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Background: Malnutrition is a common issue in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and has a negative effect on surgical outcomes. Objective: We attempted to determine which malnutrition diagnostic variables can be used as predictors of postoperative complications in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Forty-one patients undergoing surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were submitted to a prospective evaluation. Biochemical data, anthropometric measurements and evaluation of body composition were used in the nutritional analysis. Results: Twenty-two patients (53.6%) developed complications. Serum albumin measured on the first postoperative day was the only variable that significantly differed between groups. A cut-off value of 2.8 g/dL distinguished between patients with a complicated and uncomplicated postoperative course. Normalization of albumin levels occurred more frequently and more rapidly in the noncomplicated group. Conclusion: Serum albumin measured on the first postoperative day was the only variable that was a predicter of postoperative complications after major head and neck squamous cell carcinoma surgery.

Objective: To compare long‐term health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) after Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach (TOETVA) and transcervical approach (TCA) thyroidectomy. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Methods: A web‐based survey was distributed to patients at our institution who met the criteria for TOETVA and underwent thyroidectomy by TOETVA or TCA between August 2017 and October 2021. All survey participants were at least 6 months postsurgery. Minors, non‐English speakers, and patients who received concomitant neck dissection or reoperative thyroidectomy were excluded from the study. The survey assessed quality of life through 4 standardized instruments: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10), the Voice Handicap Index (VHI‐10), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36). Results: A total of 108 TOETVA and 129 TCA patients were included in the study. The median age of respondents was 44 (36, 54; 25th, 75th percentile) years and median time from surgery to survey was 35 (22, 45; 25th, 75th percentile) months. TOETVA group DLQI (0.63 vs 0.99; P =.17), VHI‐10 (1.94 vs 1.67; P =.35), EAT‐10 (2.14 vs 2.32; P =.29), SF‐36 physical component (52.25 vs 51.00; P =.25), and SF‐36 mental component (47.74 vs 47.29; P =.87) scores were all similar to those of the TCA group. Scrutinizing specific DLQI questions, individuals in the TOETVA group were less self‐conscious of their skin as compared to the TCA group (Q2; 0.08 vs 0.26, P =.03). Conclusion: Long‐term HRQOL after TOETVA is similar to TCA, with significantly lower skin‐related self‐consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is twofold: to identify the critical risk factors (RFs) that impact supply chains (SC) in the engineering, procurement, and construction of large-scale projects (EPC-LSP) of the oil and gas industry (OGI) and to apply these RFs in a mathematical model developed, based on multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods in an expert group. The mathematical model was developed in MATLAB and was based on the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMÉTHÉE) II and (PROMÉTHÉE GDSS) Group Decision Support System methods. The model's criteria were defined with the RF mapping identified using 33 years of literature and the application of questionnaires to specialists. The evaluation process of the alternatives concerning the defined criteria was conducted through questionnaires to specialists. Finally, the functionality and results of the model were validated by the specialists in the field through interviews. As a contribution, managers, companies, and industry could adopt this solution as a practical and dynamic tool to support decision-making. This fact especially holds true in possible critical supply scenarios, where it is necessary to direct resources to minimize risks and other impacts to EPC-LSP SC. Another novelty refers to the critical risk factors identified, originating from an extensive literature mapping covering the three pillars of sustainability. Moreover, this research was to fill the literature gap, given the lack of studies that propose clear, practical, and specific tools for SCRM in EPC-LSP.

