A Federated Learning Protocol for Spiking Neural Membrane Systems.

Although deep learning models have shown promising results in solving problems related to image recognition or natural language processing, they do not match how the biological brain works. Some of the differences include the amount of energy consumed, the way neurons communicate, or the way they learn. To close the gap between artificial neural networks and biological ones, researchers proposed the spiking neural network.

On the Development of a New Flexible Pressure Sensor.

The rapid advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) serves as a significant driving force behind the development of innovative sensors and actuators. This technological progression has created a substantial demand for new flexible pressure sensors, essential for a variety of applications ranging from wearable devices to smart home systems. In response to this growing need, our laboratory has developed a novel flexible pressure sensor, designed to offer an improved performance and adaptability.

The Clinical Efficacy, and Long-Term Outcomes Between Pneumatic Dilation and Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy in Achalasia.

Achalasia is the most well-known motility disorder, characterized by the lack of optimal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter during swallowing and the absence of peristalsis of the esophageal body. Laparoscopic Heller esocardiomyotomy (LHM) and pneumatic dilation (PD) were the main treatment options for achalasia. Currently, the therapeutic methods are complemented by per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

Estimating the Treatment and Prophylactic Economic Value of New Antimicrobials in Managing Antibiotic Resistance and Serious Infections for Common Pathogens in the USA: A Population Modelling Study.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health concern. There is a global need to estimate the population-level value of developing new antimicrobials and to ensure the effective use of existing antimicrobials as strategies to counteract antimicrobial resistance. To this aim, population-level value criteria need to be considered alongside conventional value measures.

Capturing Value Attributes in the Economic Evaluation of Ceftazidime with Avibactam for Treating Severe Aerobic Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in the United Kingdom.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance remains a serious and growing threat to public health, both globally and in the UK, leading to diminishing effectiveness of antimicrobials. Despite a clear need for new antimicrobials, the clinical pipeline is insufficient, driven by high research and development costs and limited expected returns on investment. To counteract this, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and National Health Service (NHS) England have launched a reimbursement mechanism, de-linked from volume of sales, that aims to reduce economic risk by recognising the broader population-level value of antimicrobials.

Using Behavior Change Theory to Identify Drivers and Barriers for Antifungal Treatment Decisions: A Case Study in a Large Teaching Hospital in the East of England, UK.

Introduction: Antifungal stewardship (AFS) programs are recognized to contribute to optimizing antifungal prescribing for treatment and prophylaxis. However, only a small number of such programs are implemented. Consequently, evidence on behavioral drivers and barriers of such programs and learnings from existing successful AFS programs is limited.

Verifiable biology.

The formalization of biological systems using computational modelling approaches as an alternative to mathematical-based methods has recently received much interest because computational models provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of biological systems. In particular, formal verification, complementary approach to standard computational techniques such as simulation, is used to validate the system correctness and obtain critical information about system behaviour. In this study, we survey the most frequently used computational modelling approaches and formal verification techniques for computational biology.

Cobalt- and Copper-Based for Low Concentration Methane Detection, a Comparison Study.

Methane is a colorless/odorless major greenhouse effect gas, which can explode when it accumulates at concentrations above 50,000 ppm. Its detection cannot be performed without specialized equipment, namely sensing devices. A series of MOX sensors ( type), with CoO and CuO sensitive films were obtained using an eco-friendly and low-cost deposition technique (sol-gel).

The T Cell Epitope Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) emerged, bringing with them varying degrees of health and socioeconomic burdens. In particular, the Omicron VOC displayed distinct features of increased transmissibility accompanied by antigenic drift in the spike protein that partially circumvented the ability of pre-existing antibody responses in the global population to neutralize the virus. However, T cell immunity has remained robust throughout all the different VOC transmission waves and has emerged as a critically important correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2 and its VOCs, in both vaccinated and infected individuals.

Influence of the Thermal Environment on Occupational Health and Safety in Automotive Industry: A Case Study.

Considering thermal environment aspects have a major impact not only on occupational health and safety (OH&S) performance but also on the productivity and satisfaction of the workers, the aim of the case study was to assess the thermal comfort of a group of 33 workers in an automotive industry company, starting with collecting data about the thermal environment from different workplaces, continuing with the analytical determination and interpretation of thermal comfort using the calculation of the Predicted Mean Vote () and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied () indices, according to provisions of the standard ISO 7730:2005, and comparing the results with the subjective perception of the workers revealed by applying individual questionnaires. The results of the study represent an important input element for establishing the preventive and protective measures for the analysed workplaces in correlation with the measures addressing other specific risks and, also, could serve as a model for extending and applying to other similar workplaces in future studies. Moreover, the mathematical model and the software instrument used for this study case could be used in further similar studies on larger groups of workers and in any industrial domain.

Management of Chylothorax in Esophageal Surgery by Minimally Invasive Thoracoscopic Approach: Case Series.

