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Electrochemically-Assisted Low Power Density Laser Writing on Stainless Steel via Enrichment of Chromium Oxides
Full text linkLaser color marking produces nearly permanent, environmentally friendly, vibrant colors on surfaces. However, previous work has used high-power-density pulsed lasers to induce the physicochemical reactions for marking. Here, laser color marking on stainless steel 304 (SS304) is performed with a less expensive continuous wave (CW) laser and a power density five orders of magnitude below that previously reported by combining an electrochemical cell with a fluorescence microscope. Using a combination of optical microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and bulk electrochemistry, it is demonstrated that the laser-induced luminescence and colors are due to enrichment (32 ± 9% increase) of Cr₂O₃ in the SS304 passive film. It is shown that the enrichment proceeds by a different chemical mechanism than the oxygen pyrolysis that occurs in typical laser color marking. The technique provides a new pathway for laser color marking of metals in industrial settings with applications as diverse as solar absorbers or corrosion prevention
Current Standards and Future Directions of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Respiratory Care: The PPMD Italy Meeting Report
No full textObjective: This report summarizes key discussions from the meeting “Current Standards and Future Directions of Respiratory Assessment and Management of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD),” organized by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) Italy and the United States to address current challenges and opportunities in DMD respiratory care. Methods: The meeting brought together researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates who shared experiences, discussed advancements in DMD respiratory management, and identified areas of debate that require further research. Results: The speakers emphasized routine assessment of pulmonary function and of breathing during sleep to achieve timely diagnosis of respiratory complications. Therapeutic discussions focused on airway clearance and assisted ventilation, highlighting noninvasive ventilation (NIV) as the preferred modality, even for advanced respiratory failure. The respiratory implications of new pharmacological therapies were discussed. The speakers endorsed the importance of cardiorespiratory outcomes in assessments of drug efficacy. To assess a drug\u27s clinical impact and to define current respiratory phenotypes, the trajectory of the absolute value of forced vital capacity (FVC) was proposed as a potentially better parameter than FVC percent predicted, which is favored in current drug studies. In regard to management of acute respiratory failure and perioperative situations, standards of care and areas needing future research were identified. Conclusion: In this meeting, many points of consensus emerged, as well as areas requiring further research. The necessity to involve patients and their families in all aspects of respiratory care was emphasized, as well as the need for patient centered outcomes in medical decision making and research
The Diverse Roles of Complex Glycans in Synapse Development and Function
No full textProtein glycosylation is a critical post-translational modification that mediates a myriad of biological functions, including neuronal development in the brain. Stages of neuronal development include neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axonal guidance, synapse formation, and activity-dependent synaptic remodeling and plasticity. Among these, synapse formation and plasticity are essential to establish and maintain neuronal circuits for proper brain function. Yet, the physiological role of glycans at synapses remains poorly understood. This is especially true for complex glycans, known for decades to be present on the cell surface or extracellular matrix, including the microenvironment around synapses. In this review, we highlight recent examples of complex glycans to illustrate their roles in synapse formation and function. Based on these advances, we propose three principal models to categorize all examples in our discussion. We hope this will be beneficial for the field to begin a discussion on the conceptual framework underlying the role of glycans at synapses
AMS-HD: Acute Mountain Sickness Detection with Hyperdimensional Computing
Full text linkAcute mountain sickness (AMS) is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects many individuals traveling to high altitudes. Early diagnosis is crucial, especially for travelers who may not have immediate access to medical resources. While traditional machine learning (ML) methods have been used to detect AMS using biomedical data (e.g., heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, blood pressure, and body temperature), hyperdimensional computing (HDC) has yet to be explored for this purpose using the few of biomedical data. Previous classification methods fall short of balancing accuracy with low hardware complexity, but HDC offers a promising solution. HDC provides a hardware-efficient alternative solution, making it well-suited for resource-constrained environments, such as wearable devices. Its lightweight architecture and efficient memory management make it ideal for embedded systems, enabling real-time AMS detection with accuracy comparable to traditional ML models. We introduce AMS-HD, a novel framework that leverages custom feature engineering and quasi-random hypervector encoding to further enhance the efficiency and accuracy of HDC for AMS detection. The proposed framework demonstrates the potential for seamless integration into wearable biomedical devices for on-the-go health monitoring
Exploring Identity and Seeking Belonging: Diverse Students’ Experiences with a Campus Women’s Center
