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Precocious puberty in girls is defined as the onset of pubertal changes before 8 years of age, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment is available for central precocious puberty (CPP). The gold standard for diagnosing CPP is the GnRH stimulation test. However, the GnRH stimulation test is time-consuming, costly, and requires repeated blood sampling. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) prediction model to assist pediatric endocrinologists in decision making regarding the optimal timing to perform the GnRH stimulation test. We reviewed the medical charts of 161 girls who received the GnRH stimulation test from 1 August 2010 to 31 August 2021, and we selected 15 clinically relevant features for machine learning modeling. We chose the models with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to integrate into our computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system. The AUC values for the CPP diagnosis prediction model (LH ≥ 5 IU/L) were 0.884 with logistic regression, 0.912 with random forest, 0.942 with LightGBM, and 0.942 with XGBoost. For the Taiwan National Health Insurance treatment coverage prediction model (LH ≥ 10 IU/L), the AUC values were 0.909, 0.941, 0.934, and 0.881, respectively. In conclusion, our AI predictive system can assist pediatric endocrinologists when they are deciding whether a girl with suspected CPP should receive a GnRH stimulation test. With proper use, this prediction model may possibly avoid unnecessary invasive blood sampling for GnRH stimulation tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the mass transfer characteristics of a rotating bed that is equipped with static baffles. The volumetric liquid-side mass transfer coefficient ( k L a ) and the effective gas–liquid interfacial area were determined using a deoxygenation system and a chemisorption of CO 2 in NaOH solution, respectively; the local liquid-side mass transfer coefficient ( k L ) was thus calculated. The effects of liquid flow rate, rotational speed, baffles and type of packing on these mass transfer parameters were investigated. Experimental results show that the bed with baffles had a higher interfacial area and lower k L than that without baffles. Adding baffles to the bed did not significantly affect the k L a values. Additionally, the packing with a larger specific interfacial area yielded higher values of k L a mainly because the effective interfacial area was higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Continuous transesterification of soybean oil and methanol was examined in an SDR. [•] Optimal yield of 96.9% was obtained with a residence time of 3–4s in the SDR. [•] Compared to other reactors, the SDR achieves a high yield and production rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One main disadvantage of a rotating packed bed (RPB) is the low angular slip velocity of gas in its rotor, limiting its application for gas-side controlling mass transfer processes. This work enhances angular slip velocity and reduces centrifugal pressure drop using a novel gas–liquid contactor, an RPB with blade packings and static baffles. The hydraulic and mass transfer characteristics of the proposed device were investigated using an isopropyl alcohol absorption process. Experimental results show that pressure drop increased as the gas flow rate and rotational speed increased, and was not significantly affected by liquid flow rate. A 53% reduction in pressure drop was achieved by adding static baffles to the proposed device. The mass transfer coefficient (K G a) increased as gas flow rate, liquid flow rate, and rotational speed increased. The K G a value for the bed with baffles was 117% higher than that for a bed without baffles. The proposed RPB with blade packings and baffles has great potential for gas–liquid separation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Micronization is the most effective way to enhance the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs and bioavailability in human body. Microemulsion systems were applied to micronize mitotane and warfarin by cooling method and solvent diffusion process. The triangle phase diagram of the ternary benzyl alcohol+sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)+water system was investigated at six different temperatures to determine an appropriate operational microemulsion regime for crystallization. The particle sizes of mitotane and warfarin re-crystallized from microemulsion systems were greatly reduced (to ∼1μm) compared with that of the commercial ones. Consequently, the dissolution rate coefficients of re-crystallized mitotane and warfarin were significantly improved by, respectively, 7.5 and 13.3 times larger than that of the commercial ones. The crystal structures of re-crystallized mitotane and warfarin were the same as the commercial ones based on the XRD and DSC measurements. In addition, it is interesting to observe the variation of morphology of re-crystallized mitotane as a function of the composition of the SDS and the drug concentrations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The