Development Process Research Articles

Development of a complex intervention to strengthen municipality-based breastfeeding support to reduced social inequity in breastfeeding

BackgroundBreastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for infants and protects infants and mothers from a range of adverse health outcomes during their lifespan. In Denmark, while the breastfeeding initiation rate is high, only 14% of mothers meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding at six months. Furthermore, a notable social inequity exists among those who achieve this recommendation. Knowledge of effective interventions to reduce breastfeeding inequity is limited. A previous hospital-based intervention succeeded in increasing breastfeeding duration. However, most breastfeeding support is provided in Danish municipalities by health visitors. This called for adapting the intervention to the health visiting program and developing an intensified intervention addressing the social inequity in breastfeeding. This article describes the adaptation and development process of a municipality-based intervention.MethodsDuring a 15-month period in 2020–21, the municipal intervention was iteratively developed using a three-stage framework for developing complex health interventions described by Hawkins et al. The three stages were 1) need assessment and stakeholder consultation, 2) co-production and 3) prototyping. The process was inspired by O’Cathain et al.’s principles for a user-centred, co-created and theory- and evidence-based approach, involving parents and health visitors.ResultsIn stage 1, we identified the needs and priorities of the target groups of the intervention. In stage 2, the intervention was developed through action research design and inspired by Duus’ ‘learning cycles’ as the method to enhance motivation and ownership and to strengthen the implementation process by creating a joint room for learning and reflection with health visitors and developers. In stage 3, the intervention was tested for feasibility and usefulness during a 2.5-month period accompanied by monthly dialogue meetings with health visitors and developers. In this period, the intervention was refined based on the gathered experiences and was subsequently prepared for evaluation.ConclusionThe description of the development of this complex intervention, aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration and reducing inequity, offers breastfeeding practitioners and researchers a transparent foundation for continuously improving breastfeeding support and a methodology for complex intervention development.Trial registrationRegistered at Clinical Trials NCT05311631.

Quality evaluation of French guidelines in primary care infectious disease: An AGREE II assessment.

Antibiotic prescription, its nature and its duration are a very common decision-making situation in primary care practice. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are regularly emitted by various organisations on this topic. Our goal is to run a quality appraisal of the current French guidelines, for the most common primary care infectious pathologies. We collected all primary care CPGs that are currently prevailing in France through a systematic review of the french website Antibioclic®. For each of these guidelines, a quality assessment was run by 3 independent reviewers, by means of the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II instrument. The main outcome was a 'reliability score', defined as the sum of the scores in domains 'rigour of development' and 'editorial independence'. To be considered 'reliable', the CPG had to reach a 60% threshold in these two domains. Secondary outcomes were as follows: global quality score of CPGs, number and ratio of CPGs for which a systematic review has been conducted during its conception. Over the 43 CPGs that have been assessed, none reached the 60%-threshold as to the reliability score. Only one CPG (2.33%) gets an over-60% quality assessment in the domain of rigour of development (D3), whereas three CPGs (6.98%) reach this threshold in the domain of editorial independence (D6). One CPG (2.33%) met the quality threshold of 60% as to overall assessment. Rigour of development and editorial independence are the domains that obtained the lowest average score, respectively, 11% and 21%. Overall assessment received an average score of 29%. A systematic review of the literature was mentioned for 10 CPGs (23.26%). There is a lack of quality in the development process of the current French guidelines in primary care infectiology. This process should be reconsidered, with higher insistence as to its quality.