Background: The advancement of the mining industry implies the generation of acid drainage because operations consume between 2% and 4.5% of water demand. In addition, it is estimated that 50,000 tons of waste will be produced, of which 33% represents wastewater stored in tailings tanks. These effluents contain heavy metals such as Fe and Cu that represent a serious danger to society. Aim: The objective of this study is to evaluate the application of photocatalysis for the removal of Fe and Cu in industrial wastewater. This involves the control of process parameters: the catalyst dose (TiO2), pH, and time (days). Methods: The method used is experimental, controlling the process variables through a factorial design. The process variables were monitored applying the 33 factorial design, that is, 3 factors with 3 levels without repetitions. The tests were conducted under conditions with a catalyst at doses of 1.2 and 3 g/L, pH of 2.5 and 8, and a retention time of 1, 2, and 3 days. Therefore, the combination of the factors resulted in 27 experimental units. Results and Discussion: For the photocatalysis application time, in 2 days there were fewer concentrations of Fe and Cu, reaching 0.02 and 0.09 ppm, respectively. In the case of pH, a value of 8 resulted in lower concentrations of Fe and Cu. The optimal dose of the catalyst was 0.5 g/L of TiO2. The removal efficiency was 99.99% for Fe and 99.97% for Cu. In the factor analysis, it is observed that pH has the greatest influence on the removal of Fe and Cu, followed by the time factor. A strong interaction between the two variables is also observed. Conclusions: In conclusion, it was possible to remove Fe and Cu through the application of photocatalysis in synthetic wastewater. The optimal conditions were: pH 8, application time of 2 days, catalyst dose (TiO2) 0.5 g/L, and a removal efficiency greater than 99.90%. These values were similar to those reported by other authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis on the mono-crystalline rutile resonator was conducted to measure its dielectric properties through the use of whispering gallery mode method. The resonant frequencies were subjected to 300 to 10 K measurements. Results revealed that the loss tangent and dielectric constant of a single crystal rutile which exhibited anisotropy were obtained through the whispering gallery mode technique.

As drug overdose deaths across the United States continue to rise, there is increasing interest in field testing of illicit substances. This work discusses a paper‐based analytical device (idPAD) that can run a library of 12 colorimetric tests at the same time, each detecting different chemical functional groups and materials found in illicit drugs, distractor substances, and cutting agents. The idPAD requires no electricity, costs less than $2 USD, and requires minimal training to operate. The results of the 12 tests form a color barcode which is "read" by comparison to standard images. The accuracy of the idPAD was assessed using samples of heroin, cocaine HCl, crack, and methamphetamine at concentrations of 25%–100% in a lactose matrix, as well as pure lactose. Based on 840 "reads" by three different users, the idPAD showed 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting these drugs; the most common error was mistaking cocaine HCl for crack or crack for cocaine HCl. In a second step, samples of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine (n = 30) and distractor substances (pharmaceuticals, cutting agents, and other illicit drugs, n = 64) were tested by two readers, yielding a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97%. Targeted substances were detected reliably at 55–180 μg/lane, and the idPAD was found to be stable for at least 3 months when stored at room temperature. The library approach used in the idPAD may provide the accuracy and robustness necessary for a presumptive field drug test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a method to measure intraoperative surgical instrument motion. This model will be applicable to the study of surgical instrument kinematics including surgical training, skill verification, and the development of surgical warning systems that detect aberrant instrument motion that may result in patient injury.Design: We developed an algorithm to automate derivation of surgical instrument kinematics in an endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery model. Surgical instrument motion was recorded during a cadaveric endoscopic transnasal approach to the pituitary using a navigation system modified to record intraoperative time-stamped Euclidian coordinates and Euler angles. Microdebrider tip coordinates and angles were referenced to the cadaver's preoperative computed tomography scan allowing us to assess surgical instrument kinematics over time. A representative cadaveric endoscopic endonasal approach to the pituitary was performed to demonstrate feasibility of our algorithm for deriving surgical instrument kinematics.Conclusions: Technical feasibility of automatically measuring intraoperative surgical instrument motion and deriving kinematics measurements was demonstrated using standard navigation equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les nombreux ouvrages et infrastructures installés sur les cours d’eau représentent des obstacles à la libre-circulation des poissons et perturbent leur cycle de vie. Aussi la mise en place de dispositifs de franchissement piscicole fonctionnels est souvent nécessaire. Sur la Durolle, rivière salmonicole du Puy-de-Dôme, la technologie d’identification par radio-fréquence a été mobilisée avec succès pour évaluer le franchissement par la truite commune d’une buse de 104 mètres de long aménagée pour rétablir la circulation piscicole. Le suivi individuel des poissons sur une période de deux ans a également permis d’en savoir plus sur le comportement migratoire de l’espèce dans un petit cours d’eau comme la Durolle.

