Characterization of Near Infrared-Dye Colored Fabrics Using Hyperspectral Imaging.

Near-infrared (NIR) dyes have a unique ability to interact favorably with light in the NIR region, which is particularly interesting where stealth and camouflage are paramount, such as in military uniforms. Characterization of cotton fabric dyed with NIR-absorbing dyes using visible-NIR (Vis-NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging was done. The aim of the study was to discern spectral changes caused by variations in dye concentration and dyeing temperature as these parameters directly influence color- and crocking-fastness of fabrics impacting the camouflage effect.

Exploring tonsil pathology in PTEN hamartoma syndrome: a cohort study.

Background: PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS) comprises a group of genetic disorders with varied clinical presentations, including macrocephaly, developmental delay, and increased cancer susceptibility. Recent reports have highlighted the occurrence of tonsil-related issues in PHTS.

Methods: Clinical data focusing on tonsil-related pathology and tonsillectomy details (indications, histology and post-operative complications) were collected from 53 patients with PHTS.

Not so silent spectators: How spectator vessels at international sailing regattas alter marine soundscapes.

International sailing regattas are major sporting events often held within coastal marine environments which overlap with the habitats of marine species. Although races are confined to courses, the popularity of these events can attract large spectator flotillas, sometimes composed of hundreds of motorized vessels. Underwater noise from these flotillas can potentially alter soundscapes experienced by marine species.

Collaboration and engagement with decision-makers are needed to reduce evidence complacency in wildlife management.

There exists an extensive, diverse, and robust evidence base to support complex decisions that address the planetary biodiversity crisis. However, it is generally not sought or used by environmental decision-makers, who instead draw on intuition, experience, or opinion to inform important decisions. Thus, there is a need to examine evidence exchange processes in wildlife management to understand the multiple inputs to decisions.

Quality Characterization of Fava Bean-Fortified Bread Using Hyperspectral Imaging.

As the demand for alternative protein sources and nutritional improvement in baked goods grows, integrating legume-based ingredients, such as fava beans, into wheat flour presents an innovative alternative. This study investigates the potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to predict the protein content (short-wave infrared (SWIR) range)) of fava bean-fortified bread and classify them based on their color characteristics (visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) range). Different multivariate analysis tools, such as principal component analysis (PCA), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and partial least square regression (PLSR), were utilized to assess the protein distribution and color quality parameters of bread samples.

Advanced Oxidative Decontamination of Flax and Its Impacts on Storage.

The metabolic actions of storage fungi and other microorganisms can cause spoilage and post-harvest losses in agricultural commodities, including flaxseed. These microbial contaminants are oxidized with hydroxyl radicals that are efficiently generated when ozone, hydrogen peroxide (HO) and ultraviolet (UV) light react in an advanced oxidative process (AOP). The present work explores what we believe is the first application of an AOP technology to reduce mould on whole brown and yellow flaxseed.

Small reductions in cargo vessel speed substantially reduce noise impacts to marine mammals.

Global reductions in the underwater radiated noise levels from cargo vessels are needed to reduce increasing cumulative impacts to marine wildlife. We use a vessel exposure simulation model to examine how reducing vessel source levels through slowdowns and technological modifications can lessen impacts on marine mammals. We show that the area exposed to ship noise reduces markedly with moderate source-level reductions that can be readily achieved with small reductions in speed.

Leveraging real-world data to improve cochlear implant outcomes: Is the data available?

Objectives: A small but persistent proportion of individuals do not gain the expected benefit from cochlear implants(CI). A step-change in the understanding of factors affecting outcomes could come through data science. This study evaluates clinical data capture to assess the quality and utility of CI user's health records for data science, by assessing the recording of otitis media.

Vessel noise exposures of harbour seals from the Wadden Sea.

The North Sea faces intense ship traffic owing to increasing human activities at sea. As harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are abundant top predators in the North Sea, it is hypothesised that they experience repeated, high-amplitude vessel exposures. Here, we test this hypothesis by quantifying vessel noise exposures from deployments of long-term sound and movement tags (DTAGs) on nine harbour seals from the Wadden Sea.

Implementing criteria-led discharge for acute admissions to facilitate the elective recovery from COVID-19: an example in acute tonsillitis.

Background: Healthcare systems face unprecedented numbers of patients waiting for elective treatments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals must urgently optimise patient pathways and build capacity to meet the populations health needs. Criteria-led discharge (CLD) is frequently used to optimise elective care pathways but may hold potential in discharging patients at the end of an acute hospital admission.

Non-destructive characterization of pulse flours-A review.

The consumption of plant-based proteins sourced from pulses is sustainable from the perspective of agriculture, environment, food security, and nutrition. Increased incorporation of high-quality pulse ingredients into foods such as pasta and baked goods is poised to produce refined food products to satisfy consumer demand. However, a better understanding of pulse milling processes is required to optimize the blending of pulse flours with wheat flour and other traditional ingredients.

Refractory catatonia in old age: a case report.

Background: Catatonia is a clinical syndrome characterized by psychomotor disruption, which often goes undiagnosed. Most reports have focused on interventions and outcomes for catatonia in younger people and those with schizophrenia. The clinical characteristics and course of catatonia in old age are poorly understood.

Research effort devoted to regulating and supporting ecosystem services by environmental scientists and economists.

