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This article suggests a unique technique for multi-exposure fusion using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for patch-wise illumination estimates. Multi-exposure fusion is a crucial component of enhancing image quality, particularly in circumstances with erratic lighting. Our proposed approach makes use of CNNs’ capability to anticipate light levels inside specific image patches in order to accurately change exposure levels. We look at the theoretical foundations of our approach, emphasising the advantages of patch-wise estimation in capturing intricate lighting details. Additionally, we present experimental results demonstrating enhanced dynamic range expansion and image detail preservation, demonstrating that our methodology is more effective than conventional fusion methods. This study advances the state-of-the-art in multi-exposure fusion while also opening up new prospects for computational photography, surveillance, and computer vision applications.

ZrOxNy monolayer, ZrOxNy/Au bilayer, ZrOxNy/Au/TeO2 trilayer films were investigated for their hydrophilic properties and photocatalytic activities. ZrOxNy and Au layers were prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering whereas TeO2 layer was prepared by vapor transport technique. X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of monoclinic ZrO2 phase for ZrOxNy films with low nitrogen content whereas mixed monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO2 phases were formed for ZrOxNy films with higher nitrogen content. The chemical composition of ZrOxNy bottom layer affected the growth of the Au layer. The tetragonal TeO2, in ZrOxNy/Au/TeO2 trilayer, blocked most of ZrO2 and Au crystallographic peaks. The ZrOxNy/Au films are composed of tiny nanoparticles in the range 27–33 nm and the ZrOxNy/Au/TeO2 films have branched-nanowires morphology. ZrOxNy monolayer films are hydrophilic and the hydrophilicity decreases then increases with increasing the nitrogen content in the film. Adding an Au layer, then TeO2 layer over ZrOxNy resulted in a pronounced decrease in water contact angle. After UV-illumination the contact angle of the films became almost zero and the surfaces transformed to super-hydrophilic. Nitrogen doping enhances the degradation rate of ZrOxNy monolayer film. The highest degradation rate was observed for ZrO1.9N0.3/Au/TeO2 trilayer film. The prepared ZrOxNy/Au/TeO2 trilayer films are good candidates for self-cleaning and antifogging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Phenol bioremediation was investigated using two bacteria (primarily cocci) Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis, Kocuria rosea strains and the one actinomycetes Nocardiopsis lucentensis which were isolated from samples of activated sludge from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Beni‐Suef, Egypt as sole carbon and energy sources. This was applied on real industrial wastewater sample taken from Ul HAWA textile plant, Middle Egypt. Degradation of phenol by microbes adsorbed on natural kaolin clay was studied compared with free microbes. In case of 50 mg/L as starting phenol concentration, the percentage removal using free microbes was 68%, corresponding to 98% in case of microbes adsorbed on kaolin clay after the passage of 48 h under incubation at 30°C and neutral pH at 150 rpm. Also, 300 mg/L of phenol achieved degradation frequency of 80% compared to 38% after ≈48 h without clay addition. High concentrations of an organic pollutant are usually inhibitory for the microorganisms. Kaolin clay has a pronounced effect in accelerating phenol degradation through biofilm formation resulting in decreasing the degradation time, increasing the percentage of removing efficiency under high phenol concentration conditions due to its buffering effects on pH fluctuations of the degradation system. Kaolin clay protects microorganisms against unfavorable environment, resists the adverse effects of substrate inhibition and accelerates the degradation process. The adsorption process was demonstrated by the pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, Weber–Morris adsorption kinetic models, and four isotherm models namely, Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich have been applied to express the adsorption process. The SEM images of microbes adsorbed on kaolin clay explain their adsorption mode on the clay surface as biofilm (Bio kaolinite). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brooke Benner,1,* Logan Good,1,* Dionisia Quiroga,2 Thomas E Schultz,3 Mahmoud Kassem,2 William E Carson,1 Mathew A Cherian,2 Sagar Sardesai,2 Robert Wesolowski2 1Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA; 2Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA; 3Department of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Robert WesolowskiDivision of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1800 Cannon Drive, 1250 Lincoln Tower, Columbus, OH 43210 Tel +1 614 366 5125Fax +1 614 293 7264Email Robert.Wesolowski@osumc.eduAbstract: Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare benign tumor that involves the synovium, bursa, and tendon sheath, resulting in reduced mobility of the affected joint or limb. The current standard of care for TGCT is surgical resection. However, some patients have tumor recurrence, present with unresectable tumors, or have tumors that are in locations where resection could result in amputations or significant debility. Therefore, the development of systemic agents with activity against TGCT to expand treatment options is a highly unmet medical need. Pathologically, TGCT is characterized by the overexpression of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), which leads to the recruitment of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) expressing macrophages that make up the primary cell type within these giant cell tumors. The binding of CSF-1 and CSF-1R controls cell survival and proliferation of monocytes and the switch from a monocytic to macrophage phenotype contributing to the growth and inflammation within these tumors. Therefore, molecules that target CSF-1/CSF-1R have emerged as potential systemic agents for the treatment of TGCT. Given the role of macrophages in regulating tumorigenesis, CSF1/CSF1R-targeting agents have emerged as attractive therapeutic targets for solid tumors. Pexidartinib is an orally bioavailable and potent inhibitor of CSF-1R which is one of the most clinically used agents. In this review, we discuss the biology of TGCT and review the pre-clinical and clinical development of pexidartinib which ultimately led to the FDA approval of this agent for the treatment of TGCT as well as ongoing clinical studies utilizing pexidartinib in the setting of cancer.Keywords: pexidartinib, colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor, tenosynovial giant cell tumors, pigmented villonodular synovitis

Abstract Background Ghana implemented a national health insurance scheme in 2005 to promote the provision of accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare by eliminating service user fees. Termed the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), its active enrollment has remained low despite a decade of program implementation. This study assesses factors explaining this problem by examining the correlates of insurance status unawareness among women of reproductive age. Methods In 2015, a random probability cross-sectional survey of 5914 reproductive-aged women was compiled in the Upper East Region, an impoverished and remote region in Northern Ghana. During the survey, two questions related to the NHIS were asked: “Have you ever registered with the NHIS?” and “Do you currently have a valid NHIS card?” If the answer to the second question was yes, the respondents were requested to show their insurance card, thereby enabling interviewers to determine if the NHIS requirement of annual renewal had been met. Results are based on the tabulation of the prevalence of unawareness status, tests of bivariate associations, and multivariate estimation of regression adjusted effects. Results Of the 5914 respondents, 3614 (61.1%) who reported that they were actively enrolled in the NHIS could produce their insurance cards upon request. Of these respondents, 1243 (34.4%) had expired cards. Factors that significantly predicted unawareness of card expiration were occupation, district of residence, and socio-economic status. Relative to other occupational categories, farmers were the most likely to be unaware of their card invalidity. Respondents residing in three of the study districts were less aware of their insurance card validity than the other four study districts. Unawareness was observed to increase monotonically with relative poverty. Conclusion Unawareness of insurance care validity status contributes to low active enrollment in Ghana’s NHIS. Educational messages aimed at improving health insurance coverage should include the promotion of annual renewal and also should focus on the information needs of farmers and low socio-economic groups.