The Use of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Operation Principles to Support the Continuous Development of Machine Learning-Based Solutions in Fault Detection and Identification

Machine learning (ML) revolutionized traditional machine fault detection and identification (FDI), as complex-structured models with well-designed unsupervised learning strategies can detect abnormal patterns from abundant data, which significantly reduces the total cost of ownership. However, their opaqueness raised human concern and intrigued the eXplainable artificial intelligence (XAI) concept. Furthermore, the development of ML-based FDI models can be improved fundamentally with machine learning operations (MLOps) guidelines, enhancing reproducibility and operational quality. This study proposes a framework for the continuous development of ML-based FDI solutions, which contains a general structure to simultaneously visualize and check the performance of the ML model while directing the resource-efficient development process. A use case is conducted on sensor data of a hydraulic system with a simple long short-term memory (LSTM) network. Proposed XAI principles and tools supported the model engineering and monitoring, while additional system optimization can be made regarding input data preparation, feature selection, and model usage. Suggested MLOps principles help developers create a minimum viable solution and involve it in a continuous improvement loop. The promising result motivates further adoption of XAI and MLOps while endorsing the generalization of modern ML-based FDI applications with the HITL concept.

Establishment of goat mammary organoid cultures modeling the mammary gland development and lactation.

Although several cell culture systems have been developed to investigate the function of the mammary gland in dairy livestock, they have potential limitations, such as the loss of alveolar structure or genetic and phenotypic differences from their native counterparts. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for lactation research. Development of protocols to establish lactating organoid of livestock represents a promising goal for the future. In this study, we developed a protocol to establish a culture system for mammary organoids in dairy goats to model the mammary gland development and lactation process. The organoids cultured within an extracellular matrix gel maintained a bilayer structure that closely resembled the native architecture of mammary tissue. The expansion of mammary organoids was significantly promoted by growth factors containing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2 whereas the proliferative index of the organoids was significantly inhibited by the treatment with WNT inhibitors. Upon stimulation with a lactogenic medium containing prolactin, the mammary organoids exhibited efficient lactation, characterized by the accumulation of lipid droplets in the lumen space. The lactation could be sustained for more than 3 weeks. Importantly, the expression patterns of genes related to fatty acid synthesis and milk proteins in lactating organoids closely mirrored those observed in mammary tissues. These observations were confirmed by data from proteomic analysis that the bulk of milk proteins was produced in the lactating organoids. This study is the first to establish a mammary organoid culture system modeling the mammary gland development and lactation process in ruminants. The efficient induction of lactation in ruminant mammary organoids holds promises for advancing the field of cell-based milk bio-manufacture in the food industry.

The impact of financial policy on the sustainable development of business entities in post-pandemic Georgia

Financial institutions form a strong link in the chain of business operations of the modern world; in addition, they may also be thought of as a binder. During the Covid -19 pandemic the financial institutions all over the world, and in Georgia as well, faced a number of problems and challenges: on one hand, there was a large number of consumers and mortgage loans to individuals, and on the other hand, loans issued to business entities for working capital and fixed assets, real estate purchase and other purposes turned out to form the major part of their loan portfolio. The pandemic has led the natural persons, as well as legal entities into a force majeure situation, while the decisions of financial institutions were crucial for their viability. However, the purpose of the study is to consider the impact of lending policies on business entities and their development processes. The paper discusses the policies of financial institutions during the Covid-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic period, the chronology of the decisions made and the outcomes of such decisions based on available official data, also the impact of lending on business entities and identifies modern trends and challenges. The research methodology was determined based on the research objectives and included the following methods: the paper analyzes the decisions made by the National Bank of Georgia before and after the pandemic, in relation with the official data on loans and financial transactions that the National Bank generated. Within the framework of the research, in order to determine the level of influence of the financial institutions on current economic processes in Georgia, the paper analyzes the results of their activities, which are based on official data from the National Bank of Georgia and empirical material collected. Keywords: Financial institutions; Lending policy; National Bank of Georgia; Post-pandemic economic policy; JEL Classification: G2; G21; E5; E58; E6; Acknowledgement: „This work was supported by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia, (SRNSFG) Grant number YS-22-548, Project title - “The crisis of small and medium business subjects and its prevention in the post-pandemic period in Georgia“.

