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Therapeutic interventions targeting enteropathy in severe acute malnutrition modulate systemic and vascular inflammation and epithelial regeneration.
Get PDFBackground
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most life-threatening form of undernutrition, and children hospitalised with complications have unacceptably high mortality. Complicated SAM is a multisystem disease characterised pathophysiologically by muscle wasting, systemic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and malnutrition enteropathy including epithelial barrier dysfunction. There is a clear need for novel interventions to address the underlying pathogenic perturbations of complicated SAM.
Methods
In this analysis of tertiary outcomes from a phase II multi-centre trial in Zambia and Zimbabwe, multiplex biomarkers were measured in 122 children (57% male) with SAM randomised following stabilisation (‘baseline’) to one of four interventions for 14 days to treat malnutrition enteropathy: budesonide, N-acetylglucosamine, colostrum, or teduglutide, compared with standard-of-care. Following measurement of 35 biomarkers from day 15 plasma samples using Luminex and ELISA, the dimensionality of biomarker data was reduced using principal component analysis.
Findings
Both budesonide and colostrum reduced systemic inflammation (as measured by CD14, IL1-ra, CRP, and LBP), while children receiving colostrum had higher GLP2 and angiopoietin, and lower circulating lipopolysaccharide, suggesting better restoration of epithelial barrier function. N-acetylglucosamine, a precursor for epithelial glycosaminoglycan synthesis, increased biomarkers of epithelial regeneration (EGF, VEGF), and circulating growth factors (angiopoietin, IGFBP-3, and GCSF).
Interpretation
Interventions aimed at ameliorating malnutrition enteropathy showed plausible effects on biomarkers of inflammation and epithelial regeneration, demonstrating an interdependence of systemic inflammation and enteropathy markers seen in structural analysis. Given the interplay between inflammation and tissue restoration in malnutrition, this mechanism of action supports larger trials to determine the clinical benefits of interventions, either alone or in combination, in children with complicated SAM
A Novel Deep Learning Framework for Contraband Items Recognition in Smart City Applications.
No full textEnsuring safety and security is paramount in today's complex environment, and the effective detection of contraband items plays a pivotal role in achieving this objective. Contraband items, ranging from illegal substances to unauthorized goods, pose a threat to public safety, security, and the overall well-being of smart city inhabitants. Such items are currently detected by human operator reviewing the images from X-ray baggage scanners. However, manual detection of contraband items is inherently challenging and time-consuming resulting in significant delays at crowded places such as airports, train-stations, shopping malls etc. Moreover, there is a significant risk of overlooking certain items that could pose potential harm. To address these challenges, there is a growing demand for intelligent systems for contraband items detection that can efficiently and accurately detect items whilst minimizing false negatives. Automated deep learning solutions offer a sophisticated and technologically advanced approach to enhance the accuracy and speed of the detection process. In our pursuit to address this challenge comprehensively, we have obtained an X-ray Imaging Dataset specifically curated for this purpose. The dataset includes five types of objects including guns, knives, pliers, scissors, and wrenches that are typically banned to carry along. In this paper, we have proposed a deep learning-based approach to efficiently and accurately detect contraband items from X-ray images. The proposed approach is based on YOLO architectures that has been shown to perform better for object detection in variety of domains both in terms of accuracy and real-time performance. We have evaluated different versions of YOLO to select the version that works best for contraband item detection from X-ray images. Yolo-v8 has shown superior performance followed by Yolo-v5 in terms of accuracy. Challenges regarding class imbalance have been addressed using data augmentation especially for classes with limited number of samples. Comparison of proposed approach for contraband items detection with existing approaches demonstrates the superiority of proposed approach
Investigation of key parameters affecting the use of Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) as strengthening material
Get PDFThe use of Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) for strengthening applications is gaining increasing attention due to its advantageous mechanical and durability characteristics. However, the lack of design guidelines and code recommendations hinders the extensive use of UHPFRC in strengthening applications. The aim of the present study is to offer valuable insights regarding the effect of critical parameters on the performance of UHPFRC as a strengthening material. In this current research, experimental and numerical results have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of UHPFRC layers for the structural upgrade of existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. Critical parameters such as the thickness of the additional layers, the connection at the old-to-new concrete interface, the mechanical performance of UHPFRC, and the amount of additional longitudinal reinforcement have been studied, and recommendations for the effective design of the strengthened elements, considering both performance and cost, are presented. The results of the present study indicate that the addition of steel bars with different diameters in the layer increased the load-carrying capacity by up to 183%. On the contrary, an increase of 5.8% in the load-carrying capacity was achieved when the RC beams had 30 mm layers, and an 18.1% increment was achieved for layers with a higher thickness of 70 mm. The assumption of perfect connection at the interface, which can be achieved with dowels at the interface, resulted in further enhancement of the load carrying capacity, which was found to be equal to 11.8% for the 30 mm layer and 35.3% for the 70 mm layer. An increment of the UHPFRC tensile strength of the strengthening layer from 11.5 MPa to 14 MPa resulted in a further increment of the load-carrying capacity by 8%
Rapid sustainability assessment of sludge management technologies for industrial scale-up.
