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Background: For patients with blunt abdominal trauma, the Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) exam is the initial imaging modality employed to diagnose and risk stratify. A positive FAST exam in this patient population denotes intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In a hemodynamically unstable patient, it necessitates rapid surgical intervention. Ultrasound is highly dependent on the operator's ability to obtain quality images for interpretation. Failure to obtain adequate images prevents accurate interpretation and reduce its diagnostic accuracy. Previous studies evaluating whether the FAST exam can be improved solely by experience had conflicting results. None of those studies used an objective method to evaluate the FAST exam's quality. Our study aimed to objectively determine the number of FAST exams required by an emergency medicine (EM) resident to reach sufficient quality for independent scanning. Methods: 59 first-year EM residents from a single site were included in this study. All FAST exams that were saved in the Qpath archival system by the 59 EM residents, whether the exam was performed for educational or clinical purposes, were reviewed, and scored using a Task-Specific Checklist (TSC) score. This score is an objective way to assess the proficiency and quality of the FAST scan. The TSC was based on whether the imaging of 24 specific anatomic landmarks, split into four anatomic regions, was completed successfully or not. The AEMUS (Advanced EM Ultrasonography) faculty provided feedback to trainees wither electronically via Qpath or at the bedside. According to the quality of ultrasound imaging and competence (QUICK Score), if the average TSC score for the first 10 exams was 18 or higher, the resident was considered an expert. However, if the resident failed to achieve that score, we skipped the first exam performed by the resident and the average score for the second through eleventh exams was then calculated. If the resident did not achieve the desired result, the first and second exams were skipped and the average score for the remaining 10 exams was determined. This sequence was repeated until the resident achieved an average score of 18 or higher on their TSC score. Results: In total, 663 FAST scans performed by EM residents were scored. The average number of FAST exams needed for independent scanning is 11.23 (95% CI, 10.6-11.85). 66.1% of enrolled residents achieved an average score of 18 or higher in their first 10 FAST exams, and 33.8% of residents required more than 10 scans. The average scores for the right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), pelvic, and subxiphoid views were 5 (95% CI, 4.88–5.1), 4.7 (95% CI, 4.59–4.8), 5.1 (95% CI, 4.96–5.24), and 3.7 (95% CI 3.6–3.8) respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that when constructive feedback on each FAST exam was given, the average first-year emergency medicine resident achieves competency in performing FAST exams independently after completing 10–12 (average of 11.23) FAST exams. Further research is required to validate the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Posterior circulation stroke (PCS) poses a diagnostic challenge due to the diverse and subtle clinical manifestations. While the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) mnemonic has proven effective in identifying anterior circulation stroke, its sensitivity to posterior events is less clear. Recently, the addition of Balance and Eyes to the mnemonic has been proposed as a more comprehensive tool for stroke recognition. Despite this, evidence directly comparing the effectiveness of BE-FAST and FAST in identifying PCS remains limited. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on stroke calls at a comprehensive stroke centre, Sydney, Australia. BE-FAST symptoms first assessed at an emergency department triage were recorded, along with automated acute computerised tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging findings. Haemorrhagic strokes were excluded from analysis. An ischaemic stroke diagnosis was confirmed 48–72 h later with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain. The performance of 1. BE-FAST and FAST and 2. BE-FAST and CTP in the hyperacute detection of posterior circulation ischaemic stroke was compared. Results: Out of 164 identified ischaemic infarcts confirmed on MRIs, 46 were PCS. Of these, 27 were FAST-positive, while 45 were BE-FAST-positive. Overall, BE-FAST demonstrated a higher sensitivity compared to FAST in identifying PCS (97.8 vs. 58.7) but suffered from a lower specificity (10.0 vs. 39.8). Notably, 39.1% (n = 18) of patients with PCS would have been missed if only FAST were used. Furthermore, of the 26 PCS negative on CTP, 25 were BE-FAST-positive, and 14 were FAST-positive. Conclusions: The incorporation of Balance and Eye assessments into the FAST protocol improves PCS detection, although may yield more false positives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea polyphenols (TPs) are a critical indicator for evaluating the quality of tea leaves and are esteemed for their beneficial effects. The non-destructive detection of this component is essential for enhancing precise control in tea production and improving product quality. This study developed an enhanced PKO-SVR (support vector regression based on the Pied Kingfisher Optimization Algorithm) model for rapidly and accurately detecting tea polyphenol content in Fu brick tea using hyperspectral reflectance data. During this experiment, chemical analysis determined the tea polyphenol content, while hyperspectral imaging captured the spectral data. Data preprocessing techniques were applied to reduce noise interference and improve the prediction model. Additionally, several other models, including K-nearest neighbor (KNN) regression, neural network regression (BP), support vector regression based on the sparrow algorithm (SSA-SVR), and support vector regression based on particle swarm optimization (PSO-SVR), were established for comparison. The experiment results demonstrated that the improved PKO-SVR model excelled in predicting the polyphenol content of Fu brick tea (R2 = 0.9152, RMSE = 0.5876, RPD = 3.4345 for the test set) and also exhibited a faster convergence rate. Therefore, the hyperspectral data combined with the PKO-SVR algorithm presented in this study proved effective for evaluating Fu brick tea's polyphenol content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 458,000 victims were deceased from intentional violence in 2021. A stabbing assault causes 25% of homicides. The study aims to evaluate injury patterns, trauma scores, radiological findings, types of treatment, and outcomes of stab assault patients admitted to a tertiary emergency department (ED). Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of stabbing injury patients in the ED of Hacettepe University, Turkey. The sites and patterns of injury, radiological findings, treatment methods, consultations, and complications are acquired from the patient's files. Trauma scores and frequency of outcomes, such as the need for surgery, hospitalization, or mortality, were calculated for all patients. Results: Among the 648 patients, 564 (87%) were male. The median age was 28 (interquartile range [IQR]:13). The commonly injured body parts were the extremities (75%), thorax (21.9%), and abdomen (16.9%). The median RTS was 7,84 (IQR:0), and the median ISS was 2 (IQR:3). The fluid was detected in 13 of 88 patients by FAST, solid organ injuries in 21 patients, and gastric and intestinal injuries in 11 patients by abdominal CT. One hundred sixty-one patients underwent moderate and major surgery. Complications developed in 13 patients. 74,4% of the patients (n = 482) were treated in ED and 21.8% (n = 141) of patients were hospitalized in wards, 2.3% (n = 15) in intensive care unit and 1.5% (n = 10) patients died. GCS, RTS, and probability of survival (Ps) were significantly lower, and ISS was significantly higher in deceased patients and patients who needed erythrocyte replacement. Conclusion: The majority of stab wounds were detected in extremities, but severe and lethal stabbing injuries were on the thorax and abdomen. In thoracoabdominal stabbing injuries, x-rays and FAST can be ineffective in detecting critical and fatal injuries. Therefore, thoracic and abdominal CT should be planned early to detect possible causes of death and make a timely and accurate diagnosis. Lower GCS, RTS, and Ps or higher ISS scores were related to the need for erythrocyte replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite stroke being a leading cause of death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa, stroke awareness remains a major hurdle to early stroke response and care in the region. To improve stroke awareness, we endeavoured to borrow a leaf from initiatives in high-income countries, beginning with the translation and dissemination of the acronym, FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) to Swahili. We formed a translation group consisting of two stroke physicians, one nurse and two professional translators, all native Swahili speakers. Forward translation of the original document from English to Swahili was done by one Swahili translator; followed by a backward translation by another translator. Clinician reviews and cognitive reviews were then done, and a final translation was developed. We developed the acronym UPESI, a Swahili translation of the word, FAST. The acronym stands for U so kupooza upande mmoja; P ooza mkono/mguu (au kupoteza hisia); ugumu ku- E leza/kuongea; SI mu upesi translating to face drooping, arm/leg paralysis, difficulty in speaking/explaining and fast to the phone. The result of this process is a Swahili translation of the FAST tool for stroke awareness campaigns. The translation will improve communication during stroke campaigns and increase awareness of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A position-sensitive detector, which is a neutron target at the same time, is presented to study the interaction reactions of fast neutrons of above 1 MeV with light nuclei, in particular, with the 10B nucleus. It contains two boron-10 layers and a system of wire electrodes to identify secondary nuclei, in particular 3H and 4He, and to determine energy loss and departure angle. Thus the neutron energy can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Accurate and efficient detection and segmentation of the urine formed element plays a vital role in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, such as urinary system diseases, kidney diseases, and other diseases. However, artificial microscopy is subjective, and time- consuming. The mainstream detection and instance segmentation algorithms lack adequate accuracy and speed for the urine formed element due to small and dense targets. Therefore, this study proposes a quick one-stage urine formed element instance segmentation model based on YOLOv5n. The approach first employs a backbone architecture to extract features named shallow graphical features and semantic features from urine cells. Next, the neck network combines shallow graphical features with different deep semantic features, obtaining multi-scale, and multi-level features. Finally, according to these multi-level features, the head network of YOLOv5n integrates a small FCN network into the YOLOv5 detector. It obtains the location, classification, and segmentation results of the targets. To validate the superiority of this approach in terms of speed and accuracy, a special urine formed element dataset including 500 images was created. Experimental results show that the YOLOv5n method achieves a Mean Average Precision (mAP) at intersection over the union threshold of 0.5 (mAP50) with 91.8%, and Frames Per Second (FPS) of 63.3. Compared to Mask R-CNN and YOLOv8, its FPS increased by 62.6 and 60.9, respectively, resulting in nearly a hundred-fold speedup, and its mAP50 also increased by 3.6 and 1.4% points in accuracy, respectively. Additionally, the YOLOv5n obtains a superior balance of accuracy and speed in comparisons with SOLOv2, BoxInst, and ConvNeXt V2. This study developed a new automated analysis of urinary particles based on deep learning, and this method is expected to be used for the automated analysis and detection of the urine formed element. The experimental results also demonstrate that YOLOv5n can achieve more accurate and faster instance segmentation of urine formed element, providing technical support for clinical disease diagnosis.