Three dimensional time-variation simulator for water flooding reservoir based on “effective water flux”

Long-term water flooding leads to changes in pore throat structure, resulting in alterations in macroscopic reservoir petrophysical parameters. However, commercial numerical simulation software does not have this capability. Ignoring variations in physical parameters during the formulation of development plans and numerical simulations can lead to significant prediction errors, which severely impacts oil field recovery. This paper, based on an analysis of effective flow rate and waterflood intensity, proposes a new erosion degree characterization parameter: Effective water flux, to represent the time-varying patterns of physical parameters. It is embedded into a black oil model to develop a time-variation simulator, whose accuracy and stability in both black oil and time-variation models are validated through comparison with the commercial numerical simulation software CMG. The study further explores the effects of different parameter variations on the development process. It was found that increases in permeability and oil viscosity exacerbate heterogeneity and reduce displacement efficiency, while decreases in residual oil saturation and water phase permeability under residual oil saturation enhance water flooding efficiency. In complex models, the effects of variations in different parameters intertwine, collectively influencing development outcomes. This paper advances the development of time-variation numerical simulation technology.

Improving the simulation accuracy of summer maize growth and yield by pixel-based parameterization based on assimilating upscaled MODIS LAI

Accurately simulating maize (Zea mays L.) yield at the regional scale is of paramount importance for making informed policy adjustments and for ensuring food security. Sobol sensitivity analysis was used in this study to screen sensitive parameters of a process-based crop model (Chinese Agricultural Meteorological Model, CAMM). An upscaling approach was utilized to reduce the intra-pixel heterogeneity error of MODIS LAI. Then upscaled MODIS LAI data were assimilated into the CAMM model through a 4DVar assimilation algorithm to optimize pixel-level sensitive parameters, thereby improving the simulation accuracy of the summer maize growth process and yield. Specific leaf area (SLATB_0, SLATB_1) during the period from emergence to tasseling of summer maize exhibited the strongest impact on summer maize yield. Additionally, the average LAI value within the 85–95 % range of ordered LAI values for small pixels within large pixels effectively reduced the intra-pixel heterogeneity error of MODIS LAI, and pixel-based parameterization of SLATB_0 and SLATB_1 at a larger pixel scale (0.0625°) was achieved. Based on yields recorded at agrometeorological stations from 2015 to 2020, assimilated yields in both data assimilation scheme 1 (DA1, optimization of only the sensitive parameter SLATB_0) and scheme 2 (DA2, simultaneous optimization of sensitive parameters SLATB_0 and SLATB_1) exhibited higher accuracy than schemes without data assimilation (with r values of 0.41–0.72 and NRMSE values of 19–30 %). Furthermore, DA2 showed greater simulation accuracy (r: 0.64–0.93, NRMSE: 9–21 %) than DA1 (r: 0.61–0.91, NRMSE: 12–23 %). Upscaling remotely sensed LAI products can significantly reduce the uncertainties of LAI data at a larger pixel scale, and assimilating these LAI data into crop models can effectively increase the simulation accuracy of crop growth and development processes at the regional scale.

Characterization of Intsia spp. from Indonesia using microsatellite markers

Microsatellite DNA markers are known to have a high level of genetic diversity and can be used for various purposes. These include population genetic analysis, gene flow assessment, pollen distribution, parent analysis, and accurate distinction between types and varieties. Despite the potential application of microsatellite markers, their development process often requires high costs, energy, and time. To overcome the limitations, several studies have proposed the use of cross-species amplification, which has proven to be a cost and time-efficient method for obtaining species-specific DNA markers. Therefore, this study aimed to identify three species of Merbau in Indonesia, namely Intsia bijuga, I. palembanica, and I. acuminata using cross-species amplification. The three species are known to exhibit similarities in all taxonomical characteristics except for minor differences in the number of leaf pairs per twig and the tip shape of the leaflets. These species also have different levels of economic value and conservation status due to variations in the type of wood produced. Several studies have shown that identification errors can affect the economic value of their wood and logging mistakes can lead to a decrease in the genetic diversity. To address the concerns, Intsia bijuga and I. acuminata from Indonesia were selected as test samples for the cross-amplification of microsatellite markers created for I. palembanica. Due to their taxonomical similarities, the diagnostic characteristics of each Intsia species were assessed based on microsatellite markers. Leaf samples were obtained from three species of Intsia that had been verified and identified based on morphological characteristics by taxonomists from the Bogor Botanical Garden Indonesia. In addition, a total of 10 polymorphic I. palembanica microsatellite markers from the previous literature were used in this study. The results showed that the cross-species amplification of microsatellite locus was successful in all markers. Certain alleles were also observed to be shared by the three species of Intsia, while some were specific to a particular species. These specific alleles could also serve as a diagnostics characteristic for Intsia spp. In addition, a set of polymorphic microsatellites showing a successful transfer across species of Intsia could serve as a valuable tool for comparative studies among related taxa species and breeding and conservation programs.