The economic valuation of ecosystem services in part reflects the desire to use conventional economic tools (markets and economic instruments) to conserve ecosystem services. However, for regulating and supporting ecosystem services that depend on ecosystem structure and function, estimation of economic value requires estimates of the current level of underlying ecological functions first. This primary step is in principle, the job of environmental scientists, not economists.

Does body appreciation or satisfaction buffer against idealised functionality-focused images of models?

Research suggests that greater levels of body appreciation and body satisfaction may protect women from negative outcomes when viewing media images of the thin-ideal. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of body appreciation and body satisfaction in ameliorating negative effects from viewing images of the traditional thin-ideal and the newer functional-ideal (i.e.

Neuronal antibody prevalence in children with seizures under 3 years: A prospective national cohort.

Objective: To report the prevalence of anti-neuronal antibodies in a prospective whole-nation cohort of children presenting with seizures before their third birthday.

Methods: This was a prospective population-based national cohort study involving all children presenting with new-onset epilepsy or complex febrile seizures before their third birthday over a 3-year period. Patients with previously identified structural, metabolic, or infectious cause for seizures were excluded.

Design and implementation of the stacked, synchronised and iconographic timeline-structured electronic patient record in a UK NHS Global Digital Exemplar hospital.

Background: Conventional electronic screen visualisation formats, which use tabs, dropdown menus, lists and multiple windows, present huge navigation challenges to health professionals. A unifying and intuitive interface for the electronic patient record (EPR) has been an elusive goal for software developers for decades.

Methods: Since 2009, by working in an agile way, we have built and implemented a fully operational and dynamic system, the University Hospital Southampton Lifelines (UHSL), within our clinical data estate, in a UK university hospital.

Incidence and phenotypes of childhood-onset genetic epilepsies: a prospective population-based national cohort.

Epilepsy is common in early childhood. In this age group it is associated with high rates of therapy-resistance, and with cognitive, motor, and behavioural comorbidity. A large number of genes, with wide ranging functions, are implicated in its aetiology, especially in those with therapy-resistant seizures.

Ultrastructural and SINS analysis of the cell wall integrity response of Aspergillus nidulans to the absence of galactofuranose.

With lethal opportunistic fungal infections on the rise, it is imperative to explore new methods to examine virulence mechanisms. The fungal cell wall is crucial for both the virulence and viability of Aspergillus nidulans. One wall component, Galf, has been shown to contribute to important fungal processes, integrity of the cell wall and pathogenesis.

Mapping widespread and increasing underwater noise pollution from acoustic deterrent devices.

Acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) are used in attempts to mitigate pinniped depredation on aquaculture sites through the emission of loud and pervasive noise. This study quantified spatio-temporal changes in underwater ADD noise detections along western Scotland over 11 years. Acoustic point data ('listening events') collected during cetacean line-transect surveys were used to map ADD presence between 2006 and 2016.

Negative relationships between species richness and temporal variability are common but weak in natural systems.

Effects of species diversity on population and community stability (or more precisely, the effects of species richness on temporal variability) have been studied for several decades, but there have been no large-scale tests in natural communities of predictions from theory. We used 91 data sets including plants, fish, small mammals, zooplankton, birds, and insects, to examine the relationship between species richness and temporal variability in populations and communities. Seventy-eight of 91 data sets showed a negative relationship between species richness and population variability; 46 of these relationships were statistically significant.

Total disc replacement versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a systematic review with meta-analysis of data from a total of 3160 patients across 14 randomized controlled trials with both short- and medium- to long-term outcomes.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine how the short- and medium- to long-term outcome measures after total disc replacement (TDR) compare with those of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients And Methods: Databases including Medline, Embase, and Scopus were searched. Inclusion criteria involved prospective randomized control trials (RCTs) reporting the surgical treatment of patients with symptomatic degenerative cervical disc disease.

Experience of emotion in frail older people towards the end of life: A secondary data analysis.

People are living longer, but with increased age comes greater frailty and multi-morbidity. This secondary data analysis examines transcripts from interviews with 11 frail older people and 6 informal carers to explore emotion in relation to frailty and deteriorating health. Anger and frustration were frequently experienced with declining functional ability; sadness occurred with social isolation, loss of autonomy and independence; anxiety was evident when transition to a care home was discussed; and contentment was described when connecting with others.

Carbon dating cancer: defining the chronology of metastatic progression in colorectal cancer.

Background: Patients often ask oncologists how long a cancer has been present before causing symptoms or spreading to other organs. The evolutionary trajectory of cancers can be defined using phylogenetic approaches but lack of chronological references makes dating the exact onset of tumours very challenging.

Patients And Methods: Here, we describe the case of a colorectal cancer (CRC) patient presenting with synchronous lung metastasis and metachronous thyroid, chest wall and urinary tract metastases over the course of 5 years.

Thermal source Fourier transform infrared microtomography applied to Arctic sea ice diatoms.

We have used thermal source Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microtomographic imaging to compare sea ice diatoms growing under different light conditions. A prototype tomography accessory was designed to have sufficient degrees of freedom to align any tilted cylindrical sample relative to the axis of rotation, minimizing the off-axis path traced during rotation. The lightweight device rests on the motorized stage to position the sample in the field-of-view and enable mosaic imaging.