Chylothorax is a rare complication, especially after esophageal cancer surgery. It may occur mainly in the thoracic stage of esophagectomy. The management of chylothorax is usually conservative, surgical reoperation with thoracic duct ligation being reserved for those cases refractory to that treatment.

Management of Esophageal Perforations During Achalasia Treatment Experience of the General and Esophageal Surgery Clinic, Sf Maria Hospital.

Achalasia is a motility disorder characterized by the absence of optimal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) with swallowing and lack of peristalsis of the esophageal body. Excepting temporary medical options, the treatment aims to lower the LES pressure by endoscopic or surgical means. Either method involves a risk of perforation.

Remote Sensing System for Motor Nerve Impulse.

In this article, we present our research achievements regarding the development of a remote sensing system for motor pulse acquisition, as a first step towards a complete neuroprosthetic arm. We present the fabrication process of an implantable electrode for nerve impulse acquisition, together with an innovative wirelessly controlled system. In our study, these were combined into an implantable device for attachment to peripheral nerves.

Microelectromechanical Systems Based on Magnetic Polymer Films.

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have been increasingly used worldwide in a wide range of applications, including high tech, energy, medicine or environmental applications. Magnetic polymer composite films have been used extensively in the development of the micropumps and valves, which are critical components of the microelectromechanical systems. Based on the literature survey, several polymers and magnetic micro and nanopowders can be identified and, depending on their nature, ratio, processing route and the design of the device, their performances can be tuned from simple valves and pumps to biomimetic devices, such as, for instance, hearth ventricles.

Malignant mixed Müllerian tumor of the fallopian tube: Case report and literature review.

Carcinosarcoma, also known as malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT), includes both malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements. While the endometrium is the most frequent known site for carcinosarcomas, their development in the fallopian tube is rare condition, only accounting for 0.1 to 0.

ZnO/NiO heterostructure-based microsensors used in formaldehyde detection at room temperature: Influence of the sensor operating voltage.

Recently the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere have increased dramatically with rapid development of urbanization and industry. This led to a large decline in air quality around the world, which resulted in a heavy impact on human health. Therefore, new/cheap detection devices for VOCs are of high interest.

Time trends, geographic variation and risk factors for gastroschisis in Canada: A population-based cohort study 2006-2017.

Background: Previous studies showed increases in rates of gastroschisis in Canada in the first decade of the 21st century.

Objective: We sought to examine the epidemiologic characteristics of gastroschisis in Canada in recent years.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study of all livebirths and stillbirths delivered in Canada (excluding Quebec) from 2006 to 2017, with information obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Primary pelvic exenteration: Our experience with 23 patients from a single institution.

This study was designed with an aim to share our experience of primary pelvic exenterations. The study included 23 patients with different types of pelvic cancer enrolled at a single institution between November 2011 and July 2020. The patient mean age was 55 years (range, 43-72 years) and the oncological indications included: Stage IVa cervical cancer (11 cases, 48.

Toward Full-Stack Synthetic Biology: Integrating Model Specification, Simulation, Verification, and Biological Compilation.

We present the Infobiotics Workbench (IBW), a user-friendly, scalable, and integrated computational environment for the computer-aided design of synthetic biological systems. It supports an iterative workflow that begins with specification of the desired synthetic system, followed by simulation and verification of the system in high-performance environments and ending with the eventual compilation of the system specification into suitable genetic constructs. IBW integrates , , , and features into a single software suite.

InSAR surface deformation and numeric modeling unravel an active salt diapir in southern Romania.

Salt diapirism is often associated with potential hydrocarbon energy resources, and detecting active diapirs can strongly affect the prospect to discover new gas and oilfields. Here we use InSAR techniques as a proxy to evaluate surface deformation in the Diapiric Fold Zone located in the East Carpathians Bend. Significant surface uplift (~ 5 mm/year) is identified in a relatively small region not previously known for the presence of an actively rising salt diapir.

Laterally extended parametrectomy.

Objective: To describe the laterally extended parametrectomy (LEP) surgical technique, emphasizing the main challenges of the procedure.

Methods: LEP was designed as a more radical surgical procedure aiming to remove the entire parametrial tissue from the pelvic sidewall. Its initial indications were for lymph node positive Stage Ib (current International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018 Stage IIIc) and Stage IIb cervical cancer.

Abdominal radical trachelectomy as fertility-sparing management for early stages of cervical cancer: Our experience in 18 cases.

The aim of this study was to present our experience of 18 cases of abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART), including 5 performed during pregnancy, analyzing patient selection, surgical complications, and oncological and obstetrical outcomes. This reproductive study included all early stage cervical cancer patients referred for ART at the 1st Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital Targu Mures, between 2010 and 2020. A total of 19 women were considered for ART, and only 1 case required conversion to radical hysterectomy.

The Double Life-Saving Approach of Abdominal Radical Trachelectomy during Pregnancy for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer-An Overview of the Literature and Our Institutional Experience.

(1) Background: Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer encountered during pregnancy, with a frequency of 0.8-1.5 cases per 10,000 births.