Potential for improved retention rate by personalized antiseizure medication selection: A register‐based analysis

The objective of this work is to study the ageing state of a used reverse osmosis (RO) membrane taken in Algeria from the Benisaf Water Company seawater desalination unit. The study consists of an autopsy procedure used to perform a chain of analyses on a membrane sheet. Wear of the membrane is characterized by a degradation of its performance due to a significant increase in hydraulic permeability (25%) and pressure drop as well as a decrease in salt retention (10% to 30%). In most cases the effects of ageing are little or poorly known at the local level and global measurements such as (flux, transmembrane pressure, permeate flow, retention rate, etc.) do not allow characterization. Therefore, a used RO (reverse osmosis) membrane was selected at the site to perform the membrane autopsy tests. These tests make it possible to analyze and identify the cause as well as to understand the links between performance degradation observed at the macroscopic scale and at the scale at which ageing takes place. External and internal visual observations allow seeing the state of degradation. Microscopic analysis of the used membranes surface shows the importance of fouling. In addition, quantification and identification analyses determine a high fouling rate in the used membrane whose foulants is of inorganic and organic nature. Moreover, the analyses proved the presence of a biofilm composed of protein.

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A Novel Method for Microsatellite Instability Detection by Liquid Biopsy Based on Next- Generation Sequencing

Current Bioinformatics ◽

10.2174/1574893615666200324133451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Zheng Jiang ◽

Hui Liu ◽

Siwen Zhang ◽

Jia Liu ◽

Weitao Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Microsatellite Instability ◽

Liquid Biopsy ◽

Tumor Tissue ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Next Generation ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Technology ◽

Medication Selection ◽

Generation Sequencing

Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a prognostic biomarker used to guide medication selection in multiple cancers, such as colorectal cancer. Traditional PCR with capillary electrophoresis and next-generation sequencing using paired tumor tissue and leukocyte samples are the main approaches for MSI detection due to their high sensitivity and specificity. Currently, patient tissue samples are obtained through puncture or surgery, which causes injury and risk of concurrent disease, further illustrating the need for MSI detection by liquid biopsy. Methods: We propose an analytic method using paired plasma/leukocyte samples and MSI detection using next-generation sequencing technology. Based on the theoretical progress of oncogenesis, we hypothesized that the microsatellite site length in plasma equals the combination of the distribution of tumor tissue and leukocytes. Thus, we defined a window-judgement method to identify whether biomarkers were stable. Results: Compared to traditional PCR as the standard, we evaluated three methods in 20 samples (MSI-H:3/MSS:17): peak shifting method using tissue vs. leukocytes, peak shifting method using plasma vs. leukocytes, and our method using plasma vs. leukocytes. Compared to traditional PCR, we observed a sensitivity of 100%, 0%, and 100%, and a specificity of 100.00%, 94.12%, and 88.24%, respectively. Conclusion: Our method has the advantage of possibly detecting MSI in a liquid biopsy and provides a novel direction for future studies to increase the specificity of the method.

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Assessment and Prediction of Privacy Concerns on Health Apps (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20409 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Reham AlTamime ◽

Vincent Marmion ◽

Wendy Hall

Keyword(s):

Data Sharing ◽

Mobile Applications ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Third Party ◽

Privacy Concerns ◽

Health Apps ◽

Mobile Health Apps ◽

Specific Factors ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND Mobile apps and IoT-enabled smartphones technologies facilitate collecting, sharing, and inferring from a vast amount of data about individuals’ location, health conditions, mobility status, and other factors. The use of such technology highlights the importance of understanding individuals’ privacy concerns to design applications that integrate their privacy expectations and requirements. OBJECTIVE This paper explores, assesses, and predicts individuals’ privacy concerns in relation to collecting and disclosing data on mobile health apps. METHODS We designed a questionnaire to identify participants’ privacy concerns pertaining to a set of 432 mobile apps’ data collection and sharing scenarios. Participants were presented with 27 scenarios that varied across three categorical factors: (1) type of data collected (e.g. health, demographic, behavioral, and location); (2) data sharing (e.g., whether it is shared, and for what purpose); and, (3) retention rate (e.g., forever, until the purpose is satisfied, unspecified, week, or year). RESULTS Our findings show that type of data, data sharing, and retention rate are all factors that affect individuals’ privacy concerns. However, specific factors such as collecting and disclosing health data to a third-party tracker play a larger role than other factors in triggering privacy concerns. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that it is possible to predict privacy concerns based on these three factors. We propose design approaches that can improve users’ awareness and control of their data on mobile applications