Abstract Background For patients with blunt abdominal trauma, the Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) exam is the initial imaging modality employed to diagnose and risk stratify. A positive FAST exam in this patient population denotes intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In a hemodynamically unstable patient, it necessitates rapid surgical intervention. Ultrasound is highly dependent on the operator’s ability to obtain quality images for interpretation. Failure to obtain adequate images prevents accurate interpretation and reduce its diagnostic accuracy. Previous studies evaluating whether the FAST exam can be improved solely by experience had conflicting results. None of those studies used an objective method to evaluate the FAST exam’s quality. Our study aimed to objectively determine the number of FAST exams required by an emergency medicine (EM) resident to reach sufficient quality for independent scanning. Methods 59 first-year EM residents from a single site were included in this study. All FAST exams that were saved in the Qpath archival system by the 59 EM residents, whether the exam was performed for educational or clinical purposes, were reviewed, and scored using a Task-Specific Checklist (TSC) score. This score is an objective way to assess the proficiency and quality of the FAST scan. The TSC was based on whether the imaging of 24 specific anatomic landmarks, split into four anatomic regions, was completed successfully or not. The AEMUS (Advanced EM Ultrasonography) faculty provided feedback to trainees wither electronically via Qpath or at the bedside. According to the quality of ultrasound imaging and competence (QUICK Score), if the average TSC score for the first 10 exams was 18 or higher, the resident was considered an expert. However, if the resident failed to achieve that score, we skipped the first exam performed by the resident and the average score for the second through eleventh exams was then calculated. If the resident did not achieve the desired result, the first and second exams were skipped and the average score for the remaining 10 exams was determined. This sequence was repeated until the resident achieved an average score of 18 or higher on their TSC score. Results In total, 663 FAST scans performed by EM residents were scored. The average number of FAST exams needed for independent scanning is 11.23 (95% CI, 10.6-11.85). 66.1% of enrolled residents achieved an average score of 18 or higher in their first 10 FAST exams, and 33.8% of residents required more than 10 scans. The average scores for the right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), pelvic, and subxiphoid views were 5 (95% CI, 4.88–5.1), 4.7 (95% CI, 4.59–4.8), 5.1 (95% CI, 4.96–5.24), and 3.7 (95% CI 3.6–3.8) respectively. Conclusion This study demonstrated that when constructive feedback on each FAST exam was given, the average first-year emergency medicine resident achieves competency in performing FAST exams independently after completing 10–12 (average of 11.23) FAST exams. Further research is required to validate the findings.

Abstract Background Approximately 458,000 victims were deceased from intentional violence in 2021. A stabbing assault causes 25% of homicides. The study aims to evaluate injury patterns, trauma scores, radiological findings, types of treatment, and outcomes of stab assault patients admitted to a tertiary emergency department (ED). Methods This is a retrospective observational study of stabbing injury patients in the ED of Hacettepe University, Turkey. The sites and patterns of injury, radiological findings, treatment methods, consultations, and complications are acquired from the patient’s files. Trauma scores and frequency of outcomes, such as the need for surgery, hospitalization, or mortality, were calculated for all patients. Results Among the 648 patients, 564 (87%) were male. The median age was 28 (interquartile range [IQR]:13). The commonly injured body parts were the extremities (75%), thorax (21.9%), and abdomen (16.9%). The median RTS was 7,84 (IQR:0), and the median ISS was 2 (IQR:3). The fluid was detected in 13 of 88 patients by FAST, solid organ injuries in 21 patients, and gastric and intestinal injuries in 11 patients by abdominal CT. One hundred sixty-one patients underwent moderate and major surgery. Complications developed in 13 patients. 74,4% of the patients (n = 482) were treated in ED and 21.8% (n = 141) of patients were hospitalized in wards, 2.3% (n = 15) in intensive care unit and 1.5% (n = 10) patients died. GCS, RTS, and probability of survival (Ps) were significantly lower, and ISS was significantly higher in deceased patients and patients who needed erythrocyte replacement. Conclusion The majority of stab wounds were detected in extremities, but severe and lethal stabbing injuries were on the thorax and abdomen. In thoracoabdominal stabbing injuries, x-rays and FAST can be ineffective in detecting critical and fatal injuries. Therefore, thoracic and abdominal CT should be planned early to detect possible causes of death and make a timely and accurate diagnosis. Lower GCS, RTS, and Ps or higher ISS scores were related to the need for erythrocyte replacement.

The present paper aims to conduct an experiment that compares different methods of detecting objects in images. Programs were developed to evaluate the efficiency of SURF, BRISK, MSER, and ORB object detection methods. Four static gray images with sufficiently different histograms were used. The experiment also highlighted the need for image preprocessing to improve feature extraction and detection. Thus, a programmed method for adjusting pixel groups was developed. This method proved useful when one of the listed algorithms failed to detect the object in the original image, but succeeded after adjustment. The effectiveness of detection methods and the evaluation of their performance depend on the application, image preparation, algorithms used, and their implementation. Results of the detection methods were presented numerically (similarities, gradients, distances, etc.) and graphically.

