Sufficient Depth Research Articles

Intratumoral implantable drug delivery system for targeted localized chemotherapy in breast cancer

Breast cancer is a significant concern for many women, and local chemotherapy has emerged as a promising approach to address this issue. This study focuses on simulating the performance of chemotherapy using Doxorubicin, Cisplatin, Fluorouracil, and Methotrexate loaded in a dual release implantable system within a mathematical framework. The drugs are loaded in the implant as two forms: as free agents and encapsulated in nanoparticles. The results demonstrate that the elimination rate through blood microvessels and the diffusion mechanism play a crucial role in determining the bioavailability and effective penetration depth of the therapeutic agents. Drugs with high elimination rates, such as Doxorubicin, Cisplatin, and Fluorouracil, exhibit improved penetration depth by approximately 4, 3.75, and 2.25 times when encapsulated in small nanoparticles that release their content in the extracellular space. On the other hand, Methotrexate, with its weak removal rate, maintains a sufficient penetration depth and effective concentration level even as a free drug in the extracellular space. Therefore, encapsulating Methotrexate does not significantly impact on tumor penetration. This study emphasizes the potential of the dual implantable system as an effective approach for chemotherapy, particularly when considering the specific chemotherapy drug and the method of loading the therapeutic agent. The system proves to be particularly beneficial in tumors with low microvascular density. These findings provide valuable insights for future research in the development of local drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment.

Occlusive cutaneous vasculopathies as cause of chronic ulcers.

The term occluding vasculopathies covers a large number of different conditions. These often manifest as skin ulcers. Occluding vasculopathies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of leg ulcers. The term "occlusive vasculopathies" encompasses pathophysiologically related entities that share structural or thrombotic obliteration of small cutaneous vessels. In this article, we will focus on livedoid vasculopathy with and without antiphospholipid syndrome and calciphylaxis with differentiation from hypertonic leg ulcer as the most relevant differential diagnoses of leg ulcer. The term also includes vascular occlusion, for example due to oxalate or cholesterol embolism, and septic vasculopathy. This often leads to acral ulceration and is therefore not a differential diagnosis with classic leg ulcers. It will not be discussed in this article. Occlusive vasculopathy may be suspected in the presence of the typical livedo racemosa or (non-inflammatory) retiform purpura as a sign of reduced cutaneous perfusion in the wound area. Inflammatory dermatoses, especially vasculitides, must be differentiated. This is achieved by histopathological evaluation of a tissue sample of sufficient size and depth taken at the appropriate time. In addition, specific laboratory parameters, particularly coagulation parameters, can support the diagnosis.

Remimazolam and Remifentanil Anesthetics for an Adolescent Patient with Stiff-Person Syndrome: A Case Report.

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by fluctuating rigidity and stiffness of the axial muscles. There are no reports on the use of remimazolam in a patient with SPS. A 16-year-old Japanese woman with SPS was scheduled to undergo intrathecal baclofen pump exchange. General anesthesia was induced and maintained using remimazolam, remifentanil, and intermittent rocuronium bromide. No intraoperative mobility or significant autonomic symptoms were observed. Additionally, electroencephalographic signature showed sufficient anesthetic depth. The patient's emergence from general anesthesia was uneventful. In conclusion, remimazolam could be considered an effective anesthetic drug for patients with SPS.

Holographic matrix method for rapid material structural feature extraction and detection

The extraction of the structural features of materials is fundamental for investigating novel properties in fields such as electronic information and biochemistry. However, existing experimental methods have limitations in analyzing material structures with sufficient depth. Therefore, rapid and accurate extraction and analysis of structural features from atomic coordinates obtained through simulation calculations are crucial for advancing the exploration of new material properties. Herein, we propose an approach for extracting the structural features of materials by combining the holographic matrix method with Bayesian optimization and tensor flow operations. The proposed algorithm efficiently classifies and statistically analyzes cluster structures within materials. Experimental validation conducted on a system comprising 8000 atoms demonstrated a correct recognition rate exceeding 99.213%. Moreover, the algorithm achieved an average recognition time of approximately [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s. The proposed analytical framework exhibits scalability and robustness, establishing an algorithmic foundation for future advancements in big data analytics for complex materials.