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EFFECT OF DDAVP ON PRIMARY HEMOSTASIS WITH CONGENITAL AFIBRINOGENEMIA

10.1055/s-0038-1644129 ◽

1987 ◽

Author(s):

M Taki ◽

M Inagaki ◽

T Miura ◽

N Saito ◽

T Meguro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Platelet Aggregation ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Platelet Membrane ◽

Bleeding Tendency ◽

Primary Hemostasis ◽

Prolonged Bleeding Time ◽

Before And After ◽

Congenital Afibrinogenemia ◽

Von Willebrand ◽

Platelet Functions

It has been reported recently that DDAVP might be an useful tool in the therapy and prevention of bleeding in patients with congenital afibrinogenemia (CA).To study the mechanism of its efficacy, changes in the platelet functions of a patient with CA were examined prior to, and one hour after, the infusion of DDAVP (0.4 μg/Kg). A patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) was also examined, to allow a study of the role of platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa), a deficient platelet in GT, in the resulting effects of the drug. When both patients were infused with DDAVP, the level of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) increased two- to fourfold, accompanied by an enhancement of ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination. The level of plasma fibrinogen was never changed.The prolonged bleeding time observed was markedly improved only in the CA patient, remaining unchanged in the GT patient, after the infusion of DDAVP. This indicates that DDAVP is effective in diminishing the bleeding tendency in CA, but not in GT. Among the platelet functions tested, only the platelet retention rate on glass beads, ADP-induced platelet aggregation and collagen-induced platelet aggregation improved in CA, each remaining unchanged in GT. In particular, collagen-induced platelet aggregation was markedly improved in the CA patient. However, the platelet adhesion to collagen (50 μg/ml)-Sepharose remained normal, both before and after the infusion of DDAVP in CA.These results suggest that an increase in the plasma vWF level and the existence of platelet membrane GPIIb/IIIa may be necessary for the improvement of primary hemostasis, after the infusion of DDAVP. The vWF-mediated platelet aggregation by collagen or ADP may produce this effect in the CA patient.

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Effect of Nitric Acid Modification on LiMn2O4 Prepared by Solution Combustion Synthesis

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.80-81.332 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 80-81 ◽

pp. 332-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yan Xia ◽

Mei Huang ◽

Jun Ming Guo ◽

Ying Jie Zhang

Keyword(s):

Nitric Acid ◽

Combustion Synthesis ◽

Discharge Capacity ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Solution Combustion Synthesis ◽

Manganese Acetate ◽

Solution Combustion ◽

Acid Modification ◽

Capacity Retention ◽

Liquid Combustion

Effect of nitric acid and the burning time on the liquid combustion synthesis of spinel LiMn2O4 has been studied, using lithium nitrite and Manganese acetate as raw a material. The results show that the main phases are all LiMn2O4, which can be obtained at 400-600 oC. Before modified, the impurity is Mn3O4 or Mn2O3. After modified, the impurity is only Mn3O4. The aggregation obviously reduced after adding nitric acid, it is indicated that the crystalline increased. With the increasing temperatures, the modified particle size was increased and the aggregation reduced. The initial discharge capacity and cycle stability improved at some extent too. Its first discharge capacity was 104.6, 112.8 and 117.7mAh/g synthesized at 400, 500, 600 oC, respectively, and the 30th capacity retention rate were 84.89%, 80.67% and 73.24%.

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A 16-week aerobic exercise and mindfulness-based intervention on chronic psychosocial stress: a pilot and feasibility study

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-020-00751-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Guy A. Prochilo ◽

Ricardo J.S. Costa ◽

Craig Hassed ◽

Richard Chambers ◽

Pascal Molenberghs

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Psychosocial Stress ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Recruitment Rate ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training ◽