To evaluate the dosimetric outcomes of focal salvage low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy for biopsy proven local recurrence of prostate cancer after definitive external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) utilizing an MR-guided transperineal mapping biopsy to delineate the target volume. Patients with a Phoenix definition PSA recurrence (nadir + 2.0 ng/dL) after definitive EBRT for localized prostate cancer and a negative metastatic work up underwent MR-guided transperineal mapping biopsy of the prostate with both targeted and systematic tissue sampling. Using a transperineal template grid, systematic biopsies were spaced 10 mm or less from each other or the edge of the prostate and multiple biopsies were taken of MR-identified lesions. Patients with a pathologically confirmed recurrence underwent focal salvage LDR brachytherapy using iodine-125 seeds to a prescription dose of 145 Gy. The brachytherapy planning target volume (PTV) was defined by the positions of the pathologically negative core biopsies adjacent to the positive core biopsies as recorded on the template grid during the biopsy procedure. An intraoperative treatment plan was developed to cover the PTV with the 145 Gy isodose line. All patients underwent one-month post-operative dosimetry CT scan. The PTV was reproduced using the dimensions from the intraoperative plan. The PTV D90, V100; urethral V150, D30 and D1; and rectal V100 and D30 were measured. Ten patients with biopsy proven local recurrence underwent focal salvage LDR brachytherapy. The median prior EBRT dose was 7805 cGy (interquartile range IQR 7560-7920) and the median time from completion of EBRT to brachytherapy was 81 months (IQR 68-134). The median PSA prior to brachytherapy was 3.2 ng/dL (IQR 2.3 - 4.5). The median prostate volume was 23.7 cc (IQR 17.6-27.2) and the median PTV volume was 7.8 cc (IQR 3.8-23.9). The median ratio of PTV to prostate volume was 32.9% (IQR 20.4-49.4). A median of 22 seeds (IQR 19-28) were used to achieve PTV coverage with median activity per seed of 0.456 millicuries (mCi) per seed (IQR 0.451-0.456). The median PTV V100 and D90 were 94.9% (IQR 89.9-96.5) and 112.3% (IQR 99.7-121.8). The urethral V150 for all patients was 0 cc. The median urethral D30 and D1 were 72.2% (IQR 55.5-97.8) and 102.6% (IQR 73.6-121.7). The median rectal V100 and D30 were 0.01cc (IQR 0.00-0.03) and 17.8% (IQR 10.8-24.4). High dose focal salvage LDR brachytherapy can be delivered with excellent dosimetric coverage of the target volume and low dose to the urethra and rectum utilizing a MR-guided transperineal mapping biopsy technique to delineate the target volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the performance of multiparametric (mp) MRI in identification of intraprostatic tumor deposits in patients previously treated with local radiation therapy (RT) using a systematic and targeted MR-gided transperineal prostate biopsy technique. Thirty patients with a rising PSA and negative metastatic work up after prior external beam RT, brachytherapy, or combined external beam RT and brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer underwent a combined systematic and targeted MRI-guided prostate biopsy using a transperineal approach. For each patient, a pre-biopsy mpMRI scan was obtained and imported into a prostate biopsy planning system. Transverse T2-weighted images were then reoriented from the supine to dorsal lithotomy position. Dividing the prostate into an apical and base section, a systematic array of transperineal biopsies spaced approximately 10mm apart was planned with additional biopsies targeting any mpMRI-identified PI-RADS 3, 4, or 5 lesion. Biopsy procedures were carried out under general anesthesia in the dorsal lithotomy position using a transrectal ultrasound with stepper-stabilizer and template grid. Matching of the planning mpMRI images to live ultrasound images was achieved using the template grid as a reference. All patients successfully underwent biopsy without post-procedure urinary obstruction or infection. The median prostate volume was 36cc (range 12-90, IQR 24-51). The median PSA prior to biopsy was 4.7 ng/mL (range 1.9-24.6, IQR 3.0-7.3). The median number of biopsy specimens obtained per patient was 21 (range 13-34, IQR 17-24). A total of 32 PI-RADS lesions were identified in 30 patients. Overall, the positive predictive value (PPV) of any PI-RADS 3-5 lesion for prostate cancer (based on pathologic confirmation) was 84% (27/32). The individual PPV of PI-RADS 3, 4 and 5 lesions were 40% (2/5), 89% (17/19), and 100% (8/8), respectively. Forty-three percent (13/30) of patients harbored mpMRI-unidentified prostate cancer. Thirty percent (9/30) of patients harbored mpMRI-unidentified GS≥7 disease. Using prostate mpMRI to identify intraprostatic tumor deposits after local radiation therapy results in a high PPV, particularly for PI-RADS 4 and 5 lesions. However, given the high rate of mpMRI-unidentified prostate cancer, the addition of systematic transperineal prostate biopsy information appears necessary to most accurately identify all intraprostatic tumor deposits. These data would suggest that a combination of systematic and mpMRI targeted biopsies are necessary to optimally perform focal salvage therapy in the setting of local recurrence after radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]