Организационно-правовые формы борьбы с преступностью в Советской России в начале 20-х гг.: на примере деятельности «Бригады-мобиль»

The article reveals the features of the process of formation and development of the units of the Soviet criminal investigation department in the early 20s. Using the example of the activity of the "Brigade-mobile". The authors point out that one of the main tasks of the Soviet state in the field of law enforcement in the period under review was the creation of a permanent, centralized criminal investigation service with an extensive network of territorial divisions.

Enhancing readmission prediction models by integrating insights from home healthcare notes: Retrospective cohort study

BackgroundHospital readmission is an important indicator of inpatient care quality and a significant driver of increasing medical costs. Therefore, it is important to explore the effects of postdischarge information, particularly from home healthcare notes, on enhancing readmission prediction models. Despite the use of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning in prediction model development, current studies often overlook insights from home healthcare notes. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop prediction models for 30-day readmissions using home healthcare notes and structured data. In addition, it explored the development of 14- and 180-day prediction models using variables in the 30-day model. DesignA retrospective observational cohort study. Setting(s)This study was conducted at Ajou University School of Medicine in South Korea. ParticipantsData from electronic health records, encompassing demographic characteristics of 1819 participants, along with information on conditions, drug, and home healthcare, were utilized. MethodsTwo distinct models were developed for each prediction window (30-, 14-, 180-day): the traditional model, which utilized structured variables alone, and the common data model (CDM)-NLP model, which incorporated structured and topic variables extracted from home healthcare notes. BERTopic facilitated topic generation and risk probability, representing the likelihood of documents being assigned to specific topics. Feature selection involved experimenting with various algorithms. The best-performing algorithm, determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), was used for model development. Model performance was assessed using various learning metrics including AUROC. ResultsAmong 1819 patients, 251 (13.80 %) experienced 30-day readmission. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was used for feature extraction and model development. The 15 structured features were used in the traditional model. Moreover, five additional topic variables from the home healthcare notes were applied in the CDM-NLP model. The AUROC of the traditional model was 0.739 (95 % CI: 0.672–0.807). The AUROC of the CDM-NLP model was high at 0.824 (95 % CI: 0.768–0.880), which indicated an outstanding performance. The topics in the CDM-NLP model included emotional distress, daily living functions, nutrition, postoperative status, and cardiorespiratory issues. In extended prediction model development for 14- and 180-day readmissions, the CDM-NLP consistently outperformed the traditional model. ConclusionsThis study developed effective prediction models using both structured and unstructured data, thereby emphasizing the significance of postdischarge information from home healthcare notes in readmission prediction.

AI-enabled ACP on inpatient oncology: Feasibility, acceptability and impact on workflow.

