Performance improvement

The infrared beamline at BESSY II storage ring was upgraded recently to extend the capabilities of infrared microscopy. The endstations available at the beamline are now facilitating improved characterization of molecules and materials at different length scales and time resolutions. Here, the current outline of the beamline is reported and an overview of the endstations available is given. In particular, the first results obtained by using a new microscope for nano-spectroscopy that was implemented are presented...

BACKGROUND: Repeated stigmatization due to group membership constitutes a recurrent stressor with negative impact on physical and mental health (minority stress model). Among European countries, Romania ranks low on LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The "+" represents individuals whose identities do not fit typical binary notions of male and female [nonbinary]) inclusion, with 45% of Romanian LGBT+ respondents reporting discrimination in at least 1 area of life in the year preceding the survey...

BACKGROUND: Hospital-based residential aged-care support service teams typically consist of doctors and nurses who provide hospital substitutive care to aged-care residents. There is limited literature evaluating the pharmacist's role in such aged-care support teams. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effect of residential aged-care support service pharmacist-led medication reviews on polypharmacy, drug burden index, potentially inappropriate medications, and potential prescribing omissions for aged-care residents...

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy and precision of continuous overnight oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) measurement by a commercial wrist device (WD) incorporating high-grade sensors, and investigate WD estimation of sleep-disordered breathing by quantifying overnight oxygen desaturation index (ODI) compared to polysomnography (PSG) ODI and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) with and without sleep questionnaire data, to assess WD ability to detect obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and determine its severity...

BACKGROUND: Multivisceral en bloc resection with the ipsilateral kidney is commonly performed in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS). We evaluated the effect of nephrectomy on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with RLPS. METHODS: Data from a prospectively maintained database of the Peking University Cancer Hospital Sarcoma Center between April 2011 and August 2022 were analyzed. We classified the RLPS patients who underwent surgery into nephrectomy group (NP) and non-nephrectomy group (non-NP)...

PURPOSE: Obtaining large volumes of medical images, required for deep learning development, can be challenging in rare pathologies. Image augmentation and preprocessing offer viable solutions. This work explores the case of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a rare but life-threatening condition affecting premature neonates, with challenging radiological diagnosis. We investigate data augmentation and preprocessing techniques and propose two optimised pipelines for developing reliable computer-aided diagnosis models on a limited NEC dataset...

BACKGROUND: Resistance exercise is the most common training modality included within strength and conditioning (S&C) practice. Understanding dose-response relationships between resistance training and a range of outcomes relevant to physical and sporting performance is of primary importance for quality S&C prescription. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this meta-analysis was to use contemporary modelling techniques to investigate resistance-only and resistance-dominant training interventions, and explore relationships between training variables (frequency, volume, intensity), participant characteristics (training status, sex), and improvements across a range of outcome domains including maximum strength, power, vertical jump, change of direction, and sprinting performance...

To enhance M-mode echocardiography's utility for measuring cardiac structures, we developed and evaluated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated analysis system for M-mode images through the aorta and left atrium [M-mode (Ao-LA)], and through the left ventricle [M-mode (LV)]. Our system, integrating two deep neural networks (DNN) for view classification and image segmentation, alongside an auto-measurement algorithm, was developed using 5,958 M-mode images [3,258 M-mode (LA-Ao), and 2,700 M-mode (LV)] drawn from a nationwide echocardiographic dataset collated from five tertiary hospitals...

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis is associated with improved survival. Provision of HCC surveillance is low in the US, particularly in primary care settings. AIMS: To evaluate current hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCC surveillance practices and physician attitudes regarding HCC risk-stratification among primary care and subspecialty providers. METHODS: Using the Tailored Design Method, we delivered a 34-item online survey to 7654 North Carolina-licensed internal/family medicine or gastroenterology/hepatology physicians and advanced practice providers in 2022...

Schizophrenia (SZ) has been acknowledged as a highly intricate mental disorder for a long time. In fact, individuals with SZ experience a blurred line between fantasy and reality, leading to a lack of awareness about their condition, which can pose significant challenges during the treatment process. Due to the importance of the issue, timely diagnosis of this illness can not only assist patients and their families in managing the condition but also enable early intervention, which may help prevent its advancement...