Introduction: Despite stroke being a leading cause of death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa, stroke awareness remains a major hurdle to early stroke response and care in the region. To improve stroke awareness, we endeavoured to borrow a leaf from initiatives in high-income countries, beginning with the translation and dissemination of the acronym, FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) to Swahili. Methods: We formed a translation group consisting of two stroke physicians, one nurse and two professional translators, all native Swahili speakers. Forward translation of the original document from English to Swahili was done by one Swahili translator; followed by a backward translation by another translator. Clinician reviews and cognitive reviews were then done, and a final translation was developed. Results: We developed the acronym UPESI, a Swahili translation of the word, FAST. The acronym stands for Uso kupooza upande mmoja; Pooza mkono/mguu (au kupoteza hisia); ugumu ku-Eleza/kuongea; SImu upesi translating to face drooping, arm/leg paralysis, difficulty in speaking/explaining and fast to the phone. Conclusion: The result of this process is a Swahili translation of the FAST tool for stroke awareness campaigns. The translation will improve communication during stroke campaigns and increase awareness of stroke.

Early identification and treatment of stroke can greatly improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Although clinical tests such as the Cincinnati Pre-hospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) and the Face Arm Speech Test (FAST) are commonly used for stroke screening, accurate administration is dependent on specialized training. In this study, we proposed a novel multimodal deep learning approach, based on the FAST, for assessing suspected stroke patients exhibiting symptoms such as limb weakness, facial paresis, and speech disorders in acute settings. We collected a dataset comprising videos and audio recordings of emergency room patients performing designated limb movements, facial expressions, and speech tests based on the FAST. We compared the constructed deep learning model, which was designed to process multi-modal datasets, with six prior models that achieved good action classification performance, including the I3D, SlowFast, X3D, TPN, TimeSformer, and MViT. We found that the findings of our deep learning model had a higher clinical value compared with the other approaches. Moreover, the multi-modal model outperformed its single-module variants, highlighting the benefit of utilizing multiple types of patient data, such as action videos and speech audio. These results indicate that a multi-modal deep learning model combined with the FAST could greatly improve the accuracy and sensitivity of early stroke identification of stroke, thus providing a practical and powerful tool for assessing stroke patients in an emergency clinical setting.

Abstract Hypophosphatemia (serum phosphate

Abstract Background YouTube™ has a great role in providing information, which includes educational videos, to more than 2 billion users, making it the second most popular application in the world. BE-FAST is a modified version of the FAST mnemonic and is used to detect acute ischemic stroke by the patients or their relatives. The purpose of this study is to assess the overall usefulness of the information of YouTube in patients to realize an acute stroke attack. Methods YouTube was searched for the following five terms: “stroke”, ‘‘stroke diagnosis”, “stroke signs”, “brain attack” and “what is stroke” in November 2021 and May 2023, separately. Two independent neurology specialists scored each video by using Global Quality Scale (GQS). Results Among the total of 150 videos, the number that met inclusion criteria was 91 for the November 2021 search and 104 for the May 2023 search. For the 2021 search, in 30 videos (33%), the FAST mnemonic or its contents were noticed, whereas BE-FAST was mentioned in only four videos (4.4%). For the 2023 search, the FAST mnemonic or its contents were noticed in 36 videos (34.6%) and BE-FAST was mentioned in 11 videos (10.6%). Among the 2021 and 2023 searches, the mean GQS values were 3.09 and 2.96 points, 50 (54.8%) vs. 56 (53.8%) videos rated 3.5 points or higher (high quality), respectively. GQS scores of the videos mentioning balance, eyes, face, arms, speech, and time, the basic and advanced information about radiology and treatment, and mentioning FAST, BE-FAST, and TPA were significantly higher. Conclusion We conclude that YouTube is not yet a very useful tool for patients to realize that they may have acute ischemic stroke, though over the years; information available on social media for healthcare information and education has improved.

In the 21st century, with active policy support, the smart hardware industry ushered in rapid development of the Internet of things, big data, and other emerging technologies, which has brought people a more intelligent way of life. Smart product retail experience stores have also emerged as a result. One of the key aspects of the consumer shopping experience is highlighted by the furniture design of the smart display table. This study considers the background of consumer rejuvenation and the diversification of needs, through in-depth examination of user pain points, and output of the design of smart product display table from the user experience perspective. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Function Analysis System Technique (FAST) are used to systematically refine the smart display table requirements, synthesize the weights of the sorting factors, quantify the demand contribution value, and transform the requirements into functional design points. The goal is to enhance the user experience, while achieving exterior styling and usage features of the smart display table. This study provides theoretical and practical support for furniture design in the smart hardware industry, emphasizing the role of consumer experience and needs in product design and providing considerations for design research.

