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P341: Efficacy of the Magseed Localisation in Wide Local Excision for Breast Cancer: A Single-Institution Study
Get PDFOptimized cross-module attention network and medium-scale dataset for effective fire detection
No full textOver a decade, computer vision has shown a keen interest toward vision-based fire detection due to its wide range of applications. Primarily, fire detection relies on color features that inspired recent deep models to achieve reasonable performance. However, a perfect balance between high fire detection rate and computational complexity over mainstream surveillance setups is a challenging task. To establish a better tradeoff between model complexity and fire detection rate, this article develops an efficient and effective Cross Module Attention Network (CANet) for fire detection. CANet is developed from scratch with a squeezing and expansive paths to focus on the fire regions and its location. Next, the channel attention and Multi-Scale Feature Selection (MSFS) modules are integrated to accomplish the most important channels, selectively emphasize the contributions of feature maps, and enhance the discrimination potential of fire and non-fire objects. Furthermore, the CANet is optimized by removing a significant number of parameters for real-world applications. Finally, we introduce a challenging database for fire classification comprised of multiple classes and highly similar fire and non-fire object images. CANet improved accuracy by 2.5 % for the BWF, 2.2 % for the DQFF, 1.42 % for the LSFD, 1.8 % for the DSFD, and 1.14 % for the FG, Additionally, CANet achieved a 3.6 times higher FPS on resource-constrained devices compared to baseline methods
Corporate Anti‐Corruption Disclosure and Corporate Sustainability Performance in the United Kingdom: Does Sustainability Governance Matter?
Get PDFThis research investigates the potential effects of companies' commitments to disclose their anti‐corruption efforts on their sustainability performance. Additionally, we aim to analyze whether the existence of a sustainability committee influences this relationship. To achieve these objectives, we gathered data from 5344 firm‐year observations of companies listed on the FTSE 350 index from 2008 to 2023. Our findings provide strong empirical support for a positive relationship between companies' anti‐corruption disclosures and their sustainability performance. Furthermore, our evidence suggests that the presence of a sustainability committee acts as a viable complement to anti‐corruption disclosures, driving improved sustainability performance. Our study highlights practical implications for organizations, regulators, and policymakers, and it opens avenues for future research
Carbon-based single atom catalyst engineered to mediate non-radical pathway for antibiotics degradation under multiple complex water matrices by peroxymonosulfate activation
No full textEfficient degradation of antibiotics in complex water matrices remains a significant challenge. In this study, a carbon-based single atom catalyst (C-SAC) was engineered to mediate a non-radical pathway in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system. The C-SAC/PMS system has successfully addressed the limitations that radicals were susceptible to water matrices. The experimental results proved that FeN4 in the form of single Fe atom was the active site. C-SAC with FeN4 sites demonstrated excellent catalytic performance, removing antibiotics completely within 15 min. Quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and probe experiments proved that the C-SAC/PMS system was dominated by a non-radical pathway, with singlet oxygen (1O2) as the major reactive species. The C-SAC/PMS system maintained excellent performance under multiple complex water matrices, showing high efficiency in both groundwater and surface water over a wide pH range of 2 to 9. In addition, C-SAC retained desired catalytic performance after five cycles, demonstrating its outstanding stability. This study provides valuable insights into the rational design of catalysts for antibiotics degradation in complex water matrices
Evaluation of Drug–Polymer and Drug–Drug Interaction in Cellulosic Multi-Drug Delivery Matrices
Get PDFMulti-drug delivery systems have gained increasing interest from the pharmaceutical industry. Alongside this is the interest in amorphous solid dispersions as an approach to achieve effective oral delivery of compounds with solubility-limited bioavailability. Despite this, there is limited information regarding predicting the behavior of two or more drugs (in amorphous forms) in a polymeric carrier and whether molecular inter-actions between the compounds, between each compound, and if the polymer have any effect on the physical properties of the system. This work studies the interaction between model drug combinations (two of ibuprofen, malonic acid, flurbiprofen, or naproxen) dispersed in a polymeric matrix of hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) using a solvent evaporation technique. Hildebrand and Hansen calculations were used to pre-dict the miscibility of compounds as long as the difference in their solubility parameter values was not greater than 7 MPa1/2. It was observed that the selected APIs (malonic acid, ibuprofen, naproxen, and flurbiprofen) were miscible within the formed polymeric matrix. Adding the API caused depression in the Tg of the polymer to certain concen-trations (17%, 23%, 13%) for polymeric matrices loaded with malonic acid, ibuprofen, and naproxen, respectively. Above this, large crystals started to form, and phase sepa-ration was seen. Adding two APIs to the same matrix resulted in reducing the saturation concentration of one of the APIs. A trend was observed and linked to Hildebrand and Hansen solubility parameters (HSP)
Anthelmintic Potential of Conjugated Long-Chain Fatty Acids Isolated from the Bioluminescent Mushroom Neonothopanus gardneri
Get PDFWith praziquantel being the sole available drug for schistosomiasis, identifying novel anthelmintic agents is imperative. A chemical investigation of the fruiting body of the bioluminescent mushroom Neonothopanus gardneri Berk. resulted in the isolation of new conjugated long-chain fatty acids (8E,10E,12S,13S)-12,13-dihydroxy-7-oxo-octadeca-8,10-dienoic acid (1) and (7S,8S,9E,11E)-7,8-dihydroxy-13-oxo-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid (2) and three previously described compounds, (7R,8R,9Z)-7,8-dihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid (3), (2E)-dec-2-ene-1,10-dioic acid (4), and a ketolactone marasmeno-1,15-dione (5). Their planar structures were elucidated based on 1D and 2D NMR and MS/MS spectroscopic analyses. Compound 3 displayed significant antiparasitic activity against Schistosoma mansoni ex vivo (EC50 < 10 μM). No toxicity was observed in mammalian cells or Caenorhabditis elegans
Recognising and responding to acute patient deterioration in the perioperative environment – A simulation-based learning approach to meeting National Healthcare Standards criteria
Get PDFBackground
Deterioration in acute healthcare settings is associated with serious adverse sequelae. A National Standards framework for healthcare facilities in Australia has mandated that such facilities provide evidence that satisfies criteria relating to acute deterioration recognition and response. Whilst education and training of healthcare practitioners have been prominent since National Standards inception, state-wide mandatory training programs have not been sensitive to the perioperative context.