Academic Knowledge on Quality of Life in Urban Africa: What Do We Know?

AbstractEven though vague and contested, the construct of the quality of life can play an important role in gauging the success of spatial governance. It is present in most spatial policy objectives and many scholars describe it as the ultimate goal of spatial governance. The question remains, however, whether the construct of the quality of life is explored in sufficient depth to understand its practical relevance within widely divergent African contexts. Africa is notorious for its low levels of life quality and many scholars argue that research on its difficulties is not focalized and conclusions are too often drawn without truly considering the unique African context. To discover the extent of the current knowledge base on African life quality, African-specific case study research was identified and analyzed. A systematic literature review was conducted following the textual narrative synthesis approach. The analysis revealed a geographically sparsely distributed knowledge base of urban African quality of life. Further to this, a wide variety of research themes were identified, ranging from socio-economic, physical, and environmental characteristics to strategic planning and sustainable development. This sparsely distributed knowledge base, along with the wide variety of research themes and the undefined nature of the quality of life, makes it difficult to compare the case studies. The paper, subsequently, calls for further case study research to enable a true understanding of the association and meaning of quality of life within the African context that would ultimately support appropriate development of measurements in urban Africa.

Submarine pyroclastic deposits from 7.3 ka caldera-forming Kikai-Akahoya eruption

Extensive submarine pyroclastic deposits were discovered around the Kikai caldera, Southwest Japan, which originated from the caldera-forming Kikai-Akahoya (K-Ah) eruption that occurred at 7.3 ka. This submarine pyroclastic unit originated from a pyroclastic density current (PDC) that entered the sea and was transformed into a subaqueous density current. Our high-resolution marine seismic reflection surveys reveal that the uppermost unit exhibiting prominent seismic facies thins radially away from the caldera and covers >4500 km2 of the seafloor. The estimated volume of the submarine deposits is >71 km3 based on the isopach map. Seismic sequence stratigraphic analyses and correlation of shard glass compositions from the piston core and remotely operated vehicle samples with those from subaerial outcrops identified the unit as pyroclastic deposits produced by the K-Ah eruption. The geomorphological features of the unit indicate a long runout distance (i.e., 40 km), exponential thinning with increasing distance from the source, and a depression-filling nature of the deposits suggesting that the unit was formed predominantly by a density current that entered the water. The quantitative comparisons of geometric shape and its thinning rate, including that for non-volcanic density currents, indicate that the subaerial PDC entering into the water was transported as a dilute density current in the water. We propose that the formation of these dilute density currents transformed by PDCs probably requires sufficient water depth, as inferred also from previous analog experiments. Adding on-land ignimbrite of 5 km3 and widespread tephra of 249–374 km3, our estimate of submarine pyroclastic deposits of >71 km3 leads to a total bulk volume of the K-Ah eruption of 332–457 km3 (133–183 km3 in DRE), making it probably the largest eruption of the Holocene.

Dipole Oscillations along Principal Coordinates in a Frozen Channel in the Context of Symmetric Linear Thickness of Porous Ice

The problem of periodic oscillations of a dipole, specifically its strength, along the principal axes in a three-dimensional frozen channel is considered. The key points of the problem are taking into account the linear thickness of ice across the channel and ice porosity within Darcy’s law. The fluid in the channel is inviscid and incompressible; the flow is potential. It is expected that the oscillations of a small radius dipole well approximate the oscillations of a small radius sphere at a sufficient depth of immersion of the dipole. It was found that during oscillations along the channel and vertical oscillations, waves are generated in the channel, propagating along the channel with a frequency equal to the frequency of dipole oscillations. These waves decay far from the dipole, and the rate of decay depends on the porosity coefficient.

Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation on Plant-Based Products

Lactic acid bacteria effectively utilize the nutrients and active compounds in plant-based materials via their powerful metabolic pathways and enzyme systems, achieving a combination of nutrition, functionality, and deliciousness. Currently, the majority of review articles predominantly concentrate on summarizing the fermentation of fruits and vegetables by lactic acid bacteria, devoting comparatively less attention to researching other plant species varieties and plant-based by-products. Furthermore, the summary of the research on the active substances and functional properties lacks sufficient depth. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the status of and technological progress in lactic acid bacteria fermentation of various plant species and plant-based by-products, and the effects of lactic acid bacteria on the active substances and functional properties are emphasized. In addition, this review emphasizes that active substances give products more functionality. The aim of this review is to emphasize the significant contribution of lactic acid bacteria to the active substances and functional properties of plant-based products, which will assist researchers in better comprehending the application value of lactic acid bacteria in the plant-based domain and direct attention towards the interaction mechanisms between active substances and product functionality. Concurrently, this review provides a certain theoretical foundation and reference for the application of fermented functional products in promoting health and preventing diseases.

A near-infrared emitting “off-on” fluorescent probe for bioimaging of Pd(Ⅱ) ions in living cells and mice

BackgroundThe surging consumption of palladium in modern industry has given rise to its accumulation in the ecosystem, posing conspicuous toxicity to aquatic organisms and human health. The investigation of palladium in biological systems is highly demanded for the in-depth understanding of its dynamics and behaviors. Fluorescence imaging serves as a powerful approach to assess palladium species in biological systems, and currently most of the sensing probes are applicable to living cells. Effective tracking of palladium species in living organisms is challenging, which requires sufficient hydrophilicity and imaging depth of the probes. ResultsBased on an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism, a distyryl boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative (DISBDP-Pd) has been prepared for the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging of Pd2+ ions. Two additional methoxy triethylene glycol (TEG) chains could serve as flexible and hydrophilic moieties to enhance the aqueous solubility and cell permeability of the extended conjugate. Solution studies revealed that DISBDP-Pd exhibited a NIR fluorescence enhancement signal exclusively to Pd2+ ions (detection limit as low as 0.85 ppb) with negligible interference from Pd0 species and other closely related metal ions. Computational calculations have been performed to rationalize the binding mode and the mechanism of action. Fluorescence imaging assays have been conducted on A549 human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells and mouse models. Exhibiting negligible cytotoxicity, DISBDP-Pd demonstrated concentration-related fluorescence enhancement signals in response to Pd2+ ions in living cells and mice. SignificanceDISBDP-Pd exhibits advantages over many small molecule palladium probes in terms of satisfactory aqueous solubility, high sensitivity and selectivity, and biocompatible NIR emission property, which are particularly favorable for the sensing application in biological environments. The design strategy of this probe can potentially be adopted for the functionalization of other BODIPY probes implemented for NIR fluorescence bioimaging.

Future research perspective on the interfacial physics of non-invasive glaucoma testing in pathogen transmission from the eyes.

Non-contact tonometry (NCT) is a non-invasive ophthalmologic technique to measure intraocular pressure (IOP) using an air puff for routine glaucoma testing. Although IOP measurement using NCT has been perfected over many years, various phenomenological aspects of interfacial physics, fluid structure interaction, waves on corneal surface, and pathogen transmission routes to name a few are inherently unexplored. Research investigating the interdisciplinary physics of the ocular biointerface and of the NCT procedure is sparse and hence remains to be explored in sufficient depth. In this perspective piece, we introduce NCT and propose future research prospects that can be undertaken for a better understanding of the various hydrodynamic processes that occur during NCT from a pathogen transmission viewpoint. In particular, the research directions include the characterization and measurement of the incoming air puff, understanding the complex fluid-solid interactions occurring between the air puff and the human eye for measuring IOP, investigating the various waves that form and travel; tear film breakup and subsequent droplet formation mechanisms at various spatiotemporal length scales. Further, from an ocular disease transmission perspective, the disintegration of the tear film into droplets and aerosols poses a potential pathogen transmission route during NCT for pathogens residing in nasolacrimal and nasopharynx pathways. Adequate precautions by opthalmologist and medical practioners are therefore necessary to conduct the IOP measurements in a clinically safer way to prevent the risk associated with pathogen transmission from ocular diseases like conjunctivitis, keratitis, and COVID-19 during the NCT procedure.

