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False Identification of (Anti)aromaticity in Polycyclic Molecules in Ground and Excited States Through Incorrect Use of NICS
No full textAromaticity is a key concept in physical organic chemistry. However, as it cannot be measured directly, it is assessed indirectly via other properties (energetic, electronic, geometric and magnetic). Although these properties describe aromaticity, they are not solely related to aromaticity as the observed values also can stem from, for example, magnetically induced local currents at certain atoms or groups, or strain in the σ-skeleton. This can lead to misinterpretations. Here, we highlight a pitfall in the (anti)aromaticity assessment of polycyclic molecules when it is mainly based on nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICSs). The NICS index can be misinterpreted to indicate ‘aromaticity’ or ‘antiaromaticity’ in nonaromatic rings as a result of paratropic or diatropic ring currents in adjacent rings. We explore if such false indications by NICS are (i) stronger in Baird-aromatic or -antiaromatic excited states (mainly triplet and quintet, but also singlet) than in closed-shell singlet ground states, and (ii) if a paratropic ring current in an adjacent ring causes stronger or weaker false ‘aromaticity’ than a diatropic one causes false ‘antiaromaticity’. Based on our computations we conclude that larger aromatic rings in all types of states (e.g., a triplet state Baird-aromatic cyclooctatetraene ring) have greater influence than smaller ones, yet, we see no indication that the effect is stronger in excited states. Instead, annulene rings are more influential in their paratropic (antiaromatic) states, regardless if ground or excited states, than in their diatropic (aromatic) ones
Effectiveness of SMS-based interventions in enhancing antenatal care in developing countries : a systematic review
No full textObjectives: Pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Mali, often face challenges such as limited access to comprehensive health information and services. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, particularly SMS-based interventions, have shown promise in addressing maternal health challenges. This review aims to provide an overview of existing SMS-based antenatal care (ANC) applications and assess their effectiveness in improving maternal and child health outcomes. Design: A systematic literature review was conducted based on updated PRISMA 2020 guidelines.Data sources PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Association for Information Systems eLibrary, Direct Science and Google Scholar were searched through 25 March 2024. Eligibility criteria: Studies that focused on SMS-based interventions designed to improve ANC information and attendance, published in English or French, conducted in LMICs and published between 2014 and 2024 were included. Exclusion criteria eliminated studies that did not report primary outcomes or did not directly involve SMS-based interventions for ANC. Data extraction and synthesis: Relevant data were systematically extracted, including study characteristics, intervention details, and outcome measures. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2), the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) and the Checklist for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in Healthcare (CReDECI), depending on the study design. A subgroup analysis was performed to explore variations in outcomes by region and study design. Results: The review identified a range of SMS-based interventions (n=12) that differed in target audience, message frequency (weekly, pregnancy stage-oriented) and content (reminders (91.7% of cases, 11/12), educational (75%) and danger signs (16.7%)). Regional analysis highlighted significant research activity in East Africa but with mixed significance levels. The study design analysis revealed that randomised controlled trials yielded the most significant results, with five of eight studies showing full significance, whereas quasi-experimental studies demonstrated consistent but less frequent effectiveness. Implementation tools varied from SMS gateways to custom applications and third-party platforms, with some interventions combining these approaches. SMS interventions positively impacted ANC attendance, maternal health knowledge and behaviours, with effectiveness varying based on the intervention type, content, frequency and implementation approach. Conclusion: SMS-based interventions have the potential to enhance ANC in LMICs by providing tailored health information and promoting healthy behaviours. Further research should focus on refining or replicating these interventions and exploring their long-term effects on maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in underrepresented regions
Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron- tumor networks with retrograde tracing
No full textGlioblastomas are invasive brain tumors with high therapeutic resistance. Neuron-to-glioma synapses have been shown to promote glioblastoma progression. However, a characterization of tumor-connected neurons has been hampered by a lack of technologies. Here, we adapted retrograde tracing using rabies viruses to investigate and manipulate neuron-tumor networks. Glioblastoma rapidly integrated into neural circuits across the brain, engaging in widespread functional communication, with cholinergic neurons driving glioblastoma invasion. We uncovered patient-specific and tumor-cell-state-dependent differences in synaptogenic gene expression associated with neuron-tumor connectivity and subsequent invasiveness. Importantly, radiotherapy enhanced neuron-tumor connectivity by increased neuronal activity. In turn, simultaneous neuronal activity inhibition and radiotherapy showed increased therapeutic effects, indicative of a role for neuron-to-glioma synapses in contributing to therapeutic resistance. Lastly, rabies-mediated genetic ablation of tumor-connected neurons halted glioblastoma progression, offering a viral strategy to tackle glioblastoma. Together, this study provides a framework to comprehensively characterize neuron-tumor networks and target glioblastoma
Sensor Attack Detection in Artificial Pancreas Systems : A Control-theoretic Approach
