Anion conducting polymers (ACPs) are essential materials for alkaline electrochemical energy technology such as anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) and water electrolysers (AEMWEs). The ...aforementioned polymers are promising alternatives for proton exchange membrane-based systems due to the possibility of using platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts. However, there are still no reliable ACPs possessing the desired performance and stability, which is a major challenge for developing alkaline energy systems. Herein, we highlight an anion-exchange membrane and ionomer based on quaternised poly-carbazole (
QPC-TMA
) with a rigid ether-free and curved backbone structure comprised of carbazole monomers. The developed ACP exhibits excellent ionic conductivity, as well as chemical and mechanical stability. Moreover, the AEMFC using
QPC-TMA
shows excellent performance (1.61 W cm
−2
) compared with the other best-performing AEMFCs. In addition, the AEMWE using
QPC-TMA
demonstrates outstanding stability and state-of-the-art performance (3.5 A cm
−2
at 1.9 V), which is the first report of an AEMWE that outperforms the best-performing proton-exchange membrane water electrolysers.
An aryl ether-free less-phenyl adsorbing poly-carbazole-based polymer shows superior performance and durability for anion exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers.
Despite recent advances in commercially optimized identification systems, bacterial identification remains a challenging task in many routine microbiological laboratories, especially in situations ...where taxonomically novel isolates are involved. The 16S rRNA gene has been used extensively for this task when coupled with a well-curated database, such as EzTaxon, containing sequences of type strains of prokaryotic species with validly published names. Although the EzTaxon database has been widely used for routine identification of prokaryotic isolates, sequences from uncultured prokaryotes have not been considered. Here, the next generation database, named EzTaxon-e, is formally introduced. This new database covers not only species within the formal nomenclatural system but also phylotypes that may represent species in nature. In addition to an identification function based on Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) searches and pairwise global sequence alignments, a new objective method of assessing the degree of completeness in sequencing is proposed. All sequences that are held in the EzTaxon-e database have been subjected to phylogenetic analysis and this has resulted in a complete hierarchical classification system. It is concluded that the EzTaxon-e database provides a useful taxonomic backbone for the identification of cultured and uncultured prokaryotes and offers a valuable means of communication among microbiologists who routinely encounter taxonomically novel isolates. The database and its analytical functions can be found at http://eztaxon-e.ezbiocloud.net/.
Respiratory diseases significantly affect respiratory function, making them a considerable contributor to global mortality. The respiratory muscles play an important role in disease prognosis; as ...such, quantitative analysis of the respiratory muscles is crucial to assess the status of the respiratory system and the quality of life in patients. In this study, we aimed to develop an automated approach for the segmentation and classification of three types of respiratory muscles from computed tomography (CT) images using artificial intelligence. With a dataset of approximately 600,000 thoracic CT images from 3,200 individuals, we trained the model using the Attention U-Net architecture, optimized for detailed and focused segmentation. Subsequently, we calculated the volumes and densities from the muscle masks segmented by our model and performed correlation analysis with pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters. The segmentation models for muscle tissue and respiratory muscles obtained dice scores of 0.9823 and 0.9688, respectively. The classification model, achieving a generalized dice score of 0.9900, also demonstrated high accuracy in classifying thoracic region muscle types, as evidenced by its F1 scores: 0.9793 for the pectoralis muscle, 0.9975 for the erector spinae muscle, and 0.9839 for the intercostal muscle. In the correlation analysis, the volume of the respiratory muscles showed a strong correlation with PFT parameters, suggesting that respiratory muscle volume may serve as a potential novel biomarker for respiratory function. Although muscle density showed a weaker correlation with the PFT parameters, it has a potential significance in medical research.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Combined hepatocellular carcinoma–cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CC) is a rare disease. We investigated the clinicopathological features of cHCC‐CC and compared the longterm outcomes following liver ...transplantation (LT) and hepatic resection (HR). We identified 32 LT patients with cHCC‐CC through an institutional database search. The HR control group (n = 100) was selected through propensity score‐matching. The incidence of cHCC‐CC among all adult LT patients was 1.0%. Mean patient age was 53.4 ± 6.7 years, and 26 patients were male. Thirty patients had hepatitis B virus infection. All patients of cHCC‐CC were diagnosed incidentally in the explanted livers. Mean tumor diameter was 2.5 ± 1.3 cm, and 28 patients had single tumors. Tumor stage was stage I in 23 and II in 9. Concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was detected in 12 patients with stage I in 5 and II in 7. Mean tumor diameter was 1.9 ± 1.2 cm, and 5 had single tumors. Tumor recurrence and survival rates were 15.6% and 84.4% at 1 year and 32.2% and 65.8% at 5 years, respectively. Patients with very early stage cHCC‐CC (1 or 2 tumors ≤ 2.0 cm) showed 13.3% tumor recurrence and 93.3% patient survival rates at 5 years, which were significantly improved than those with advanced tumors (P = 0.002). Tumor recurrence and survival rates did not differ significantly between the LT and HR control groups (P = 0.22 and P = 0.91, respectively); however, postrecurrence patient survival did (P = 0.016). In conclusion, cHCC‐CC is rarely diagnosed following LT, and one‐third of such patients have concurrent HCC. The longterm posttransplant prognosis was similar following LT and HR. Very early cHCC‐CC resulted in favorable posttransplant prognosis, thus this selection condition can be prudently considered for LT indication. Liver Transplantation 23 330–341 2017 AASLD.