Hypophosphatemia (serum phosphate < 2.5 mg/dL) is a major concern when initiating nutritional support. We evaluated which factors contribute to hypophosphatemia development in critically ill patients, as well as the association between hypophosphatemia and mortality. A retrospective cohort study of patients who were ventilated for at least 2 days in a 16-bed mixed ICU. Data collected includes demographics, Acute Physiology & Chronic Health Evaluation 2 (APACHE2) admission score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at 24 h (SOFA24), hourly energy delivery, plasma phosphate levels during the first 2 weeks of admission, ICU length of stay (LOS), length of ventilation (LOV), and mortality (ICU and 90 days). For the hypophosphatemia development model, we considered mortality as a competing risk. For mortality analysis, we used the Cox proportional hazards model considering hypophosphatemia development as a time-varying covariate. 462 patients were used in the analysis. 59.52% of the patients developed hypophosphatemia. Several factors were associated with a decreased risk of hypophosphatemia: age, BMI, pre-admission diabetes diagnosis, APACHE2, SOFA24, first kidney SOFA score, hospital admission time before ICU admission, and admission after liver transplantation. Admission due to trauma was associated with an increased risk of hypophosphatemia. Survival analysis with hypophosphatemia as a time-varying covariate showed a protective effect of hypophosphatemia from mortality (HR 0.447, 95% CI 0.281, 0.712). Age, APACHE2, and SOFA24 score were found to be significantly associated with ICU mortality. Fasting duration in the ICU before nutritional support initiation was not found to be significantly associated with hypophosphatemia. We examined several fasting intervals (12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, 72 h). In each fast interval, we compared the prevalence of hypophosphatemia among patients who fasted the specified length of time, with those who did not fast for the same length of time. In each fasting interval, hypophosphatemia prevalence was lower in the fasting group compared to the non-fasting group. However, this difference was insignificant. BMI, APACHE2, and hospital LOS before ICU admission were inversely associated with hypophosphatemia development. Fasting for up to 72 h in the ICU before starting nutritional support did not affect hypophosphatemia occurrence. Hypophosphatemia was associated with lower mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Abdominal trauma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, necessitating accurate and timely diagnosis for effective management. Contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) is widely utilized for evaluating abdominal injuries, but its diagnostic efficacy compared to other modalities like ultrasonography (FAST) and clinical examination warrants further investigation.This prospective study evaluates the role of contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) in the assessment of abdominal trauma, comparing its diagnostic accuracy with ultrasonography (FAST) and clinical examination Methods A total of 100 patients with abdominal trauma were included in this study. Patient demographics, injury mechanisms, organ injuries detected by CECT, severity of injuries (based on the AAST Organ Injury Scale), presence of hemoperitoneum, diagnostic accuracy of CECT, interventions based on CECT findings, complications, mortality rates, length of hospital stay, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results The study comprised 65 males and 35 females, with the majority aged between 18-30 years. Road Traffic Accidents (50%) were the most common injury mechanism. CECT detected liver injuries in 30%, spleen in 25%, kidney in 20%, pancreas and intestines in 10% each, and multiple organs in 5%. Severity distribution was as follows: Grade I (20%), Grade II (25%), Grade III (30%), Grade IV (15%), and Grade V (10%). Hemoperitoneum was present in 40% of patients. CECT showed high diagnostic accuracy with 95% sensitivity, 90% specificity, 92% PPV, and 93% NPV. In comparison, FAST had 70% sensitivity and 75% specificity, while clinical examination had 65% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Interventions based on CECT findings included non-operative management (70%), surgical intervention (25%), and endovascular procedures (5%). Complications included infections (5%), re-bleeding (3%), and organ failure (2%). Mortality was 4%, predominantly due to severe multi-organ injury. The mean hospital stay was 10 days. At 3-month follow-up, 80% of patients had fully recovered, 15% had partial recovery, and 5% had long-term complications. Conclusion CECT is a highly sensitive and specific imaging modality for evaluating abdominal trauma, providing critical information for clinical management and significantly influencing patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: There is a need to reduce the screen failure rate (SFR) in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis (MASH) clinical trials (MASH+F2‐3; MASH+F4) and identify people with high‐risk MASH (MASH+F2‐4) in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate non‐invasive tests (NITs) screening approaches for these target conditions. Methods: This was an individual participant data meta‐analysis for the performance of NITs against liver biopsy for MASH+F2‐4, MASH+F2‐3 and MASH+F4. Index tests were the FibroScan‐AST (FAST) score, liver stiffness measured using vibration‐controlled transient elastography (LSM‐VCTE), the fibrosis‐4 score (FIB‐4) and the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) and thresholds including those that achieved 34% SFR were reported. Results: We included 2281 unique cases. The prevalence of MASH+F2‐4, MASH+F2‐3 and MASH+F4 was 31%, 24% and 7%, respectively. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for MASH+F2‐4 were.78,.75,.68 and.57 for FAST, LSM‐VCTE, FIB‐4 and NFS. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for MASH+F2‐3 were.73,.67,.60,.58 for FAST, LSM‐VCTE, FIB‐4 and NFS. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for MASH+F4 were.79,.84,.81,.76 for FAST, LSM‐VCTE, FIB‐4 and NFS. The sequential combination of FIB‐4 and LSM‐VCTE for the detection of MASH+F2‐3 with threshold of.7 and 3.48, and 5.9 and 20 kPa achieved SFR of 67% and sensitivity of 60%, detecting 15 true positive cases from a theoretical group of 100 participants at the prevalence of 24%. Conclusions: Sequential combinations of NITs do not compromise diagnostic performance and may reduce resource utilisation through the need of fewer LSM‐VCTE examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This systematic review investigates the diagnostic value of ultrasound in the evaluation of torso injuries following a penetrating trauma. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and WOS databases for related original articles until May 7, 2023, and extracted data related to diagnostic performance. The bivariate model and hierarchic summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) approach were used to calculate pooled diagnostic values. Cochrane Q test and I-squared were performed to evaluate heterogeneity. We assessed heterogeneity with meta-regression. Results: Seventeen studies were included, which involved a total number of 1866 patients. According to meta-analysis, sonography demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 56% (45–67%) and specificity of 96% (94–97%), positive likelihood ratio (LR +) of 13.66 (8.03–23.23), and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.45 (0.35–0.59) for detecting abdominal injuries. In pericardial penetrating trauma, pooled sensitivity was 100% (45–100%), pooled specificity was 99% (96–100%), LR + was 136.7 (24.8–752.3), and LR- was 0.00 (0.00–1.22). For thoracic penetrating trauma, pooled sensitivity was 99% (93–100%) and specificity was 100% (98–100%). Conclusions: Sonography demonstrated promising diagnostic value in the initial assessment of torso penetrating trauma, particularly in the thoracic and pericardial regions. However, the sensitivity of sonography is limited in abdominal penetrating trauma and a combination with other imaging modalities should be considered in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to conduct an experiment that compares different methods of detecting objects in images. Programs were developed to evaluate the efficiency of SURF, BRISK, MSER, and ORB object detection methods. Four static gray images with sufficiently different histograms were used. The experiment also highlighted the need for image preprocessing to improve feature extraction and detection. Thus, a programmed method for adjusting pixel groups was developed. This method proved useful when one of the listed algorithms failed to detect the object in the original image, but succeeded after adjustment. The effectiveness of detection methods and the evaluation of their performance depend on the application, image preparation, algorithms used, and their implementation. Results of the detection methods were presented numerically (similarities, gradients, distances, etc.) and graphically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the sintering mechanism of commercially pure Magnesium (Mg) using the Field Assisted Sintering Technique (FAST). Powder morphologies are in a vast variety of spherical to flake, as well as nano to fine grain as in powder size and mechanically milled (MM) between 0-108 hours. The MM'ed Mg particles were sintered by FAST with at 350-425°C for 5-20min. Relative densities (93-99%) and compressive strength up to 369MPa were obtained from FAST'ed Mg samples depending on MM durations and particle geometries which significantly influenced the sintering mechanism. SEM and XRD analysis identified four distinct bonding and sintering mechanisms influenced by particle geometry, residual stress, and microstructure developed through mechanical milling. The combination of mechanical milling and FAST exhibited significant effects on the microstructural and mechanical properties of Mg powders, with the Mg36 sample displaying promising strength and hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High performance powder-based Ni-based superalloys exhibit exceptional in-service properties at elevated temperature, however this leads to reduced machinability and the potential for significant machining induced damage. Field assisted sintering technology (FAST) is capable of consolidating powder rapidly and efficiently, allowing for precise control of the microstructure via the dissolution of strengthening phases. In this study, subsolvus and supersolvus dwell temperatures were utilised to produce fine and coarse grain forms of an advanced Ni-based disk alloy. Surface integrity and machining forces were then evaluated after single point turning for a range of surface speeds. Higher cutting forces and lower depths of subsurface damage were generated when machining the fine grain (subsolvus) material when compared to the coarser grained (supersolvus) material. For both material conditions tested, higher surface speeds led to a reduced depth of subsurface deformation due to increased local temperatures, promoting workpiece softening. In addition, at higher cutting speeds the deformation of near surface γ' precipitates were observed to be greater. These results demonstrate that the FAST process can be utilised to control microstructure, and as a result, tailor the machinability of Ni-based superalloy material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that it is possible to achieve the same accuracy, on average, as the most accurate existing interval methods for time series classification on a standard set of benchmark datasets using a single type of feature (quantiles), fixed intervals, and an 'off the shelf' classifier. This distillation of interval-based approaches represents a fast and accurate method for time series classification, achieving state-of-the-art accuracy on the expanded set of 142 datasets in the UCR archive with a total compute time (training and inference) of less than 15 min using a single CPU core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper covers direct sub‐atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (MS). The discovery, applications, and mechanistic aspects of novel ionization processes for use in MS that are not based on the high‐energy input from voltage, laser, and/or high temperature but on sublimation/evaporation within a region linking a higher to lower pressure and modulated by heat and collisions, are discussed, including how this new reality has guided a series of discoveries, instrument developments, and commercialization. A research focus, inter alia, is on how best to understand, improve, and use these novel ionization processes, which convert volatile and nonvolatile compounds from solids (sublimation) or liquids (evaporation) into gas‐phase ions for analysis by MS providing reproducible, accurate, sensitive, and prompt results. Our perception on how these unprecedented versus traditional ionization processes/methods relate to each other, how they can be made to coexist on the same mass spectrometer, and an outlook on new and expanded applications (e.g., clinical, portable, fast, safe, and autonomous) is presented, and is based on ST's Opening lecture presentation at the Nordic Mass spectrometry Conference, Geilo, Norway, January 2023. Focus will be on matrix‐assisted ionization (MAI) and solvent‐assisted ionization (SAI) MS covering the period from 2010 to 2023; a potential paradigm shift in the making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globular clusters harbor numerous millisecond pulsars, but long-period pulsars (P ≳ 100 ms) are rarely found. In this study, we employed a fast folding algorithm to analyze observational data from multiple globular clusters obtained by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), aiming to detect the existence of long-period pulsars. We estimated the impact of the median filtering algorithm in eliminating red noise on the minimum detectable flux density (Smin) of pulsars. Subsequently, we successfully discovered two isolated long-period pulsars in M15 with periods approximately equal to 1.928451 and 3.960716 s, respectively. On the P − P ˙ diagram, both pulsars are positioned below the spin-up line, suggesting a possible history of partial recycling in X-ray binary systems disrupted by dynamical encounters later on. According to timing results, these two pulsars exhibit remarkably strong magnetic fields. If the magnetic fields were weakened during the accretion process, then a short duration of accretion might explain the strong magnetic fields of these pulsars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFAST technique is a rapid ultrasound method introduced into ATLS guidelines since 2006 for the evaluation of trauma patients. It allows for the detection of free fluid in the abdomen, pericardial tamponade, and pneumothorax within 2 to 3 minutes without impacting management times in pre-hospital settings. Recently, the EFAST-PS protocol has been introduced, which includes an additional scan of the pubic symphysis to identify “open book” pelvic fractures. This mini review examines the efficacy of the EFAST-PS protocol in pre-hospital environments through a literature review and analysis of a clinical case. It is demonstrated that EFAST has high specificity and sensitivity in detecting free fluid in abdominal and thoracic recesses, improving the management of trauma patients and reducing time to definitive intervention. The addition of the pubic symphysis scan did not cause any issues but increased safety in managing patients with suspected fractures and hemodynamic instability. Emergency ultrasound assessment, including the EFAST-PS protocol, should be integrated into the overall clinical picture to provide useful data for the decision-making process.