403 Background: Advance care planning (ACP) can help patients understand and share their long-term health goals and values, and in turn facilitate the delivery of medical care consistent with those goals and values. However, in a survey of Californians about attitudes towards death and dying, while almost 80% of respondents indicated that they would like to talk to their doctor about end-of-life care, only 7% had ever had a doctor bring up the subject. To address this problem, the Stanford inpatient oncology service implemented an AI-enabled workflow to facilitate timely identification of patients for ACP conversations before discharge. While the workflow implementation has thus far been successful, less is known of the human factors from patients and providers that influence the feasibility and acceptability of this workflow. Methods: To gather perspectives on the AI-enabled tool, we used qualitative research methods to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 patients and 15 providers. Patients were over the age of 18 and had been recently admitted to the Stanford Inpatient Oncology Service. Providers were over the age of 18 and worked within the Stanford Inpatient Oncology Service in one of four roles: attending oncologist, advanced practice provider, clinical dietician, occupational therapist. Interviews were conducted virtually via Zoom, recorded and transcribed for subsequent thematic analysis. Once transcribed, interviews were qualitatively coded using an inductive approach. Results: Patients and providers affirm the positive potential for AI implementation in healthcare settings, but emphasize the necessity of maintaining human-centered models of care which prioritize strong interpersonal relationships. Providers observe relatively minimal impacts of the AI-enabled tool on existing advance care planning workflows/practices, but express optimism surrounding the implementation of AI tools in inpatient oncology more generally. Patients exhibit similar levels of optimism and a general openness toward AI applications in healthcare settings, but highlight the need for transparency and informed consent throughout the processes of AI development and implementation. Conclusions: This study provides novel insights on the impacts of AI-enabled workflows in inpatient oncology care, as well as patient and provider perspectives concerning the implementation of AI technology in healthcare more broadly. As AI is increasingly developed with clinical care applications in mind, these insights provide valuable foundations for successful implementation.

Do creative companies pay higher wages? Micro-level evidence from Bangladesh

The study investigates the correlation between research and development (R&D) and training and development (T&D) investments in creative companies in Bangladesh. It aims to understand the economic benefits of fostering a creative corporate environment, as well as its impact on employee wages. We collected data from a sample of companies in Bangladesh, which included expenditures and employee wages. We used multiple regression models to control for potential confounding factors. The findings reveal a positive correlation between R&D investments and employee wages. Companies that allocate more resources to R&D tend to pay higher wages due to the development of new products and processes, enhanced employees' skills, and the attraction of talented and skilled employees. T&D investments also lead to increased productivity and efficiency, which in turn boosts the company's financial performance. Additionally, T&D can improve employee morale and job satisfaction, leading to lower turnover rates and a more stable workforce.. Keywords: Bangladesh, Creative companies, Employee wages, Higher wages, R&D and T&D, Development, Investments.

Development of eco-friendly pretreatment processes for high-purity silicon recovery from end-of-life photovoltaic modules.

This study examines the efficacy of photovoltaic (PV) recycling processes and technologies for the recovery of high-purity silicon powder from waste solar modules. In order to facilitate the simplification of complex processes, such as the conventional nitric acid dissolution, solvent and ultrasonic irradiation, and solvent dissolution, a variety of mechanical separation processes have been established. These processes are designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the aforementioned processes. And a novel method for separating EVA from recycled Si powder was devised, which studied the WGS process using aqueous solutions of H2O, HNO3, and NaCl with different specific gravities. The WGS process using NaCl solution demonstrated superior performance, removing over 94% of the EVA, requiring less energy input and producing 73% less CO2 emissions compared to the thermal process. These technologies facilitate the transition towards a circular economy and bolster the implementation of carbon-neutral initiatives.

High-Performing Flexible Mg3Bi2 Thin-Film Thermoelectrics.

With the advances in bulk Mg3Bi2, there is increasing interest in pursuing whether Mg3Bi2 can be fabricated into flexible thin films for wearable electronics to expand the practical applications. However, the development of fabrication processes for flexible Mg3Bi2 thin films and the effective enhancement of their thermoelectric performance remain underexplored. Here, magnetron sputtering and ex-situ annealing techniques is used to fabricate flexible Mg3Bi2 thermoelectric thin films with a power factor of up to 1.59 µW cm-1 K-2 at 60°C, ranking as the top value among all reported n-type Mg3Bi2 thin films. Extensive characterizations show that ex-situ annealing, and optimized sputtering processes allow precise control over film thickness. These techniques ensure high adhesion of the films to various substrates, resulting in excellent flexibility, with <10% performance degradation after 500 bending cycles with a radius of 5mm. Furthermore, for the first time, flexible thermoelectric devices are fabricated with both p-type and n-type Mg3Bi2 legs, which achieve an output power of 0.17 nW and a power density of 1.67 µW cm-2 at a very low temperature difference of 2.5°C, highlighting the practical application potential of the device.