Definitive Trial ◽

Chronic Psychosocial Stress

Abstract Objectives Researchers have begun delivering mindfulness and aerobic exercise training concurrently on the premise that a combination intervention will yield salutary outcomes over and above each intervention alone. An estimate of the effect of combination training on chronic psychosocial stress in a nonclinical population has not been established. The objective of this study was to establish protocol feasibility in preparation of a definitive RCT targeting healthy individuals, and to explore the preliminary effect of combination training on reducing chronic psychosocial stress in this population. Methods Twenty-four participants were allocated to a single-arm pre-post study and subjected to 16 weeks of concurrent mindfulness psychoeducation and aerobic exercise training. Feasibility criteria were collected and evaluated. Within-group changes in chronic psychosocial stress, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and cardiorespiratory fitness were also assessed. Primary analyses were based on 17 participants. Results Retention rate, response rate, recruitment rate, and sample size analyses indicate a definitive trial is feasible for detecting most effects with precision. There was also a decline in our primary dependent measure of chronic psychosocial stress (dpretest = −0.56, 95% CI [ −1.14,−0.06]). With regard to secondary measures, there was an increase in the use of cognitive reappraisal, and a reduction in use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. We are insufficiently confident to comment on changes in mindfulness and aerobic capacity $\left (\dot {V}O_{2max}\right)$ V ̇ O 2 max . However, there were subgroup improvements in aerobic economy at submaximal exercise intensities. Conclusions We recommend a definitive trial is feasible and should proceed. Trial registration ANZCTR (ID: ACTRN12619001726145). Retrospectively registered December 9, 2019.

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A Systematic Review on Extracellular Vesicles-Enriched Fat Grafting: A Shifting Paradigm

Aesthetic Surgery Journal ◽

10.1093/asj/sjaa362 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Ghiasloo ◽

Laura De Wilde ◽

Kashika Singh ◽

Patrick Tonnard ◽

Alexis Verpaele ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Graft Survival ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Fat Grafting ◽

Retention Rates ◽

Fat Graft ◽

Cochrane Central Register

Abstract Background Recent evidence confirms that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) facilitate angiogenesis mainly through paracrine function. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are regarded as key components of the cell secretome, possessing functional properties of their source cells. Subsequently, MSC-EVs have emerged as a novel cell-free approach to improve fat graft retention rate. Objectives To provide a systematic review of all studies reporting the use of MSC-EVs to improve graft retention rate. Methods A systematic search was undertaken using the Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Outcome measures included donor/receptor organism of the fat graft, study model, intervention groups, evaluation intervals, EV research data, in vitro and in vivo results. Results Of the total 1717 articles, 62 full-texts were screened. Seven studies reporting on 294mice were included. Overall, EV treated groups showed higher graft retention rates compared to untreated groups. Notably, retention rate was similar following EV- and MSC-treatment. In addition to reduced inflammation, graft enrichment with EVs resulted in early revascularization and better graft integrity. Interestingly, hypoxic preconditioning of MSCs improved their beneficial paracrine effects and led to a more proangiogenic EV population, as observed by both in vitro and in vivo results. Conclusions MSC-EVs appear to offer an interesting cell-free alternative to improve fat graft survival. While their clinical relevance remains to be determined, it is clear that not the cells, but their secretome is essential for graft survival. Thus, a paradigm shift from cell-assisted lipotransfer towards ‘secretome-assisted lipotransfer’ is well on its way.

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Effect of preset interfacial ZrB2 particles on the microstructure and properties of C/C-AlSi composites

Journal of Composite Materials ◽

10.1177/00219983211004693 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002199832110046

Author(s):

Wei Feng ◽

Chengwei Tang ◽

Lei Liu ◽

Jian Chen ◽

Yang Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Thermal Expansion ◽

Thermal Shock ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Pressure Infiltration ◽

Micro Scale ◽

Before And After ◽

Micro Morphology ◽

Strength Retention ◽

Fiber Fabric

ZrB2 particles were preset to the C-AlSi interface to improve oxidation resistance of C/C preform and adjust the microstructure of the interpenetrated C/C-AlSi composite prepared through pressure infiltration of eutectic AlSi into a fiber fabric based porous C/C skeleton. Micro-morphology investigations suggested that the AlSi textures were changed from dendritic to petals-like state, and the nano to micro-scale ZrB2 particles were dispersed into AlSi and affected the distribution of Al and Si nearby carbon. Tests demonstrated that C/C-AlSi have slight lower density and thermal expansion coefficient, and higher original compressive strength, while C/C-ZrB2-AlSi composites presented an outstanding strength retention rate after thermal shock. Fracture and micro-morphology indicated that the influence of the preset ZrB2 to the interface of carbon and alloy greatly affected the generation and propagation of cracks, which determined the diverse compression behaviors of the composites before and after thermal shock.

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