Background Balance, Eye, Face, Arm, Speech, Time (BE FAST) was proposed to increase the public's ability to recognize more signs of stroke by adding balance (B) and eyesight changes (E) to the stroke acronym FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time). Previous prospective studies suggested these additions did not result in increased stroke detection. Methods and Results A randomized, assessor blinded prospective pilot study assessed retention of BE FAST and FAST. The 174 participants were randomized to 1 of 2 education arms, educated similarly visually and auditorily, and retention was tested at 3 time points. Mnemonic recall was similar at 30 days (79.5% versus 69.8%, P=0.104). Significantly lower retention was seen in the BE FAST group's ability to recall all symptoms at 3 to 5 minutes (75% versus 30.2%, P

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and urticaria affect a sizable portion of the population worldwide, resulting in reduced quality-of-life and productivity and increased healthcare costs.Fexofenadine (FEX) is a non-sedating second-generation H1 antihistamine with pronounced efficacy and a very good safety profile, used for the treatment of allergic diseases. In addition to its antihistaminic properties, FEX also has anti-inflammatory effects. FEX has a wide therapeutic window and is not associated with any sedative effects, even at higher than recommended doses.There is a need for an integrated management system for AR and urticaria which includes safe and effective treatment options.An ideal anti-allergic formulation should provide fast relief of symptoms and long-lasting effect without drowsiness. Data from randomized clinical trials show that FEX meets these criteria and is an effective treatment option with a favourable safety profile, improving the quality of life of patients suffering from AR and urticaria.

Bedside procedures can be a lifesaver for emergency pediatric trauma patients. The use of ultrasound in emergency pediatric trauma resuscitation may improve patient outcomes. A 15-year-old male patient was brought with the complaint of being stuck between the wall and the support leg of the crane. The patient, who was found to have abrasion and tenderness in the lower abdominal quadrants during emergency trauma examination, was evaluated with a focused assessment with sonography for trauma. The patient was examined with the preliminary diagnosis of bladder rupture. Surgery was planned for the patient, whose diagnosis was confirmed. The use of ultrasound in stable or unstable pediatric abdominal trauma patients can also detect bladder injuries. As a result, it is critical for emergency physicians to improve their ultrasonography abilities.

Ensuring patient safety in healthcare necessitates the sterilization of medical devices. However, traditional autoclaves are impractical for certain medical settings due to their size, bulkiness, and time-consuming nature. To address this, a compact and portable alternative called a cassette autoclave was developed. This paper presents the design and manufacturing process of a high-speed cassette autoclave for medical devices. The autoclave features small dimensions, lightweight construction, and user-friendly operation. It achieves remarkable speed, sterilizing devices in approximately 3.5 minutes. Made of durable stainless steel, it includes a digital control panel for seamless management. Extensive testing and validation ensure compliance with sterilization standards. The results highlight the autoclave's effectiveness and safety, making a significant contribution to medical device sterilization.

Aims: It is important to analyze objectively the hammering sound in cup press-fit technique in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in order to better understand the change of the sound during impaction. We hypothesized that a specific characteristic would present in a hammering sound with successful fixation. We designed the study to quantitatively investigate the acoustic characteristics during cementless cup impaction in THA. Methods: In 52 THAs performed between November 2018 and April 2022, the acoustic parameters of the hammering sound of 224 impacts of successful press-fit fixation, and 55 impacts of unsuccessful press-fit fixation, were analyzed. The successful fixation was defined if the following two criteria were met: 1) intraoperatively, the stability of the cup was retained after manual application of the torque test; and 2) at one month postoperatively, the cup showed no translation on radiograph. Each hammering sound was converted to sound pressures in 24 frequency bands by fast Fourier transform analysis. Basic patient characteristics were assessed as potential contributors to the hammering sound. Results: The median sound pressure (SP) of successful fixation at 0.5 to 1.0 kHz was higher than that of unsuccessful fixation (0.0694 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.04721 to 0.09576) vs 0.05425 (IQR 0.03047 to 0.06803), p < 0.001). The median SP of successful fixation at 3.5 to 4.0 kHz and 4.0 to 4.5 kHz was lower than that of unsuccessful fixation (0.0812 (IQR 0.05631 to 0.01161) vs 0.1233 (IQR 0.0730 to 0.1449), p < 0.001; and 0.0891 (IQR 0.0526 to 0.0891) vs 0.0885 (IQR 0.0716 to 0.1048); p < 0.001, respectively). There was a statistically significant positive relationship between body weight and SP at 0.5 to 1.0 kHz (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses indicated that the SP at 0.5 to 1.0 kHz and 3.5 to 4.0 kHz was independently associated with the successful fixation. Conclusion: The frequency bands of 0.5 to 1.0 and 3.5 to 4.0 kHz were the key to distinguish the sound characteristics between successful and unsuccessful press-fit cup fixation. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(3):154–161.