European Trends in Local Public Administration: Adapting to Globalization

The trend of globalization, accompanied by the dynamic development of social systems, places national states in a completely new position, in which institutions and administrative systems must be adapted. Any intervention in the field of public administration reform implies changes in major components, including central administration, local administration and public services. On the other hand, the development of democracy calls for the establishment of a new relationship between citizens and the administration, increasing and strengthening the role of local authorities and reconsidering the partnership with civil society. There are numerous reasons for the structural and functional modernization of the public administration in Romania, starting from the need for more efficient functioning of government institutions to the aspiration to become a member of the European Union. The present study aims to address these aspects, taking into account the impact of the reform measures at the public administration level that have been undertaken recently. Through the coherent and continuous development of the decentralization process in the next period, we will be able to witness the increase in the quality and efficiency of public services, and local administrations will respond to the demands of citizens and local development in an improved way. Keywords: development, Europe, municipalities, public administration

Toward combined photo-electrochemical system for degradation of ceftriaxone contaminated water over Ti-based mixed metal oxide photoanodes performance evaluation and mechanism insights

BackgroundAs a growing environmental concern over the accumulation of antibiotics in aquatic environmets, the development of an efficient degradation process has been addressed. In this study, the application of the photo-electrochemical oxidation (PEO) process for the degradation of ceftriaxone was evaluated. MethodsExperiments were performed in an undivided cell equipped with Ti/IrO2 (0.1)-Ta2O5 (0.1)-TiO2 (0.8) and Ti/IrO2 (0.2)-Ta2O5 (0.2)-TiO2 (0.6) as anodes and Platinum (Pt) sheet as the cathode of the degradation process. Anodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mapping energy dispersive X-ray (EDS-mapping), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and photocurrent analysis were performed to consider the photo-electrochemical behavior of anodes. The effect of operational parameters, including initial pH (3–9), ceftriaxone initial concentration (C = 10–50 mg L−1), current density (I = 100–500 mA cm−2), and Na2SO4 as electrolyte concentration (Celectrolyte = 0.05–0.25 mg L−1) on ceftriaxone removal efficiency were determined. Significant findingsOutcomes of experiments revealed that under optimum conditions (pH = 6, C = 30 mg L−1, Celectrolyte = 0.1 mg L−1, and I = 300 mA cm−2), 98.6 % of degradation efficiency was achieved. The combined process resulted in 77.6 and 69.3 % total organic carbon removal of ceftriaxone on Ti/IrO2 (0.1)-Ta2O5 (0.1)-TiO2 (0.8) and Ti/IrO2 (0.2)-Ta2O5 (0.2)-TiO2 (0.6) after five hours of PEO process, respectively. Additionally, the feasible intermediates of ceftriaxone degradation were identified using Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis.

The Biochemistry of Artificial CO2-Fixation Pathways: The Exploitation of Carboxylase Enzymes Alternative to Rubisco

The last decade has registered a rapid development of new artificial CO2-bioconversion processes mirroring natural CO2-fixation by carboxylation and/or reduction reactions. The development of artificial pathways has shown that we have sufficient tools to design and implement, both in vitro and in vivo, complex reaction sequences pointing to construct microbial cell-factories to produce target chemicals at scale. This review is aimed to focus on the most efficient artificial CO2-fixing autotrophic cycles based on the use of carboxylase enzymes that, similarly to Rubisco enzyme, build a C–CO2 bond by reacting an enediolate or an enolate anion with CO2. The development of artificial CO2-fixing autotrophic cycles encompasses the analysis of the complete library of natural carboxylase enzymes taking part in the so called “central” and “assimilation” metabolism to select only those enzymes characterized by high catalytic efficiency, great stability, high substrate affinity, and oxygen tolerability. The review analyzes the biochemistry of the most efficient artificial CO2-fixation pathways implemented up today, evidencing the biosynthetic strategies adopted, the development of replenishing routes, and their integration with cell metabolism.