No full textSludge reduction technologies have advanced significantly because of their potential in effective waste management. However, the need for scalable and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies is critical in addressing the challenges posed by population growth and environmental concerns. These technologies still lack a comprehensive framework that can evaluate the relationships between techno-economic, environmental life cycle, socio-policy, and reliability as well as sensitivity, and uncertainty analysis. Furthermore, the reliance on expert judgment, in evaluating new technologies, while valuable, often is slow, costly, and sometimes hindered by a lack of familiarity with disruptive innovations due to experts' knowledge gaps and constrained future outlooks. Hence, this study introduces an integrated rapid sustainability assessment framework designed to evaluate pilot sludge reduction technologies across technical, economic, reliability, environmental, and socio-political dimensions. The framework leverages a data-driven, scenario-based multi-criteria decision-making approach, incorporating rigorous sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to enhance the reliability of evaluations. This framework is validated through a case study involving three alternatives: (1) Anoxic/Oxic Membrane bioreactor, (2) Anaerobic Side-Stream Reactor, and (3) Anaerobic Main-Stream Reactor. Using the proposed approach, 145,530 potential future scenarios were analysed, incorporating five key criteria and 20 vital indices. The results indicate that the second alternative outperforms the other options in 86 % of the evaluated scenarios. However, its performance may be sensitive to any changes in pollutant removal efficiency, operational costs, and global warming potential when scaled to full industrial applications. In comparison to current approaches, this user-friendly framework not only shows its ability to capture a broader range of uncertainties, but also identifies trends and potential challenges that may not be readily apparent through expert intuition alone. This method also provides a holistic view of the environmental, technical, reliability and socio-policy impacts, facilitating informed decision-making for scaling pilot technologies to industrial applications
Roman stone masonry walls: The application of Ground Penetrating Radar to ancient structures
Get PDFAn investigation on estimating Roman stone masonry wall thickness using non-invasive Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology is presented in this paper. Historical building conservation and structural evaluation require correct wall thickness measurements. The methodology encapsulates data collection, signal processing, and interpretation techniques, including the use of local frequency attributes tailored for historical masonry structures. The main perimeter wall at the Circus of Maxentius, Rome, Italy, is used as the case study. The results indicate that GPR is capable of accurately estimating the thickness of Roman stone masonry walls. By conducting a comparative analysis against a wall section with a known thickness, it has been demonstrated that GPR is a dependable and precise method for conducting archaeological and architectural research. This study highlights the potential of using GPR attributes as a non-destructive investigative methodology in the field of heritage preservation. Future research includes extracting and improving further attributes and applying this approach to other historical structures
Towards Effective Design of Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete.
Get PDFHigh Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) has found application in demanding structural scenarios requiring exceptional performance, durability, and ductility. The utilization of this material for structural strengthening is increasingly gaining popularity. It allows for the construction of slender, yet ductile elements without significant alterations to the element’s dimensions. One of the primary drawbacks of this material is the lack of extensive design codes. Additionally, its high cost is another notable limitation.
The present study focuses on the application of UHPFRC for strengthening purposes and aims to investigate its optimal characteristics. In this study, the results from testing large-scale beams strengthened with UHPFRC layers have been used to develop a numerical model capable of predicting the performance of strengthened reinforced concrete beams. This model explores critical material parameters, including layer depth, fiber content, the interface condition, and the use of steel bars in the layers. The results suggest that incorporating additional reinforcing bars into the UHPFRC layers yields superior performance when compared to increasing the depth of the elements or using higher fiber dosages. The interface conditions affect the performance of strengthened elements significantly
“Joséphin ‘Sâr’ Péladan, Charles Tournemire and apocalyptic mysticism,” Art, Music, and Mysticism at the fin-de-siècle: Seeing and Hearing the Beyond, ed. Corrinne Chong and Michelle Foot (New York: Routledge), pp. 62-95.