Objectives: We evaluated the completeness of real‐world Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in children after blunt abdominal trauma by benchmarking against established expert guidelines. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, analyzing a random sample of FASTs from two urban pediatric emergency departments. Two experts reviewed and labeled all FASTs for completeness using a predefined guideline of 5 anatomic views and 30 landmarks. We compared frequencies of views and landmarks as medians with interquartile ranges. Results: We analyzed 200 FASTs, consisting of 1636 video clips, performed by 31 clinicians representing 198 children with a median age of 10 years (IQR 5,14). Over half of FASTs (52%) had all 5 views. The right upper quadrant view was most commonly visualized (96.5%), and suprapubic sagittal was least (65%). None of the FASTs included all 30 landmarks, ranging from 0 to 28 and median of 19 (IQR 15,23). The least visualized landmark of the right and left upper quadrants was caudal liver edge (60%) and splenic tip (64%), respectively. In the pericardial view, it was left atrium (45%). In both transverse and sagittal pelvic views, retro‐uterine space was least visualized in girls, 21 and 29% respectively. Conclusions: In our study, most FAST views and landmarks were visualized. However, the pelvic sagittal view was the least frequently visualized view, and caudal liver edge was the least visualized landmark. Future research should evaluate if variability in visualizing FAST views and landmarks correlates with inconsistencies in diagnostic test performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main four stages of wound healing are hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. In the inflammation stage, the body rids of pathogens and debris, and prepares for tissue regrowth. An ordinary differential equation model of the inflammation is constructed that expands on previous models and incorporates dynamics reported in the updated literature. The interaction between debris and apoptotic neutrophils, along with classical and alternative macrophages are included. In all, the model incorporates pathogens, debris, apoptotic neutrophils, neutrophil, M1 macrophages, and M2 macrophages. Parameter values are analysed based on 1. experimental data and 2. reported ranges and expected peak times of white blood cells. Next, global sensitivity analyses which is able to test change in parameter values in tandem is conducted to interpret the overall influence each parameter has on white blood cell, debris, and pathogen output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is a tool to rapidly detect intraabdominal and intrapericardial fluid with point-of-care ultrasound. Previous studies have questioned the role of FAST in patients with pelvic fractures. The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of FAST to detect clinically significant intraabdominal hemorrhage in patients with pelvic fractures. Methods: We included all consecutive patients with pelvic and/or acetabular fractures treated our Level 1 trauma center from 2009–2020. We registered patient and fracture characteristics, FAST investigations and CT descriptions, explorative laparotomy findings, and transfusion needs. We compared FAST to CT and laparotomy findings, and calculated true positive and negative findings, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Results: We included 389 patients. FAST had a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 98%, a PPV of 84%, and a NPV of 96% for clinically significant intraabdominal bleeding. Patients with retroperitoneal hematomas were at increased risk for laparotomy both because of True-negative FAST and False-positive FAST. Conclusion: FAST is accurate to identify clinically significant intraabdominal blood in patients with severe pelvic fractures and should be a standard asset in these patients. Retroperitoneal hematomas challenge the FAST interpretation and thus the decision making when applying FAST in patients with pelvic fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupled dynamic analysis of a hexagon-shaped Frustum Tension-leg platform (FTLP) combined with wave energy converters (WECs) supporting a 5-MW wind turbine is performed to analyse the dynamic responses of the hybrid system. The responses of the FTLP are investigated using the time-domain numerical simulation for the operational sea-states of the wind turbine. The FTLP is integrated with an array of point absorber-type WECs in a circular pattern to analyse the influence of the WECs on the dynamic responses of the floating platform. The aero-servo-hydro-elastic simulation tool FAST and hydrodynamic simulation tool WAMIT is used to study the rigid body motions of the system. The study observes higher rigid body motions in the surge, sway and yaw directions for the hybrid system. Further, the investigation is performed for the forces and moments developed at the base of the wind turbine and the tension developed on mooring cables to understand the integrity and stability of the hybrid platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NanoFAST is the smallest fluorogen-activating protein, consisting of only 98 amino acids, used as a genetically encoded fluorescent tag. Previously, only a single fluorogen with an orange color was revealed for this protein. In the present paper, using rational mutagenesis and in vitro screening of fluorogens libraries, we expanded the color palette of this tag. We discovered that E46Q is one of the key substitutions enabling the range of possible fluorogens to be expanded. The introduction of this and several other substitutions has made it possible to use not only orange but also red and green fluorogens with the modified protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of stroke on the lives of individuals and the health-care system is considerable. Damage from stroke can be limited if the treatment is administered at the appropriate time, so early recognition is essential. Some common interventions (e.g., FAST) designed to help potential stroke victims discriminate stroke symptoms often result in false negatives. Strokes can present with a wide variety of symptoms, making it difficult to discriminate stroke symptoms from non-stroke symptoms. Because the probability that a given set of symptoms are stroke symptoms is typically unknown to the victim, the problem is a decision under conditions of uncertainty. Signal detection methodology allows us to consider the ability of an individual or group to discriminate between stroke symptoms and non-stroke symptoms, as well as measure the motivation or bias toward a particular decision. We examined the effects of levels of feedback on performance of a random sample of participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk. We found that feedback designed to generate liberal bias toward stroke detection yielded fewer misses than FAST while maintaining a false alarm rate below 50%. Given that strokes are difficult to discriminate, this suggests that interventions should be focused on incentivizing help-seeking behaviors in conditions of uncertainty for those most at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile communication base stations have become ubiquitous with the popularization and development of mobile communication services. Although the Chinese government has designated a radio quiet zone (RQZ) specifically for Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the 4G International Mobile Telecommunications (4G-IMT) system is still heavily used to meet the communication needs around the RQZ. To assess the Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) caused by 4G-IMT base stations on the performance of FAST, this paper employs the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deterministic radio wave propagation prediction model. The interference of 4G-IMT base stations on FAST is evaluated based on relevant parameters, such as the frequency used by both FAST and the base station, in conjunction with the FAST threshold protection requirements. The results indicate that 47.73 % of the data exceed the radio astronomy protection threshold of FAST. In addition, a field experiment was conducted to verify the accuracy of the radio wave propagation prediction method used. The root-mean-square error between the predicted value and the measured value was found to be 6.94 dB, supporting the accuracy of the predicted results. The findings of this study can help suppress interference from mobile communication services around the RQZ of FAST and optimize the electromagnetic environment around FAST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic nonlinear model predictive control is a great choice to tackle the control issues appearing in the current wind energy industry. In this paper, instead of generator power, aerodynamic power is employed in the economic cost function to establish the required conditions of stability and convergence of the economic performance, such as turnpike and problem convexity. However, since aerodynamic power depends on time-varying wind speed, conventional time-invariant economic nonlinear model predictive controllers cannot guarantee the stability and convergence of economic performance. This paper proposes a new time-varying economic nonlinear model predictive controller for wind turbine control that considers an economic trajectory, instead of a steady-state, in its optimization problem. The proposed time-varying economic cost function directly considers aerodynamic power, the activity of pitch angle and generator torque, and fatigue loads on the shaft and tower. Therefore, this controller can maximize power extraction and reduce fatigue load on the tower, drivetrain, and actuators. Furthermore, a fast-parallel Newton-type method is used to implement the proposed controller in actual wind turbines. An accurate aeroelastic model is used to validate the performance of the proposed control scheme. The proposed controller is also compared with two tracking nonlinear model predictive controllers, the baseline controller, and a newly developed method, under fatigue and extreme load scenarios in the presence and absence of uncertainty. The simulation results show the superior economic performance of the proposed approach. Moreover, the real-time results verify the computational speed that the proposed controller requires to deploy actual wind turbines.