Mesoscale Simulation of Laser Powder Bed Fusion with an Increased Layer Thickness for AlSi10Mg Alloy

Low performance is considered one of the main drawbacks of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology. In the present work, the effect of the AlSi10Mg powder layer thickness on the laser melting process was investigated to improve the LPBF building rate. A high-fidelity simulation of the melt pool formation was performed for different thicknesses of the powder bed using the Kintech Simulation Software for Additive Manufacturing (KiSSAM, version cd8e01d) developed by the authors. The powder bed after the recoating operation was obtained by the discrete element method. The laser energy deposition on the powder particles and the substrate was simulated by ray tracing. For the validation of the model, an experimental analysis of single tracks was performed on two types of substrates. The first substrate was manufactured directly with LPBF technology, while the second was cast. The simulation was carried out for various combinations of process parameters, predominantly with a high energy input, which provided a sufficient remelting depth. The calculations revealed the unstable keyhole mode appearance associated with the low absorptivity of the aluminum alloy at a scanning speed of 300 mm/s for all levels of the laser power (325–375 W). The results allowed formulating the criteria for the lack of fusion emerging during LPBF with an increased layer thickness. This work is expected to provide a scientific basis for the analysis of the maximum layer thickness via simulation to increase the performance of the technology.

Ultraviolet-sensitive and power-efficient oxide phototransistor enabled by nanometer-scale thickness engineering of InZnO semiconductor and gate bias modulation

Amorphous oxide semiconductor photodetectors (PDs) are promising ultrasensitive and power-efficient ultraviolet (UV) PDs because they generate low dark current in the dark and exhibit high photoresponse under UV irradiation owing to their superior UV absorption and photocarrier transport characteristics. Herein, we demonstrate UV-sensitive and power-efficient oxide phototransistors through the nanometer-scale engineering of oxide semiconductors and appropriate modulation of gate bias conditions. The dark current and photocurrent of an oxide phototransistor exhibit a trade-off relationship in terms of the thickness of the oxide semiconductor film. Ultrathin InZnO is disadvantageous for fabricating UV-sensitive PDs because of its low photoresponse. In contrast, excessively thick InZnO is disadvantageous for fabricating power-efficient UV PDs owing to its high dark current. However, the InZnO film with an optimal film thickness of 8 nm can simultaneously provide the advantages of both ultrathin and excessively thick cases owing to its low intrinsic carrier concentration and sufficient UV absorption depth. Consequently, an InZnO phototransistor with high UV-sensing performance (Smax = 1.25 × 106), low-power operation capability (Idark = ∼10−13A), and excellent repeatability is realized by using an 8-nm-thick InZnO semiconductor and applying appropriate gate bias modulation (constant gate bias for maximized photosensitivity and temporal positive bias pulse for persistence photocurrent elimination).

Electroencephalographic density spectral array monitoring during propofol/sevoflurane coadministration in children, an exploratory observational study

IntroductionPropofol and sevoflurane have a long history in pediatric anesthesia. Combining both drugs at low dose levels offers new opportunities. However, monitoring the hypnotic effects of this drug combination in children is challenging, because the currently available processed EEG-based systems are insufficiently validated in young children and the co-administration of anesthetics. This study investigated electroencephalographic density spectral array monitoring during propofol/sevoflurane coadministration with fixed sevoflurane- and variable propofol dosages. Patients and methodsWe analyzed the density spectral array pattern recorded during propofol/sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric patients from birth to 11 years of age. Data from 78 patients were suitable for analysis. The primary outcome parameter of this study was the correlation between variable propofol dosages and the expression of the four electroencephalogram frequency bands β, α, θ, and δ. The main secondary outcome parameters were the intra-operative total EEG power and the prevalence of burst suppression. ResultsIn patients above the age of 1 year, a dose-dependent correlation between the propofol dosage and the relative percentage of β (−12.2%, p < 0.001) and δ (5.1%, p < 0.001) was found. There was an age-dependent trend toward increasing mean EEG power, with the most significant increase in the first year of life. In 14.1% of our patients, at least one episode of burst suppression occurred. ConclusionDSA-guided augmentation of propofol anesthesia with sevoflurane provides sufficient depth of anesthesia at doses usually considered sub-anesthetic in children, leading to less anesthetic drug exposure for the individual child.