No full textType 1 Diabetes (T1D) has challenged humanity for over 3,500 years, from its earliest descriptions in ancient medical texts to today’s cutting-edge biotechnological solutions. Even today, T1D remains a growing global health concern and is the second most common chronic disease among children in Sweden. Although there is no cure, significant progress has been made in treatment strategies, particularly through the development of artificial pancreas (AP) systems. An AP is a closed-loop insulin delivery system that integrates a glucose sensor, an insulin pump, and a control algorithm to mimic the glucose-regulating function of a healthy pancreas. By continuously adjusting insulin infusion based on real-time glucose measurements, AP systems reduce the burden of diabetes management and improve long-term health outcomes. However, as AP systems rely on sensor data and wireless communication, they are susceptible to cyber threats. One such threat is sensor deception attacks, where an attacker manipulates the sensor readings to mislead the insulin delivery algorithm, potentially causing excessively low or high glucose levels. Detecting such attacks is particularly challenging due to natural glucose fluctuations caused by meal intake, which can mask adversarial manipulation. The need for computationally efficient and reliable anomaly detection algorithms is paramount, particularly in wearable medical devices such as the AP. To this end, model-based anomaly detection schemes offer a mathematically rigorous and lightweight alternative, enabling timely and accurate detection of anomalies, including cyberattacks, while meeting the real-time constraints of safety-critical systems. This thesis aims to advance model-based detection methods by integrating residual generation and evaluation techniques, optimizing the trade-off between detection speed and false alarm minimization. By contributing to the development of secure AP systems, this research aims to enhance patient safety and improve the quality of life for individuals with T1D
Water, sanitation, handwashing, and nutritional interventions can reduce child antibiotic use : evidence from Bangladesh and Kenya
No full textAntibiotics can trigger antimicrobial resistance and microbiome alterations. Reducing pathogen exposure and undernutrition can reduce infections and antibiotic use. We assess effects of water, sanitation, handwashing (WSH) and nutrition interventions on caregiver-reported antibiotic use in Bangladesh and Kenya, longitudinally measured at three timepoints among birth cohorts (ages 3-28 months) in a cluster-randomized trial. Over 50% of children used antibiotics at least once in the 90 days preceding data collection. In Bangladesh, the prevalence of antibiotic use was 10-14% lower in groups receiving WSH (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.90 (0.82-0.99)), nutrition (PR = 0.86 (0.78-0.94)), and nutrition+WSH (PR = 0.86 (0.79-0.93)) interventions. The prevalence of using antibiotics multiple times was 26-35% lower in intervention arms. Reductions were largest when the birth cohort was younger. In Kenya, interventions did not affect antibiotic use. In this work, we show that improving WSH and nutrition can reduce antibiotic use. Studies should assess whether such reductions translate to reduced antimicrobial resistance
Longitudinal predictors of reading ability in children with CI learning to read in Swedish
No full textPurpose: This study investigated long-term predictors of reading development (phonological decoding, word recognition, and reading comprehension) in 24 children with cochlear implants (CIs). Method: The predictor variables were age, sex, nonverbal intelligence, working memory, paired associate learning, receptive vocabulary, phonological skills, grammatical knowledge, age at implantation, speech perception, and reported interest in reading. The children's mean age was approximately 7;8 years at the start of the study and they were then measured at three time points. The first and second assessments took place approximately 13 months apart, and the children were approximately 11;8 years of age at the third time point. Results: Decoding ability at age 11 was associated with early measures of nonverbal cognitive ability, visual-verbal paired associate learning, and grammatical knowledge when 0.05 was used as significance level but none of them remained significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. Several predictor variables from earlier measurements were significantly related to reading comprehension at age 11. The predictors that remained significant after Bonferroni correction were receptive vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. Discussion: The findings from this research suggest that early exposure to hearing and language, in particular vocabulary and grammar, is associated with reading outcomes at age 11
Branch Thrombus after Endovascular Treatment with Arch Branched Devices for Aortic Arch Pathologies.
No full textOBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of branch thrombosis following endovascular treatment of aortic arch pathology using an arch branched device (ABD) and to determine whether this is influenced by clinical and geometric parameters. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study of patients treated with an ABD in three centres, the primary endpoint was thrombus formation within a branch during follow up. Secondary endpoints were technical success, serious adverse events (SAEs), early and late death, stroke, and re-interventions. Geometric measurements (tortuosity index and curvature) were determined on pre- and post-operative computed tomography angiograms. RESULTS: Thirty nine patients were treated and 68 antegrade branches were analysed (innominate artery, n = 27; common carotid artery [CCA], n = 40; left subclavian artery [LSA], n = 1). Thrombus was identified within seven branches (10%) on surveillance imaging (innominate artery, n = 6; CCA, n = 1; LSA, n = 0; p = .021) and was associated with a wider distal bridging stent diameter (median 14.0 mm [13.3, 15.3] vs. 8.7 mm [IQR 5.9]; p = .026), a higher degree of reversed tapering (4.3 mm [3.8, 5.2] vs. 1.2 mm [0.3, 3.1]; p = .023), use of polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron) covered (vs. expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) bridging stents (23% vs. 2%; p = .011), and higher body mass index (BMI) (32.1 kg/m2 [28.7, 36.2] vs. 25.7 kg/m2 [23.8, 29.2]; p = .029), but not with pre-operative or post-operative tortuosity index or curvature or alterations. Regarding secondary outcomes, the technical success rate was 97%, SAEs occurred in 15 patients (38%), early and late death rates were 8% and 23%, respectively, and early and late stroke rates were 5% and 23%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The risk of developing branch thrombosis after endovascular intervention with an ABD is considerable, especially of innominate artery branches, characterised by Dacron covered large diameter bridging stents, and in patients with a high BMI. Large prospective studies are required to analyse factors associated with branch thrombosis
Syndicated lending – efficient financing with a foreign legal entity: particularly concerning the consequences in the event of the borrower’s bankruptcy
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