The pectoralis muscle is an important indicator of respiratory muscle function and has been linked to various parenchymal biomarkers, such as airflow limitation severity and diffusing capacity for ...carbon monoxide, which are widely used in diagnosing parenchymal diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pectoralis muscle segmentation is a method for measuring muscle volume and mass for various applications. The segmentation method is based on deep-learning techniques that combine a muscle area detection model and a segmentation model. The training dataset for the detection model comprised multichannel images of patients, whereas the segmentation model was trained on 7,796 cases of the computed tomography (CT) image dataset of 1,841 patients. The dataset was expanded incrementally through an active learning process. The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing the segmentation results with manual annotations by radiologists and the volumetric differences between the CT image datasets of the same patients. The results indicated that the machine learning model is promising in segmenting the pectoralis major muscle, with good agreement between the automatic segmentation and manual annotations by radiologists. The training accuracy and loss values of the validation set were 0.9954 and 0.0725, respectively, and for segmentation, the loss value was 0.0579. This study shows the potential clinical usefulness of the machine learning model for pectoralis major muscle segmentation as a quantitative biomarker for various parenchymal and muscular diseases.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The previously proposed scoring systems are not readily available because of the lack of simplicity for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. We aimed to develop and validate the new ...score system, which can predict HCC recurrence after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) by using morphologic and biologic data. Predictors for HCC recurrence after LDLT were developed (n = 627) and validated (n = 806) in 1433 patients for whom we could collect information to date between 2007 and 2016 at Asan Medical center (AMC) to create the SNAPP score (tumor Size and Number, alpha‐fetoprotein AFP, vitamin K absence‐II PIVKA‐II, positron emission tomography PET). On logistic regression based on 3‐year recurrence‐free survival, the SNAPP factors were independently associated with HCC recurrence. The SNAPP score was highly predictive of HCC recurrence (C statistic, 0.920), and 5‐year post‐LT recurrence rates were significantly different between low, intermediate, and high SNAPP score groups. The performance of the SNAPP score (C‐index 95% confidence interval, 0.840 0.801‐0.876) on predicting tumor recurrence after LDLT was better than that of the New York/California, the Risk Estimation of Tumor Recurrence After Transplant (RETREAT), and the Model of Recurrence After Liver Transplant (MoRAL) score. The SNAPP score provides excellent prognostication after LDLT for HCC patients. Hence, we can help voluntary patients’ decisions about whether to undergo LDLT or not.
The authors derive and validate a simple score, based on morphological and biological metrics, that accurately prognosticates hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after living donor liver transplantation.