Introduction: Ultrasound examination plays a significant role in the evaluation of patients with trauma and polytrauma because it is an examination that provides information for many regions and systems, such as in the case of abdominal trauma, cardio-thoracic trauma, and vascular and musculoskeletal injuries. Ultrasound examination is used to rapidly and accurately detect hemorrhages in the pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal cavities, turning it into a necessary examination in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). Ultrasound is also used in traumas such as pneumothorax, damage to parenchymal organs and abdominal cavity, as well as rib and sternum fractures. Material and Methods: This study considered and revised a systematic review of radiology and ultrasound specialty journals and clinical textbooks, the bibliographies of all identified articles, and meta-analyses about the role of ultrasound in trauma, especially FAST. Both prospective and retrospective studies for different types of trauma, such as abdominal trauma and thoracic trauma, trauma with unique injuries and polytrauma, and blunt and penetrating trauma, were included. Conclusions: Although a necessary non-invasive radiological examination, ultrasound has long-term limitations during the evaluation of trauma. Ultrasound limitations are divided into technical limitations, image quality, the inability of sonographic windows to acquire images, echogenic similarity, and lack of differentiation between structures and organs.

Abstract We investigated the effectiveness of simulation-based education in Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) to increase the number of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) capable of performing ultrasound examinations in vehicles under the guidance of a physician. Twenty-eight paramedics watched a 14-min video on the features of the ultrasound system, its use, and the scanning method for each part of the body. Each participant performed four FAST examinations using a portable ultrasound device, and the task performance was rated using the Task Specific Checklist (TSC) and Global Rating Scale (GRS). The time required for visualizing each examination site and each FAST was assessed. The mean time required for the first and fourth FAST was 144.6 ± 52.4 s and 90.5 ± 31.0 s, respectively. The time required for each test significantly decreased with repeated testing (p

Qingyan Jiao,1,&ast; Yeqing Dong,2,&ast; Xiaojuan Ma,3 Shiyi Suzy Ji,4 Xinyu Liu,1 Jian Zhang,1 Xia Sun,1 Dazhi Li,1 Xingguang Luo,5 Yong Zhang1 1Unit of Bipolar Disorder, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, 300222, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300222, People’s Republic of China; 3Tianjin Medical College, Tianjin, 300222, People’s Republic of China; 4Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; 5Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yong Zhang, Unit of Bipolar Disorder, Tianjin Anding Hospital, 13 Liulin Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300222, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 22 8818 8258, Email zhangyong@tjmhc.comPurpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with worse cognitive functioning. We aim to examine the association between baseline cognitive functioning and the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores and to highlight the predictors of the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores in MDD with first-episode, drug-naïve (FED) patients.Patients and Methods: Ninety FED patients were recruited consecutively and evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA-14), the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) at baseline and again at week 8.Results: Eighty-four FED patients completed the study. Comparison showed that response group had significantly higher T scores in TMT-A, BACS-SC, WMS-III, BVMT-R, MSCEI and CPT-IP, but showed significantly lower scores in FAST total scores including autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning, interpersonal relationship than non- response group (all p’s< 0.05). Partial correlation analysis also found that the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores could be negatively associated with autonomy, cognitive functioning and interpersonal relationship domains as well as total FAST scores, also was further positively associated with T-scores of BACS-SC, CPT-IP and MSCEI in MCCB, even when accounting for potential confounders. Furthermore, the levels of cognitive function domain, autonomy domain in FAST, and BACS-SC, CPT-IP in MCCB may predict the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores in FED patients (all p’s< 0.05).Conclusion: Our findings underscore significant correlations between baseline functioning and the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores in FED patients. Moreover, better baseline cognitive function, autonomy, speed of processing and attention/vigilance are more likely to predict patients’ response to antidepressant treatment, indicating pre-treatment better cognitive functioning may be predictors to treatment response in FED.Keywords: FED, FAST, MCCB, treatment response, the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores

Abstract Background The genus Eubacterium is quite diverse and includes several acetogenic strains capable of fermenting C1-substrates into valuable products. Especially, Eubacterium limosum and closely related strains attract attention not only for their capability to ferment C1 gases and liquids, but also due to their ability to produce butyrate. Apart from its well-elucidated metabolism, E. limosum is also genetically accessible, which makes it an interesting candidate to be an industrial biocatalyst. Results In this study, we examined genomic, phylogenetic, and physiologic features of E. limosum and the closest related species E. callanderi as well as E. maltosivorans. We sequenced the genomes of the six Eubacterium strains ‘FD’ (DSM 3662T), ‘Marburg’ (DSM 3468), ‘2A’ (DSM 2593), ‘11A’ (DSM 2594), ‘G14’ (DSM 107592), and ‘32’ (DSM 20517) and subsequently compared these with previously available genomes of the E. limosum type strain (DSM 20543T) as well as the strains ‘B2’, ‘KIST612’, ‘YI’ (DSM 105863T), and ‘SA11’. This comparison revealed a close relationship between all eleven Eubacterium strains, forming three distinct clades: E. limosum, E. callanderi, and E. maltosivorans. Moreover, we identified the gene clusters responsible for methanol utilization as well as genes mediating chain elongation in all analyzed strains. Subsequent growth experiments revealed that strains of all three clades can convert methanol and produce acetate, butyrate, and hexanoate via reverse β-oxidation. Additionally, we used a harmonized electroporation protocol and successfully transformed eight of these Eubacterium strains to enable recombinant plasmid-based expression of the gene encoding the fluorescence-activating and absorption shifting tag (FAST). Engineered Eubacterium strains were verified regarding their FAST-mediated fluorescence at a single-cell level using a flow cytometry approach. Eventually, strains ‘FD’ (DSM 3662T), ‘2A’ (DSM 2593), ‘11A’ (DSM 2594), and ‘32’ (DSM 20517) were genetically engineered for the first time. Conclusion Strains of E. limosum, E. callanderi, and E. maltosivorans are outstanding candidates as biocatalysts for anaerobic C1-substrate conversion into valuable biocommodities. A large variety of strains is genetically accessible using a harmonized electroporation protocol, and FAST can serve as a reliable fluorescent reporter protein to characterize genetically engineered cells. In total eleven strains have been assigned to distinct clades, providing a clear and updated classification. Thus, the description of respective Eubacterium species has been emended, improved, aligned, and is requested to be implemented in respective databases.

Abstract Introduction Focused assessment with sonography for trauma helps detect abdominal free fluid. Prehospital ultrasound scanning is also important because the early diagnosis of hemoperitoneum may reduce the time to definitive treatment in the hospital. This study investigated whether prehospital ultrasound scanning can help detect abdominal free fluid. Materials and methods In this systematic review, relevant databases were searched for studies investigating prehospital ultrasound examinations for abdominal free fluid in trauma patients. The prehospital ultrasound results were compared with computed tomography, surgery, or hospital ultrasound examination data. The pooled sensitivity and specificity values were analyzed using forest plots. The overall predictive power was calculated by the summary receiver operating characteristic curve. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies tool. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was performed to assess the certainty of evidence. Result This meta-analysis comprised six studies that included 1356 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity values were 0.596 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.345–0.822) and 0.970 (95% CI = 0.953–0.983), respectively. The pooled area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.998. The quality assessment tool showed favorable results. In the GRADE analysis, the quality of evidence was very low for sensitivity and high for specificity when prehospital ultrasound was used for hemoperitoneum diagnosis. Conclusion The specificity of abdominal free fluid detection using prehospital ultrasound examinations in trauma patients was very high.