Aim
To evaluate the effectiveness of a perioperative simulation-based learning program in building capacity for perioperative staff in acute patient deterioration recognition and response.
Methods
A multiple group post-test design using quantitative measures was undertaken. Participants were a consecutive sample of perioperative nursing staff (n=56) employed across three hospitals in Sydney who self-enrolled in simulation-based learning workshops. Each six-hour workshop focussed on four acute deterioration scenarios: Anaphylaxis, Malignant Hyperthermia, Post-Partum Haemorrhage, and Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity. Simulation effectiveness was measured using the 19-item Simulation Effectiveness Tool–Modified. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and qualitative content analysis was used for an open-ended question.
Findings
All 19 items elicited a high degree of ‘strongly agree’, ranging from 57.1% to 89.6%, with only four of the 19 items achieving less than 80% ‘strongly agree’. Content analysis generated two primary categories: ‘Self-efficacy enabling professional autonomy’ and ‘Relevant and authentic representation’.
Discussion
Perioperative simulation-based learning can enhance clinical proficiency and professional autonomy, whilst developing clinical reasoning, teamwork, and delegation skills.
Conclusion
Perioperative simulation-based learning was perceived as effective in preparing nursing staff working in the perioperative specialty for real-world clinical emergencies
Heat Sterilizable Coatings Based on Nafion and Graphene Quantum Dots With Advanced Antibacterial Performance
Get PDFThe study focuses on the preparation of electrostatically assembled layer-by-layer waterborne nanocoatings comprising negatively charged Nafion and positively charged imidazole modified-graphene quantum dots (GQD-Ims). We demonstrate here that Nafion/GQD-Im nanocoatings can combat the growth of representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and their excellent antibacterial performance is preserved after prolonged thermal treatment, indicating that the coatings can withstand dry heat sterilization without any decline in their properties. At the same time, the coatings show remarkable chemical and structural stability, while offering protection against UV-radiation as manifested by dye decomposition experiments. This novel type of nanocoatings demonstrates a unique combination of highly desirable characteristics, making them ideal candidates for applications related to active packaging for cosmetics and drugs, food processing, and disinfection of medical devices
Assessing the Dual Drug 9-hydroxymethyl Noscapine and Telmisartan-loaded Stearic Acid Nanoparticles against (H1299) non-small cell lung cancer and its mechanistic interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin
Get PDFSolid lipid nanoparticles are appealing to the scientific community owing to their expedient and versatile nature as systems for drug delivery and therefore are being used to treat variety of illnesses. With parallel line of thought, herein, we have reported the synthesis, characterisation of dual drug stearic acid loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and screened their efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer. The desired nanoparticle namely 9-CH2OH Nos-Tel-SLNs was prepared using solvent diffusion method. TEM and AFM images revealed that the nanoparticles have spherical formwith a mean size of 36.6 nm. The zeta potential and hydrodynamic size of the nanostructures was found to be -36.23 mV and ~ 406.8 nm, respectively. From RP-HPLC, the noscapine and telmisartan loaded in the nanoparticles were found to be 1.86 % and 1.97 % respectively. Additionally, we have probed into the interaction of BSA with the synthesized nanocomposite using UV-Vis, Fluorescence and CD spectroscopic techniques along with computational techniques namely molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulations and MM-PBSA/GBSA calculations. From the fluorescence quenching of BSA upon interaction with the SLNs, we deduced that aa stable ground-state complex between 9-CH2OH Nos-Tel-SLN and BSA were formed. Similarly, in-silico evaluation indicated formation of a stable dual drug complex with BSA with telmisartan being more compatible to bind to the protein. To assess further, we also evaluated the anticancer property of 9-CH2OH noscapine, Telmisartan and 9-CH2OH Nos-Tel-SLN against H1299 lung cancer cell line using MTT assay and the calculated IC50 of 9-CH2OH Nos-Tel-SLN was 186 µg/mL. Overall, based on the promising results in this research; such SLNs could be a promising drug delivery tool and can be crucial in the conversion of potent anticancer drugs to marketed anticancer drugs in near future