Porous films of metals and metal oxides exhibit larger surface areas and higher reactivities than those of dense films. Therefore, they have gained growing attention as potential materials for use in ...various applications. This study reports the use of a modified direct current magnetron sputtering method to form porous Zn-ZnO composite films, wherein a subsequent wet post-oxidation process is employed to fabricate pure porous ZnO films. The porous Zn-ZnO composite films were initially formed in clusters, and evaluation of their resulting properties allowed the optimal conditions to be determined. An oxygen ratio of 0.3% in the argon gas flow resulted in the best porosity, while a process pressure of 14 mTorr was optimal. Following deposition, porous ZnO films were obtained through rapid thermal annealing in the presence of water vapor, and the properties and porosities of the obtained films were analyzed. An oxidation temperature of 500 °C was optimal, with an oxidation time of 5 min giving a pure ZnO film with 26% porosity. Due to the fact that the films produced using this method are highly reliable, they could be employed in applications that require large specific surface areas, such as sensors, supercapacitors, and batteries.
A simultaneous transfer and bonding (SITRAB) process using areal laser irradiation is introduced for high‐yield and cost‐effective production of mini‐ or micro‐light‐emitting diode (LED) display ...panels. SITRAB materials are special epoxy‐based solvent‐free pastes. Three types of pot life are studied to obtain a convenient SITRAB process: Room temperature pot life (RPL), stage pot life (SPL), and laser pot life (LPL). In this study, the RPL was found to be 1.2 times the starting viscosity at 25°C, and the SPL was defined as the time the solder can be wetted by the SITRAB paste at given stage temperatures of 80°C, 90°C, and 100°C. The LPL, on the other hand, was referred to as the number of areal laser irradiations for the tiling process for red, green, and blue LEDs at the given stage temperatures. The process windows of SPL and LPL were identified based on their critical time and conversion requirements for good solder wetting. The measured RPL and SPL at the stage temperature of 80°C were 6 days and 8 h, respectively, and the LPL was more than six at these stage temperatures.
We investigate the effects of the post-deposition thermal annealing temperature on the physical and chemical structure of zinc oxynitride (ZnON) thin films and on the electrical performance of ZnON ...thin-film transistors (TFTs). When a ZnON TFT is annealed at 150 °C, it exhibits conductive behavior, which is attributed to the increased electron concentration caused by the increase in the nitrogen vacancies of the defective ZnXNY bonds within the ZnON. The TFT shows the best electrical performance when the annealing temperature is 250 °C, but a degradation in the electrical performance is observed when the annealing temperature is increased to 350 °C. The significantly reduced electron concentration and the relative increase in the oxygen within the ZnON are considered as the possible reasons for the degradation in the electrical performance observed in the ZnON TFTs annealed at 350 °C.
MINIRecent developments in near-infrared fluorescent imaging have revealed the usefulness of indocyanine green (ICG) for preoperative pulmonary nodule localization. However, it is difficult to ...determine the resection margins of deep-seated nodules using this technique, given the limited depth penetration and diffusion of ICG through the lung tissue without pooling around the lesion. The optimal fluorescent iodized emulsion, a mixture of ICG solution and Lipiodol (ethiodized oil), can overcome these limitations and may allow the accurate localization and resection of pulmonary nodules.
OBJECTIVE:This study was conducted to develop a fluorescent iodized emulsion comprising indocyanine green (ICG) solution and lipiodol (ethiodized oil) and evaluate its feasibility for use in a clinical setting.
BACKGROUND:ICG use for the preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules is limited in terms of penetration depth and diffusion.
METHODS:First, fluorescent microscopy was used to investigate the distribution of ICG-lipiodol emulsions prepared using different methods. The emulsions were injected in 15 lung lobes of 3 rabbits under computed tomography fluoroscopy guidance; evaluation with imaging and radiography was conducted after thoracotomy. Subsequently, the emulsions were used to preoperatively localize 29 pulmonary nodules in 24 human subjects, and wedge resections were performed using fluorescent imaging and C-arm fluoroscopy.
RESULTS:The optimal emulsion of 10% ICG and 90% lipiodol mixed through 90 passages had even distribution and the highest signal intensity under fluorescent microscopy; it also had the best consistency in the rabbit lungs, which persisted for 24 hours at the injection site. In human subjects, the mean diameter of pulmonary nodules was 0.9 ± 0.4 cm, and depth from the pleura was 1.2 ± 0.8 cm. All emulsion types injected were well localized around the target nodules without any side effects or procedure-related complications. Wedge resection with minimally invasive approach was successful in all pulmonary nodules with a free resection margin.
CONCLUSIONS:A fluorescent iodized emulsion prepared by mixing ICG with lipiodol enabled accurate localization and resection of pulmonary nodules.
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