Background: Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) has a role in the rapid screening of hemodynamically unstable patients to decide on management, however, its role in hemodynamically stable patients remains equivocal. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity rate of FAST for intra-abdominal injury (IAI) in hemodynamically stable blunt abdominal trauma patients. Secondary outcomes like Glasgow coma score, length of hospital stays (LOS), head injury, and mortality were also examined for their association with FAST scan results. Settings and Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in level-one trauma center in Bahrain. Methods: This study was conducted from January 2019 to October 2020. A total of 191 trauma codes were activated during this period, however, only 112 patients were included based on the inclusion criteria. Results: FAST scan in hemodynamically stable patients was found to have a higher specificity (96.7%) than sensitivity (30%) in this study. A higher negative predictive value (NPV) (86.4%) compared to a positive predictive value (66.6%) and a high accuracy rate (84.8%) was observed. LOS showed significant association only with FAST diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: In hemodynamically stable patients; FAST is better at ruling in intra IAI when compared to ruling out and its high NPV supports it being a good screening tool. The results do not support the use of FAST as the sole diagnostic tool without performing computed tomography scan. [SJEMed 2023; 4(2.000): 120-127]

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is the world ’ s largest single-dish radio telescope. Its large reflecting surface achieves unprecedented sensitivity but is prone to damage, such as dents and holes, caused by naturally-occurring falling objects. Hence, the timely and accurate detection of surface defects is crucial for FAST’s stable operation. Conventional manual inspection involves human inspectors climbing up and examining the large surface visually, a time-consuming and potentially unreliable process. To accelerate the inspection process and increase its accuracy, this work makes the first step towards automating the inspection of FAST by integrating deep-learning techniques with drone technology. First, a drone flies over the surface along a predetermined route. Since surface defects significantly vary in scale and show high inter-class similarity, directly applying existing deep detectors to detect defects on the drone imagery is highly prone to missing and misidentifying defects. As a remedy, we introduce cross-fusion, a dedicated plug-in operation for deep detectors that enables the adaptive fusion of multi-level features in a point-wise selective fashion, depending on local defect patterns. Consequently, strong semantics and fine-grained details are dynamically fused at different positions to support the accurate detection of defects of various scales and types. Our AI-powered drone-based automated inspection is time-efficient, reliable, and has good accessibility, which guarantees the long-term and stable operation of FAST.

Tea polyphenols (TPs) are a critical indicator for evaluating the quality of tea leaves and are esteemed for their beneficial effects. The non-destructive detection of this component is essential for enhancing precise control in tea production and improving product quality. This study developed an enhanced PKO-SVR (support vector regression based on the Pied Kingfisher Optimization Algorithm) model for rapidly and accurately detecting tea polyphenol content in Fu brick tea using hyperspectral reflectance data. During this experiment, chemical analysis determined the tea polyphenol content, while hyperspectral imaging captured the spectral data. Data preprocessing techniques were applied to reduce noise interference and improve the prediction model. Additionally, several other models, including K-nearest neighbor (KNN) regression, neural network regression (BP), support vector regression based on the sparrow algorithm (SSA-SVR), and support vector regression based on particle swarm optimization (PSO-SVR), were established for comparison. The experiment results demonstrated that the improved PKO-SVR model excelled in predicting the polyphenol content of Fu brick tea (R2 = 0.9152, RMSE = 0.5876, RPD = 3.4345 for the test set) and also exhibited a faster convergence rate. Therefore, the hyperspectral data combined with the PKO-SVR algorithm presented in this study proved effective for evaluating Fu brick tea’s polyphenol content.

We investigated the effectiveness of simulation-based education in Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) to increase the number of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) capable of performing ultrasound examinations in vehicles under the guidance of a physician. Twenty-eight paramedics watched a 14-min video on the features of the ultrasound system, its use, and the scanning method for each part of the body. Each participant performed four FAST examinations using a portable ultrasound device, and the task performance was rated using the Task Specific Checklist (TSC) and Global Rating Scale (GRS). The time required for visualizing each examination site and each FAST was assessed. The mean time required for the first and fourth FAST was 144.6 ± 52.4 s and 90.5 ± 31.0 s, respectively. The time required for each test significantly decreased with repeated testing (p < 0.001). The time to complete FAST was significantly shortened for the pericardial cavity (33.4 ± 23.1/15.3 ± 10.6 s, p < 0.01), right thoracic cavity (25.2 ± 11.8/12.1 ± 8.3 s, p < 0.01), Morrison fossa (19.1 ± 10.8/10.8 ± 6.3 s, p < 0.05), and left thoracic cavity (19.0 ± 8.3/15.6 ± 8.3 s, p < 0.05). TSC and GRS scores were elevated, and all EMTs could obtain valid images. The combination of a brief video lecture and hands-on training significantly reduced the time required for FAST performance. Moreover, repeated practice enabled the EMTs to efficiently obtain accurate and clinically useful images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a model based on hand anatomy and neural network for the recognition of sign language. Feature extraction is done by using FAST and SIFT techniques. Out of these extracted features, only essential hand landmarks are selected using hand anatomy. NN is then used for the training and testing of the model. The proposed model is evaluated on sign language gestures used for medical purposes, general purposes, and family & relative purposes. The results prove that the proposed model has achieved fast and highly accurate results when compared with other available models. The model has achieved a recognizable accuracy of 99.85%, 97.55%, and 98.85%, on medical purposes, general purposes, and family & relative purposes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Eubacterium is quite diverse and includes several acetogenic strains capable of fermenting C1-substrates into valuable products. Especially, Eubacterium limosum and closely related strains attract attention not only for their capability to ferment C1 gases and liquids, but also due to their ability to produce butyrate. Apart from its well-elucidated metabolism, E. limosum is also genetically accessible, which makes it an interesting candidate to be an industrial biocatalyst. Results: In this study, we examined genomic, phylogenetic, and physiologic features of E. limosum and the closest related species E. callanderi as well as E. maltosivorans. We sequenced the genomes of the six Eubacterium strains ‘FD’ (DSM 3662T), ‘Marburg’ (DSM 3468), ‘2A’ (DSM 2593), ‘11A’ (DSM 2594), ‘G14’ (DSM 107592), and ‘32’ (DSM 20517) and subsequently compared these with previously available genomes of the E. limosum type strain (DSM 20543T) as well as the strains ‘B2’, ‘KIST612’, ‘YI’ (DSM 105863T), and ‘SA11’. This comparison revealed a close relationship between all eleven Eubacterium strains, forming three distinct clades: E. limosum, E. callanderi, and E. maltosivorans. Moreover, we identified the gene clusters responsible for methanol utilization as well as genes mediating chain elongation in all analyzed strains. Subsequent growth experiments revealed that strains of all three clades can convert methanol and produce acetate, butyrate, and hexanoate via reverse β-oxidation. Additionally, we used a harmonized electroporation protocol and successfully transformed eight of these Eubacterium strains to enable recombinant plasmid-based expression of the gene encoding the fluorescence-activating and absorption shifting tag (FAST). Engineered Eubacterium strains were verified regarding their FAST-mediated fluorescence at a single-cell level using a flow cytometry approach. Eventually, strains ‘FD’ (DSM 3662T), ‘2A’ (DSM 2593), ‘11A’ (DSM 2594), and ‘32’ (DSM 20517) were genetically engineered for the first time. Conclusion: Strains of E. limosum, E. callanderi, and E. maltosivorans are outstanding candidates as biocatalysts for anaerobic C1-substrate conversion into valuable biocommodities. A large variety of strains is genetically accessible using a harmonized electroporation protocol, and FAST can serve as a reliable fluorescent reporter protein to characterize genetically engineered cells. In total eleven strains have been assigned to distinct clades, providing a clear and updated classification. Thus, the description of respective Eubacterium species has been emended, improved, aligned, and is requested to be implemented in respective databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]