On the issue of carrying out mooring tests of a ship power plant in shallow water conditions

In the process of mooring trials, as well as when ships are sailing in shallow water, difficulties often arise in ensuring normal operating conditions for the propulsion complex, the performance of the power plant and the ship as a whole. The article outlines the problems during mooring tests in shallow water. Mooring tests of a large-tonnage tanker in shallow water conditions are considered, when the operation of the main circulation pump of the cooling system is disrupted due to contamination of the flow path of the main condenser with soil particles. The economic inexpediency of testing a tanker at sea when it is anchored or barreled in an area that is safe for navigation and has sufficient water depth is substantiated. The method of taking cooling water from above with the help of a caisson is considered, which eliminated unproductive costs. A method of mooring a ship is given, in which the water jet from the propeller does not harm the berthing facilities and does not erode the soil of the water area; the means of simulating the nominal parameters of the actuators are described, which makes it possible to carry out mooring tests of mechanisms, systems and devices without bringing the main power plant to the mode of increased loads, and, as a result, to reduce the testing time.

ПОЛИМЕРЛІ ЕРІТІНДІЛЕРДІҢ РЕОЛОГИЯЛЫҚ ҚАСИЕТТЕРІН ЗЕРТТЕУ

Annotation. The long-term operation of the deposit, the alternation of reservoir zones with high and degraded filtration and capacitance properties due to the heterogeneity of the reservoir, the deformation of the development system due to downtime and inactivity of wells predetermined the selective movement of water through the most permeable layers. As practice shows, the widespread use of traditional flooding technology does not ensure the effective production of residual reserves from low-permeable and highly watered formations. Therefore, increasing the degree of oil extraction from the depths of the developed fields using effective methods of active impact on water-oil-saturated formations is an important scientific and technical task facing the oilmen of the republic. One of the most effective and promising methods of stabilizing oil production is physics-chemical technologies based on the use of injection of polymer compositions. The main purpose of injection of polymer compositions is to equalize the heterogeneity of productive layers by reducing the mobility of the displacing agent in highly conductive interlayers and increasing the coverage of the reservoir by flooding both in power and in stretch. As is known, the effectiveness of the use of technologies based on polymer solutions depends on their good selective filterability into zones with high water saturation, which allows creating water-insulating screens in the desired direction and to a sufficient depth. It is known that the effective use of polymer solutions depends on the influence of various factors: molecular weight, polymer concentration in solution, filtration rates, reservoir permeability, as well as such an important parameter as the rheological properties of polymer solutions. The study of the rheological properties of polymer solutions allows us to substantiate and propose for practical implementation effective integrated technologies for increasing oil recovery during the operation of the oil fields under consideration. In this work, the rheological properties of polyacrylamide, physical parameters, taking into account their physics-chemical properties, are studied. The influence of mineralization and water hardness on polymer solutions is considered. The issues of mechanical destruction of polymers have been studied. The degree of mechanical destruction of the polymer is estimated based on the results of the study of the rheological properties of the polymer sample.

High strength bio-concrete for the production of building components

The production of bio-concrete is based on the process of microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), in which calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is formed as a binder. Bio-concrete is a potentially CO2-neutral alternative to conventional Portland-cement-based concrete, since no process-related carbon dioxide emissions are generated during biomineralization. Furthermore, CO2 is bound in the form of carbonate. However, achieving compressive strength values comparable to conventional concrete, in combination with sufficient component depth, has been a significant challenge in the MICP research. In the present study, a combination of methods was implemented, including the use of urease-active calcium carbonate powder (UACP) instead of free bacterial cells, optimization of aggregate packing density, and the implementation of an automated stop-flow pressure injection method. A variety of cementation parameters were tested to determine the optimal conditions for the production of homogeneously cemented high strength bio-concrete. Additionally, reproducibility and optimization studies have been conducted with selected parameter combinations. It was found that achieving homogeneous compaction with sufficient aggregate packing density played a crucial role in obtaining consistent and high-quality cementation results. A combination of a very high compressive strength of 52.5 MPa and a cementation depth of 140 mm has been reached, which has not been reported in previous publications. These findings might unveil new possibilities for bio-concrete to be used in the production of prefabricated load-bearing building components, where it could partially replace traditional concrete.

