Noise Filtering Algorithm Using Gaussian Mixture Models for High-Resolution Mass Spectra of Natural Organic Matter.

High-resolution mass spectra of natural organic matter (NOM) contain a large number of noise signals. These signals interfere with the correct molecular composition estimation during nontargeted analysis because formula-assignment programs find empirical formulas for such peaks as well. Previously proposed noise filtering methods that utilize the profile of the intensity distribution of mass spectrum peaks rely on a histogram to calculate the intensity threshold value.

Temporal compression of high-power IR laser pulses in a KDP crystal.

It is shown that a KDP crystal can be used for temporal compression of powerful pulses of the near-IR range. A method of searching for laser beam and crystal parameters suitable for compression is proposed. Temporal compression of laser pulses at a central wavelength of 1034 nm from 266 fs to 94 fs during propagation along the optical axis in a 21 cm thick KDP crystal is demonstrated experimentally.

Shaping of picosecond laser pulses with THz intensity modulation in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet ranges.

The methods of shaping picosecond laser pulses with periodic intensity modulation tunable in frequency and depth are considered. Schemes for shaping modulated pulses "in-line" and with one output port are proposed. A picosecond modulation of the time envelope for IR laser pulses using a polarization interferometer is demonstrated experimentally.

Exoscope-based videocapillaroscopy system for skin microcirculation imaging of various body areas.

The capillary system immediately responds to many pathologies and environmental conditions. Accurate monitoring of its functioning often enables early detection of various diseases related to disorders in skin microcirculation. To expand the scope of capillaroscopy application, it is reasonable to visualize and assess blood microcirculation exactly in the areas of inflamed skin.

Highly efficient fourth harmonic generation of broadband laser pulses retaining 3D pulse shape.

A method for highly efficient fourth harmonic generation (FHG) retaining spatiotemporal intensity distribution of broadband chirped laser pulses is proposed. It is based on the use of pulses with linear frequency chirps of equal absolute magnitudes and opposite signs at the oo-e type noncollinear second harmonic generation. Fourth harmonic generation can by obtained by the classical method, since the second harmonic pulse is narrowband and spectrally limited.

Blood Vessel Imaging at Pre-Larval Stages of Zebrafish Embryonic Development.

The zebrafish () is an increasingly popular animal model biological system. In cardiovascular research, it has been used to model specific cardiac phenomena as well as to identify novel therapies for human cardiovascular disease. While the zebrafish cardiovascular system functioning is well examined at larval stages, the mechanisms by which vessel activity is initiated remain a subject of intense investigation.

Shaping picosecond ellipsoidal laser pulses with periodic intensity modulation for electron photoinjectors.

A method for shaping periodic intensity distributions of strongly chirped picosecond laser pulses in the infrared range by periodic phase modulation of the spectrum is proposed. The dependence of the time modulation period and depth on the parameters of periodic phase modulation of the spectrum is analyzed by analytical and numerical methods. It is demonstrated that the intensity distribution structure obtained at second- and fourth-harmonic generation can be retained by introducing an angular chirp.

Growth in Infants and Children With Intestinal Failure-associated Liver Disease Treated With Intravenous Fish Oil.

Background: Infants with intestinal failure (IF) and IF-associated liver disease (IFALD) are at risk for poor somatic growth because of increased metabolic demands, inadequate intake, intestinal malabsorption, chronic liver disease and other comorbidities. There are limited data on the nutritional adequacy of intravenous fish oil lipid emulsion (FOLE) compared with standard soybean oil lipid emulsion (SOLE) in the setting of intestinal failure.

Aims: To describe growth patterns in a large cohort of infants with IFALD treated with FOLE.

Trends of INR and Fecal Excretion of Vitamin K During Cholestasis Reversal: Implications in the Treatment of Neonates With Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease.

Background: Vitamin K is a fat-soluble compound that plays important roles in coagulation. In children with intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), the disrupted enterohepatic circulation can lead to intestinal loss of vitamin K. Fish oil-based lipid emulsion (FOLE) has proven effective in treating IFALD.

Dynamic evaluation of blood flow microcirculation by combined use of the laser Doppler flowmetry and high-speed videocapillaroscopy methods.

The dynamic light scattering methods are widely used in biomedical diagnostics involving evaluation of blood flow. However, there exist some difficulties in quantitative interpretation of backscattered light signals from the viewpoint of diagnostic information. This study considers the application of the high-speed videocapillaroscopy (VCS) method that provides the direct measurement of the red blood cells (RBCs) velocity into a capillary.

Internet Resources for Drug Discovery and Design.

The review describes online resources used for drug discovery and design. Internet resources can be classified into two classes. The first class of resources accumulates information about drugs, drug candidates, compounds, and bioassays.

Innovative Discharge Process for Families with Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome: A Prospective Nonrandomized Trial.

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life-sustaining therapy for short bowel syndrome (SBS) and other severe digestive diseases, but complications are common. We evaluated a predischarge HPN hands-on training course to reduce complications in children with SBS, including hospital readmissions.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, nonrandomized controlled research study between April 1, 2014, and April 30, 2017.

Characterization of Fatty Acid Profiles in Infants With Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease.