Full text linkWomen’s and gender equity centers (abbreviated as women’s centers) were first established in U.S. universities in the 1960s and currently number in the multiple hundreds across all types of higher education institutions in the country. Women’s centers play a vital role in providing high impact, culturally responsive student engagement; however, research on women’s centers is often informal and infrequent, leading to a dearth of knowledge about the efficacy of student engagement efforts. Women’s centers, and the feminist movement from which they arose, have historically excluded the voices and experiences of women of color and other marginalized identities. While centers are evolving to serve and attract a more diverse student population, there is little research on how students experience these spaces, particularly students from systemically marginalized background and identities. I conducted a qualitative phenomenological study to learn about the experiences of seven individuals from diverse backgrounds who were highly engaged with one campus women’s center. Findings revealed that participants’ identities impacted and informed the ways they experienced feelings of belonging and exclusion during their women’s center engagement
Alpha-Synuclein Dysregulation in Systemic Pathophysiology of Synucleinopathies
No full textAlpha-synuclein (α-syn) has long been identified as the etiologic agent of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, the most common and well-known of which are Parkinson\u27s disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). While it is known that the pathophysiology of these synucleinopathies involves aggregation of improperly-folded α-syn, the mechanisms leading to its accumulation have not been fully identified. However, multiple pathways have been proposed, any or all of which may contribute to synucleinopathies. The role of α-syn in normal homeostasis and in other organ systems, especially the hematopoietic system, has been reported recently. Research within the last decade has shown that α-syn plays many vital and conserved roles in the cell biology of various organ systems, such as packaging of cell products, exocytosis, membrane stabilization, and more. This protein has been recognized as an essential factor in normal hematopoietic and immune systems function, and its deficiency leads to an abnormal phenotype, in hematopoietic and immune cell lineages. Similar phenotypes in synucleinopathies not only emphasize the conserved nature of the synuclein family but suggest a bimodal pathophysiology in which aggregated α-syn leads to cellular toxicity while causing derangement of systems that require it. Research into specific molecular mechanisms and potential treatments may provide further understanding of neurodegenerative diseases as well as lead to novel therapies. However, elucidation of the systemic roles of α-syn in addition to its toxicity in excess is essential to prevent treatment-induced deprivation, which paradoxically harms the patient. Here, we address recent advances in systemic synucleinopathies and putative interconnectedness of these compartments. While previous studies and reviews have focused on the mechanisms of α-syn synthesis, transport, and aggregation within systems, this review focuses on the potential inter-systemic nature of synucleinopathies and their possible synergistic origins
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Pediatric Patients
No full textThrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura is a serious disease that can involve complex symptomatology, prolonged hospitalization, and a high risk of mortality if treatment is delayed. This disease is rare, but it is even rarer among pediatric patients. Even though it was first described 100 years ago, the earliest documented case was a pediatric patient. The last three decades have seen the discovery of the pathological mechanisms responsible for its clinical presentation. Symptoms/signs characteristic of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with significant thrombocytopenia characterize the vast majority of patients. Its pathology centers on the accumulation of ultra-large von Willebrand factor multimers due to an enzyme deficiency that prevents their breakdown. Currently, in pediatric patients, two forms of the disease are known: congenital due to a mutation in the enzyme’s gene and immune-mediated due to enzyme depletion or neutralization secondary to autoantibody formation. With the advent of therapeutic plasma exchanges, immunosuppression, and, more recently, a TTP-specific nanobody, there is reason for optimism that the disease does not necessarily equate to a bad outcome. Thus, the aim of this review is to contrast the congenital and immune-mediated forms of the disease in pediatric patients while presenting them in the context of their pathologic mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment
The Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Novel Update and Bedside Reference Guide
Full text linkPurpose of Review: This review highlights recent advances in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock, emphasizing new strategies aimed at improving overall survival and reducing mortality in this patient population. Recent Findings: The primary organization responsible for guiding sepsis management is the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC). Several recent studies, which will be summarized in this article, have investigated sepsis screening tools, capillary refill time, antibiotic timing, intravenous fluids, vasopressor use, corticosteroids, and even vitamin C, all of which contribute to the development of new and effective guidelines for managing severe sepsis and septic shock. Summary: Despite years of research on sepsis, ongoing updates continue to introduce new strategies aimed at improving survival rates and reducing mortality. Timely diagnosis, intervention, and disposition are essential for optimizing outcomes. Emergency physicians and intensive care unit specialists will find this thorough review of novel updates in the management of severe sepsis and septic shock particularly valuable. A summary of recommendations which can be utilized as a quick bedside reference is found in Table 1
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