Mechanism of homogenization temperature and time on Fe-containing phase transition in AA8014 aluminum alloy

The presence of coarse Fe-containing phases detrimentally affects the fracture toughness of 8xxx aluminum alloys, and their complete dissolution during homogenization is unattainable. Therefore, it is essential to determine the optimal homogenization temperature and time to facilitate particle breakup during hot rolling, necessitating the development of effective homogenization processes. This study systematically examines the effect of homogenization temperature and time on the transition of Fe-containing phases in AA8014 aluminum alloy using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The transition mechanisms of Fe-containing phases during homogenization were elucidated through first-principles calculations, thermodynamics, and kinetics calculations. Under homogenization conditions of 610-650 ℃/12h and 630 ℃/1-20h, the Al6(Fe,Mn) phase initially transforms into the α-Al12(Fe,Mn)3Si phase with a “micropore structure” via the reaction. Subsequently, the α-Al12(Fe,Mn)3Si phase transforms into the Al3(Fe,Mn) phase. First-principles calculations confirm the sequential stability enhancement of the Al6(Fe,Mn), α-Al12(Fe,Mn)3Si+6Al, and Al3(Fe,Mn) phases. Homogenization kinetics indicate an optimal homogenization time of 11.5h at 630 ℃, rationalizing the observed phase transitions and homogenization treatment. This study provides a foundation for the manufacture of 8xxx series aluminum alloys.

Testosterone and 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitor (5ARI) in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): A historical perspective

This paper provides a review of the historical and scientific evolution of testosterone and 5ARI research. It chronicles the evolution from early empirical practices like castration, through the formal discovery of testosterone in the 20th century, to the eventual synthesis of testosterone and identification of Leydig cells. Testosterone’s crucial role in male development and its influence on the development and maturation process of the prostate gland are also presented. The introduction of 5ARIs in the 1990s, such as finasteride, marked a significant advancement in managing BPH by reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. The controversy regarding the therapeutic use of 5ARIs is discussed, given concerns about their association with high-grade prostate cancer and other systemic risks. Likewise, emerging evidence challenges the traditional view that testosterone exacerbates prostate conditions, suggesting that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may improve symptoms of low testosterone without increasing BPH symptoms, prostate cancer (PCa), or cardiovascular risk. Several new studies are discussed suggesting that low or declining testosterone level could be a risk factor for prostate tumorigenesis. This review emphasizes the need for continued research on Testosterone and 5ARI to further define their role in men’s health.

Holistic Review in Applicant Selection: A Scoping Review.

To avoid overreliance on metrics and better identify candidates who add value to the learning environment, some medical schools and residency programs have begun using holistic review for screening and selection, but limited data support or refute this use. This scoping review examines holistic review definitions and practice in medical education, summarizes research findings, and identifies gaps for future research. The authors searched 7 databases using the keywords holistic, attributes, mission-based, mission-centric, and socially accountable for articles on holistic review within undergraduate medical education (UME) and graduate medical education (GME) published from database inception through July 5, 2024. Author pairs independently screened articles for inclusion and extracted data. Discrepancies were resolved via discussion. Quantitative and qualitative synthesis was performed. A total of 6,511 articles were identified, with 33 included in this review. Twenty-five studies (76%) focused exclusively on GME, with only a few assessing holistic review in UME. Holistic review was implemented at 3 main stages: screening, interviewing, and ranking. Common rationales included service patterns, patient-physician identity concordance, enhancing patient trust, professional advocacy, and educational benefits. Holistic review elements varied, with most falling within the Association of American Medical Colleges experiences, attributes, and metrics framework. Nearly all studies reported an increase in the percentage of underrepresented in medicine trainees interviewed or selected. Several studies also demonstrated increases in other groups (e.g., women, lower socioeconomic status). Many studies included additional interventions to promote diversity, limiting the ability to assess holistic review in isolation. This scoping review summarizes the literature on rationale, development and implementation process, structure and components, outcomes assessed, barriers, and strategies for success for holistic review. This work can inform institutions and departments seeking to develop or refine their own holistic review systems and serve as a nidus for future research.