high development of industries leads to significantamountof waste hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and thesehave caused serious environmental concerns. Because of the physicalproperties of the hydrophobic VOCs, a hydrophobic absorbent is neededin order to make the process more efficient if absorption is considered.However, most of these absorbents have high viscosities which leadsto a low mass transfer coefficient. Thus, a cross-flow rotating packedbed (RPB) was evaluated for the feasibility of absorbing the hydrophobicVOCs, xylene, and toluene, by silicon oil, a model hydrophobic absorbent.The result shows that the absorption percentage could be up to 98%within a second contact of liquid and gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Particle deposition in a spiral-wound membrane module was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A scheme similar to the Eulerian–Lagrangian numerical method was adopted for the two-phase flow simulation. The effect of curvature on particle transport in four spacer-filled channel configurations with permeable membrane surfaces was analyzed by considering the fluid drag, body force and lift force exerted on the particles. The numerical results showed that there are inherent changes in the particle deposition profile in the spacer-filled channel due to variations in curvature. Comparing the particle deposition profiles and deposition ratios for submerged, zigzag, i-cavity and o-cavity spacer-filled channels showed that, for a given feed velocity and permeation rate, the zigzag-type spacer is best at decreasing the influence of curvature and preventing particle fouling on the membrane. A microscopic understanding derived from the CFD analysis could improve module design and enhance membrane module performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work investigates the feasibility of applying a cross-flow rotating packed bed (RPB) to the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) by absorption from gaseous streams. NaOH solution was used as the model absorbent. A method for determining overall volumetric gas-side mass-transfer coefficient (K G a) in a cross-flow RPB was developed. Experimental results indicated that the rotor speed positively affects the K G a values. Also, the K G a values increased with the liquid flow rate and the NaOH concentration; however, decreased with the gas flow rate. Moreover, the obtained results indicated that the K G a values of a cross-flow RPB were higher than those of a countercurrent-flow RPB at CO2 concentration of 10%, implying a great potential of a cross-flow RPB applied to the removal of CO2 from gaseous streams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Touch screen devices are now ubiquitous, and their usage by young children is increasing. However, the effects of these devices on young children are still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to address the associations of touch screen device exposure with symptomatic emotional and behavioral problems and language development in children between the ages of 18 and 36 months.Method: A total of 161 primary caregivers of children between the ages of 18 and 36 months were recruited from the pediatric ward and outpatient clinic at a medical center in southern Taiwan. All caregivers were asked to fill out the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5 (CBCL 1½-5) and a questionnaire on basic personal information and touch screen device usage, and they were also interviewed with the Communication and Language Screening Test for Birth to Three Chinese-Speaking Infant-Toddlers (CLST). Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to examine the differences among the categories in the demographic variables and to characterize the touch screen device usage behaviors. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the relationship between language delay and the extent of touch screen device exposure. After primary univariate analysis, we used multiple regression models to examine the relationships among the effects of touch screen device usage behaviors on children's emotional and behavioral problems and language development.Result: The children's mean age was 25.63 months (SD = 5.35). Children who spent more time on touch screen devices were more likely to have emotional problems (β = .219, p < .010, 95 % CI: .279-1.518), anxious/depressive symptoms (β = .206, p < .050, 95 % CI: .170-1.244), somatic complaints (β = .291, p < .001, 95% CI: .455-1.462), social withdrawal symptoms (β = .194, p < .050, 95 % CI: 0.133-1.150), attention problems (β = .300, p < .001, 95 % CI: .432-1.267), and aggressive behaviors (β = .247, p < .010, 95 % CI: .967-3.983). The effects were not noted on language development (β = -.136, p < .100, 95 % CI: -2.595-.147).Conclusion: Young children who spent more time on touch screen devices were more likely to have emotional problems, anxious/depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, social withdrawal symptoms, attention problems, and aggressive behaviors, but not language delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]