No full textThis chapter seeks to understand the relationship between mysticism as shown in the art and aesthetics of Josephin ‘Sâr’ Péladan and the music of Charles Tournemire (Péladan’s brother–in-law) from 1907 onwards. I examine the politicisation of art as promoting subjective spiritual catharsis and transformation in the Catholic symbolist worldview of Péladan and show its use both in Tournemire’s unpublished memories and in his work the Sept Chorals-Poèmes d’Orgue pour les sept paroles du Xrist (1935) for organ. This connection anthropologically predates but validates Fulcher’s (2002), and Schloesser’s (2008) studies of political and religious artistic regeneration and trauma in the 1920s/30s. It reveals Tournemire’s unique diremption of the apocalyptic and sublime into an ecstatic or mystical art as a figment of modernist renewal.
In this study, I show how Péladan’s aesthetics of beauty, artistic astonishment, and his ideal of Catholicism can be understood as an extension of the sublime with its traumatic and apocalyptic ramifications (especially Kant, 1790; Lyotard [1989, 1991 and 1994], and Wurth, 2009) to show what is missing from the history of its conceptualisation. I wish to show that fundamental to Péladan’s thought is an attempt to re-enchant the world and that this is extended through Tournemire’s treatment of mode and dissonance as part of a cathartic reawakening to God through mysticism understood not just as a post-Wagnerian Gnostic movement, but as a means of fantasy and of evoking the absolute
A Lexicon of Descriptive Sensory Terms for Peas (Pisum sativum L.): A Systematic Review
Get PDFThe popularity of peas (Pisum sativum L.) and pea-derived products is constantly growing globally and is estimated to continue to do so at an average annual rate of
12%. This is partially stimulated by the increase in the consumption of meat analogues and the popularisation of animal-protein-free diets. Peas are considered a great source of protein and dietary fibre and are not depicted as allergenic, making them a good replacement ingredient for other legumes such as soy. Peas are also considered good for the environment, mainly due to their nitrogen fixation capabilities. Despite the above benefits, sensory quality is still a limiting factor in increasing consumer acceptance of peas and pea-derived products. Results: This review has been conducted in accordance with the Joanna Brings Institute’s guidance for systematic literature reviews. The search
has been conducted on the descriptive sensory terms for Pisum sativum L., where the objectives of the study were to select, present, and analyse the identified descriptive sensory terms for peas found throughout the academic literature. The reviewers have screened 827 articles, of which 12 were eligible for data extraction. Out of the 12 articles, 205 descriptive sensory terms were identified.
Those were divided into five categories: smell/odour (27%), flavour (51%), taste (10%), texture (8%), and visual (4%). These included results from sensory analyses by trained/untrained panels and instrumental analyses of texture and of volatile compounds. Conclusion: The identified descriptive sensory terms for Pisum sativum L. could be used for future descriptive sensory evaluation of peas and other legumes, making the process less time consuming. The full list could be used for the initial
sensory panel training and then adapted based on the frequency of the depicted terms that meet the
criteria for the developed lexicon
A process evaluation of the NIDUS-Professional dementia training intervention for UK homecare workers
Get PDFIntroduction
This process evaluation was conducted in parallel to the randomised controlled feasibility trial of NIDUS-Professional, a manualised remote dementia training intervention for homecare workers (HCWs), delivered alongside an individualised intervention for clients living with dementia and their family carers (NIDUS-Family). The process evaluation reports on (i) intervention reach, dose, and fidelity, (ii) contexts influencing agency engagement, and (iii) alignment of findings with theoretical assumptions about how the intervention might produce change.
Methods
We report proportions of eligible HCWs receiving any intervention (reach), number of sessions attended (dose; attending ≥4/6 main sessions was predefined as adhering), intervention fidelity and adherence of clients and carers to NIDUS-Family (attending all 6-8 planned sessions). We interviewed HCWs, managers, family carers and facilitators. We integrated and thematically analysed, at homecare agency level, qualitative interview and intervention recording data.
Results
32/141 (23%) of eligible HCWs and 7/42 (17%) of family carers received any intervention; most who did adhered to the intervention (89% and 71%). Intervention fidelity was high. We analysed interviews with 20/44 HCWs, 3/4 managers and 3/7 family carers, and intervention recordings involving 32/44 HCWs. All agencies reported structural challenges in supporting intervention delivery. Agencies with greater management buy-in had higher dose and reach. HCWs valued NIDUS-Professional for enabling group reflection and peer support, providing practical, actionable care strategies, and increasing their confidence as practitioners.
Conclusion
NIDUS-Professional was valued by HCWs. Agency management, culture and priorities were key barriers to implementation; we discuss how to address these in a future trial