BACKGROUND: The least significant change (LSC) threshold of 0.03 g/cm² is used to interpret bone mineral density (BMD) scans in the general population. Our working hypothesis was that the current LSC threshold would not be applicable in obese populations. AIMS: The aim of this study was to calculate the LSC in an obese population. METHODS: We performed an interventional study among 120 obesity patients, in whom two measurements of BMD were performed at 3 sites...

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous and complex etiological disease. Understanding perturbations of circulating metabolites could improve prognosis. METHODS: We recruited breast cancer patients from Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) to perform untargeted (case-control design) and targeted (patient cohort) metabolomics analyses in the discovery and validation phases to evaluate interaction effects between clinical factors and plasma metabolites using multivariable Cox proportional hazards model...

PURPOSE: To study the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes after of radioscapholunate (RSL) fusion for intra-articular malunion of the distal radius. METHODS: This retrospective study included 26 patients (17 males and 9 females) with intra-articular malunion of distal radius fractures who underwent RSL arthrodesis using locked miniplates (without distal scaphoid excision) between 2012 and 2020. Their mean age was 43 years (range, 32-56). Patients were assessed radiographically for union and clinically for range of motion, grip strength, and pain (assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain)...

INTRODUCTION: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the commonest causes of peripheral vertigo. It is treated with various canalolith repositioning manoeuvres by changing the head positions to allow the otoconial debris to fall back from the affected canal back to the utricle. The present study has compared the rate of recovery of vertigo with modified Epley's manoeuvres as compared to Semont's manoeuvre in patients with posterior canal BPPV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy patients diagnosed by positive Dix-Hallpike test as posterior canal BPPV were included in this clinical trial...

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of trauma etiology on the management, functional outcomes and psychiatric characteristics of suicide jumpers and patients who accidentally fall from height. METHODS: 89 patients (48 accidental falls and 41 suicidal jumpers) who had undergone spinal surgery were included in the study. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) were performed for functional evaluation...

INTRODUCTION: When out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) becomes refractory, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a potential option to restore circulation and improve the patient's outcome. However, ECPR requires specific materials and highly skilled personnel, and it is unclear whether increased survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) justify these costs. METHODS: This cost-effectiveness study was part of the INCEPTION study, a multicenter, pragmatic randomized trial comparing hospital-based ECPR to conventional CPR (CCPR) in patients with refractory OHCA in 10 cardiosurgical centers in the Netherlands...

Development of a tear in the abdominal wall allowing for protrusion of intra-abdominal contents is known as a hernia. This can cause pain, discomfort, and may need surgical repair. Hernias can affect people of any age or demographic. In the USA, over 1 million hernia repair procedures are performed each year. During these surgeries, it is common for a mesh to be utilized to strengthen the repair. Different techniques allow for the mesh to be placed in different anatomical planes depending on hernia location and approach...

BACKGROUND: Radio-guided surgery (RGS) holds promise for improving surgical outcomes in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Previous studies showed low specificity (SP) using γ-probes to detect radiation emitted by radio-labeled somatostatin analogs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the sensitivity (SE) and SP of the intraoperative RGS approach using a β-probe with a per-lesion analysis, while assessing safety and feasibility as secondary objectives. METHODS: This prospective, single-arm, single-center, phase II trial (NCT05448157) enrolled 20 patients diagnosed with small intestine NETs (SI-NETs) with positive lesions detected at 68 Ga-DOTA-TOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT)...

This article presents the outcomes of a research study focused on optimizing the performance of soybean biofuel blends derived from soybean seeds specifically for urban medium-duty commercial vehicles. The study took into consideration elements such as production capacity, economics and assumed engine characteristics. For the purpose of predicting performance, combustion and emission characteristics, an artificial intelligence approach that has been trained using experimental data is used. At full load, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) dropped as engine speed increased for biofuel and diesel fuel mixes, but brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased...

OBJECTIVE: To describe overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in a cohort of tongue cancer patients, together with the corresponding demographic, tumor and surgical characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective study was made of 205 consecutive patients with primary tongue cancer subjected to surgery and adjuvant therapy according to the stage of the disease, in Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HUVA) (Murcia, Spain) during the period 2000-2020...