic activity

A key challenge in developing an ethanol oxidation reaction is nontoxic fabrication of highly active stable and low-cost catalysts. Here we design a green synthetic strategy of AgPd bimetallic nanosphere by a dual-template cascade method. The Pd nanoshell is firstly prepared using Vapreotide acetate as a primary template, and then the Ag nanoshell acts as a secondary template for the distribution of AgPd alloy nanoparticles. The AgPd nanoparticles have core–shell structures and various sizes, and their shell thicknesses are tuned by controlling the amount of PdCl2. The six different samples are prepared, named AgPd-1, AgPd-2, AgPd-3, AgPd-4, AgPd-5, and AgPd-6, respectively. The mass current density of AgPd-5, is higher 3.87 times that of commercial Pd/C, and exhibits the best ethanol oxidation reaction activity and long-term stability. The main reasons are that the AgPd-5 possessed excellent specific surface area due to their rough structure, and Ag can remove more CO-like species. This is the first time a Vapreotide acetate/Ag-template method has been used to synthesize a AgPd core–shell structure, which would have broad application prospects for direct ethanol fuel cells.