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To translate near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) fluorescence imaging into the clinic, the paired imaging device needs to detect trace doses of fluorescent imaging agents. Except for the filtration scheme and excitation light source, the image sensor used will finally determine the detection limitations of NIR and SWIR fluorescence imaging systems. In this review, we investigate the current state-of-the-art image sensors used in NIR and SWIR fluorescence imaging systems and discuss the advantages and limitations of their characteristics, such as readout architecture and noise factors. Finally, the imaging performance of these image sensors is evaluated and compared.

In the banking industry, the risk of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) is quite substantial and its minimisation is essential for the growth of the industry and the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa countries. This study focused on institutional factors as key determinants of NPLs of Deposit Money Banks in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design using a panel data covering the period 2006-2020. The data was collated from the World Bank Governance Indicators, World Bank Development Indicators and Heritage Foundation Database for the period under study. This study applied System GMM technique with an elaborated econometric method, based on a panel set from 23 Sub-Sahara African countries. Four institutional factors; namely control of corruption with coefficient value of (0.44%), financial freedom with coefficient value of (0.13%), rule of law with coefficient value of (0.341%) and regulatory quality with coefficient value of (-0.618%) were all significant on NPLs at (5%,) respectively. In conclusion, for banks in Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce the issues of NPLs and enhancing credit quality, both internal and external factors should be put into consideration for sustainable financial system stability. The study therefore, recommended among others, that government of Sub-Saharan Africa countries need to adopt effective legal restructuring with respect to bad loans, improve the functioning of their regulatory bodies, reduce corruption and government interference in banking businesses so as to decline the issues of NPLs

BackgroundThe Spiralia are a large, morphologically diverse group of protostomes (e.g. molluscs, annelids, nemerteans) that share a homologous mode of early development called spiral cleavage. One of the most highly-conserved features of spiralian development is the contribution of the primary quartet cells, 1a-1d, to the anterior region of the embryo (including the brain, eyes, and the anterior ciliary band, called the prototroch). Yet, very few studies have analyzed the ultimate fates of primary quartet sub-lineages, or examined the morphogenetic events that take place in the anterior region of the embryo.ResultsThis study focuses on the caenogastropod slipper snail, Crepidula fornicata, a model for molluscan developmental biology. Through direct lineage tracing of primary quartet daughter cells, and examination of these cells during gastrulation and organogenesis stages, we uncovered behaviors never described before in a spiralian. For the first time, we show that the 1a2-1d2 cells do not contribute to the prototroch (as they do in other species) and are ultimately lost before hatching. During gastrulation and anterior-posterior axial elongation stages, these cells cleavage-arrest and spread dramatically, contributing to a thin provisional epidermis on the dorsal side of the embryo. This spreading is coupled with the displacement of the animal pole, and other pretrochal cells, closer to the ventrally-positioned mouth, and the vegetal pole.ConclusionsThis is the first study to document the behavior and fate of primary quartet sub-lineages among molluscs. We speculate that the function of 1a2-1d2 cells (in addition to two cells derived from 1d12, and the 2b lineage) is to serve as a provisional epithelium that allows for anterior displacement of the other progeny of the primary quartet towards the anterior-ventral side of the embryo. These data support a new and novel mechanism for axial bending, distinct from canonical models in which axial bending is suggested to be driven primarily by differential proliferation of posterior dorsal cells. These data suggest also that examining sub-lineages in other spiralians will reveal greater variation than previously assumed.

The article discusses the CLIO Project (Chrysostomus Latinus in Iohannem Online), which provides open access scans of John Chrysostom's homilies on the Gospel of John in all four known Latin translations. The project also includes a born-digital publication of a previously unpublished translation by Burgundio of Pisa and an open access software tool for comparing texts. The article highlights the significance of these discoveries for scholars studying Chrysostom's manuscript tradition and its historical context. The CLIO website presents the homilies in a synoptic parallel view and offers a text alignment tool for comparing texts. The article suggests improvements for accessibility and navigation on the website. Overall, the CLIO Project is praised for its contributions to digital humanities and is seen as a valuable resource for researchers. [Extracted from the article]

Point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming ubiquitous in emergency medicine. POCUS for abdominal aortic aneurysm is well established in practice. The thoracic aorta can also be assessed by POCUS for dissection and aneurysm and transthoracic echocardiography is endorsed by international guidelines as an initial test for thoracic aortic pathologies. A systematic search of Ovid Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Web of Science from January 2000 to August 2022 identified four studies evaluating diagnostic accuracy of emergency physician POCUS for thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) and five studies for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). Study designs were heterogeneous including differing diagnostic criteria for aortic pathology. Convenience recruitment was frequent in prospective studies. Sensitivity and specificity ranges for studies of TAD were 41–91% and 94–100%, respectively when an intimal flap was seen. Sensitivity and specificity ranges for studies of thoracic aorta dilation >40 mm were 50–100% and 93–100%, respectively; for >45 mm ranges were 64–65% and 95–99%. Literature review identified that POCUS is specific for TAD and TAA. POCUS reduces the time to diagnosis of thoracic aortic pathology; however, it remains insensitive and cannot be recommended as a stand‐alone rule‐out test. We suggest that detection of thoracic aorta dilation >40 mm by POCUS at any site increases the suspicion of serious aortic pathology. Studies incorporating algorithmic use of POCUS, Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score and D‐dimer as decision tools are promising and may improve current ED practices. Further research is warranted in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]