Background: The purpose of this study was to characterize fatty acid profiles (FAPs) in parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent infants with intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) receiving soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (SO) doses of ∼3 and ∼1 g/kg/d.

Methods: Prospectively collected data were retrospectively reviewed. Serum FAPs of patients <1 year old who experienced development of IFALD while receiving standard PN with SO were examined before transitioning to a fish oil-based lipid emulsion for IFALD treatment.

Pediatric Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease: Challenges in Identifying Clinically Relevant Biomarkers.

Background: Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) is complex and diagnosed by concurrent use of parenteral nutrition, clinical presentation, and alterations in hepatic biomarkers exclusive of other causes of liver disease. In comparison with individual measures, composite biomarkers may provide a more effective means for assessing disease progression and response to treatment than single parameters. Since IFALD is considered by some to be a type of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), those diagnostic criteria could potentially be used in this population.

Video capillaroscopy clarifies mechanism of the photoplethysmographic waveform appearance.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) devices are widely used in clinical practice but the origin of PPG signal is still under debating. The classical theory assumes that the PPG waveform stems from variations of blood volume in pulsating arteries. In this research we analysed high-speed video recordings of capillaries in a fingernail bed.

Grid-based Continual Analysis of Molecular Interior for Drug Discovery, QSAR and QSPR.

Background: In 1979, R.D.Cramer and M.

Risk of post-procedural bleeding in children on intravenous fish oil.

Background: Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) can be treated with parenteral fish oil (FO) monotherapy, but practitioners have raised concerns about a potential bleeding risk. This study aims to describe the incidence of clinically significant post-procedural bleeding (CSPPB) in children receiving FO monotherapy.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients at our institution treated with intravenous FO for IFALD.

Predictors of failure of fish-oil therapy for intestinal failure-associated liver disease in children.

Background: Parenteral fish-oil (FO) therapy is a safe and effective treatment for intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). Patients whose cholestasis does not resolve with FO may progress to end-stage liver disease.

Objective: We sought to identify factors associated with the failure of FO therapy in treating IFALD to guide prognostication and referral guidelines.

Methods to Reduce Medication Errors in a Clinical Trial of an Investigational Parenteral Medication.

There are few evidence-based guidelines to inform optimal design of complex clinical trials, such as those assessing the safety and efficacy of intravenous drugs administered daily with infusion times over many hours per day and treatment durations that may span years. This study is a retrospective review of inpatient administration deviation reports for an investigational drug that is administered daily with infusion times of 8-24 hours, and variable treatment durations for each patient. We report study design modifications made in 2007-2008 aimed at minimizing deviations from an investigational drug infusion protocol approved by an institutional review board and the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Shaping of cylindrical and 3D ellipsoidal beams for electron photoinjector laser drivers.

With the use of spatial light modulators it became possible to implement in experiments the method of controlling the space-time intensity distribution of femtosecond laser pulses stretched to picosecond duration. Cylindrical and quasi-ellipsoidal intensity distributions were obtained and characterized by means of a 2D spectrograph and a cross-correlator.

Long-Term Fish Oil Lipid Emulsion Use in Children With Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease [Formula: see text].

Background: Fish oil lipid emulsion (FOLE) and multidisciplinary care for infants with intestinal failure (IF) have been associated with reduced morbidity and mortality due to IF-associated liver disease (IFALD). With increased survival, a greater proportion of infants with IF are now able to remain on parenteral nutrition (PN) in the long term. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes in children with IFALD who have required long-term PN and FOLE therapy due to chronic IF.

Disk Yb:KGW amplifier of profiled pulses of laser driver for electron photoinjector.

We investigated a diode-pumped multipass disk Yb:KGW amplifier intended for amplifying a train of 3D ellipsoidal pulses of a laser driver for a photocathode of a linear electron accelerator. The multipass amplification geometry permitted increasing the energy of broadband (about 10 nm) pulses with a repetition rate of 1 MHz from 0.12 µJ to 39 µJ, despite large losses (two orders of magnitude) introduced by a beam shaper of 3D ellipsoidal beam.

Preservation of biochemical liver function with low-dose soy-based lipids in children with intestinal failure-associated liver disease.

Objectives: Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) contributes to significant morbidity in pediatric patients with intestinal failure (IF); however, the use of parenteral nutrition (PN) with a fish oil-based intravenous (IV) emulsion (FO) has been associated with biochemical reversal of cholestasis and improved outcomes. Unfortunately, FO increases the complexity of care: because it can be administered only under Food and Drug Administration compassionate use protocols requiring special monitoring, it is not available as a 3-in-1 solution and is more expensive than comparable soy-based IV lipid emulsion (SO). Because of these pragmatic constraints, a series of patient families were switched to low-dose (1 g kg(-1) day(-1)) SO following biochemical resolution of cholestasis.

Challenging the 48-Hour Rule-Out for Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in the Pediatric Intestinal Failure Population: A Retrospective Pilot Study.

Introduction: While parenteral nutrition (PN) has revolutionized the management of patients with intestinal failure (IF), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in this population. The objective of this study is to characterize the presentation of CLABSIs in pediatric IF and to determine the time to positivity of blood cultures.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of children with IF who presented to our institution for evaluation of a possible CLABSI from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012, was performed.