Review of the Structural Performance of Beams and Beam–Column Joints with Openings

The need for openings in RC structures has increased, but their presence significantly affects the performance and strength of the structures. While small openings can be managed with additional reinforcement, dealing with large openings in reinforced or pre-stressed concrete members is challenging due to the lack of technical information and specific guidelines. This research provides an up-to-date overview of RC beam–column joints that incorporate web openings and evaluates appropriate strengthening methods. The research discusses the classification of openings in RC beams, considering factors such as size and shape. Additionally, it examines the failure modes of RC beams in relation to flexural and shear behavior when web openings are present. The research also provides a comprehensive review of various strengthening techniques, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. In conclusion, larger openings in beams result in reduced strength, while increasing loads lead to higher deflection, strain, and cracking until failure. Openings are classified as small or large based on their impact on beam behavior. Multiple smaller openings are preferred over a single large opening when size becomes excessive. Optimal placement is in the middle of the section to ensure adequate concrete coverage for the chords. Sufficient concrete and depth are essential for ultimate compression during bending and effective shear reinforcement.

Preliminary conceptual design with neutronics and thermal-hydraulics assessments of FuSTAR

The fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature advanced reactor (FuSTAR) is an advanced small modular reactor, which aims to the electric supplement and clean heat production to western China. In order to have good economy and safety, FuSTAR needs to have the characteristics of small size, light weight, deep burnup, and inherent safety. A conceptual design of FuSTAR is proposed in this study with neutronics and thermal-hydraulics assessments. In this study, its concept is established with two-region fuel to flatten core power, and the neutron spectrum of the core is in the thermal spectrum to improve the utilization of thermal neutrons and reduce fuel inventory. Neutronics and thermal-hydraulics analyses are also carried out, and established the core layout and material ratio under the near-critical condition. Burnup depth of the fuel, power distribution, neutron flux distribution, flow and heat transfer in rod-bundles channel, and 1/6 core porous media analysis are also investigated. The parameters of the designed core are evaluated quantitatively from various aspects. The results show that the core design in this study has sufficient shutdown depth, the equilibrium cycle is 3.24 years, and the discharge burnup depth is 106 GWd/MtU. The helical cruciform fuel (HCF) adopted by this reactor has a better flow and heat transfer capacity than cylindrical-type fuel at the inner channel. The analysis of 1/6 core porous media shows that the peak fuel temperature under normal operating condition is 1009.3 K, which is far below the limit of 1573 K. Relevant design and analysis results can provide the reference for the subsequent small modular FHR design and construction.

A Novel Patellar Tendon Reconstruction Technique Using Semitendinosus Allograft

A Novel Patellar Tendon Reconstruction Technique Using Semitendinosus Allograft

A targeted approach to enrich host-associated bacteria for metagenomic sequencing.

Multicellular eukaryotic organisms are hosts to communities of bacteria that reside on or inside their tissues. Often the eukaryotic members of the system contribute to high proportions of metagenomic sequencing reads, making it challenging to achieve sufficient sequencing depth to evaluate bacterial ecology. Stony corals are one such complex community; however, separation of bacterial from eukaryotic (primarily coral and algal symbiont) cells has so far not been successful. Using a combination of hybridization chain reaction fluorescence in situ hybridization and fluorescence activated cell sorting (HCR-FISH + FACS), we sorted two populations of bacteria from five genotypes of the coral Acropora loripes, targeting (i) Endozoicomonas spp, and (ii) all other bacteria. NovaSeq sequencing resulted in 67-91M reads per sample, 55%-90% of which were identified as bacterial. Most reads were taxonomically assigned to the key coral-associated family, Endozoicomonadaceae, with Vibrionaceae also abundant. Endozoicomonadaceae were 5x more abundant in the 'Endozoicomonas' population, highlighting the success of the dual-labelling approach. This method effectively enriched coral samples for bacteria with <1% contamination from host and algal symbionts. The application of this method will allow researchers to decipher the functional potential of coral-associated bacteria. This method can also be adapted to accommodate other host-associated communities.