Synthesis and application of bismuth nanoparticle-loaded longan porous carbon for simultaneous electrochemical determination of Pb(II) and cd(II) in seafoods.

The discarded longan shell-derived porous carbon material (LPC) served as a scaffold for synthesizing bismuth nanoparticle-loaded longan porous carbon nanocomposite (BiNPs@LPC) via a hydrothermal method. Then BiNPs@LPC was utilized to modify screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) for simultaneous detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The material was thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. BiNPs@LPC exhibited abundant porous structures, high surface area, and numerous active sites, which could improve significantly response sensitivity. Under optimal conditions, the peak currents of Pb(II) and Cd(II) exhibited favorable linear relationships with the concentration within a range of 0.1-150 µg L-1, with detection limits (S/N = 3) of 0.02 µg L-1 and 0.03 µg L-1, respectively. BiNPs@LPC/SPCE demonstrated remarkable selectivity, stability and repeatability. The proposed method was successfully applied for the detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in seafoods achieving satisfying recovery of 97.8%-108.3% and 96.7%-106.4%. These excellent test properties were coupled with convenience for batch preparation of the modified electrodes, highlighting its potential for practical applications in heavy metal detection of real samples.

High-Performance Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anode Based on Metal-Organic Framework Glass.

The performance of lithium metal batteries is severely hampered by uncontrollable dendrite growth and volume change within the anode. This work addresses these obstacles by introducing a novel strategy: applying an isotropic and internal grain-boundary-free layer, specifically, a metal-organic framework (MOF) glass layer with nano-porosity onto the electrochemically plated lithium metal anode. Both ab initio and classical molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the MOF glass layer makes the lithium transport smooth and uniform via its internal monolithic and interfacial advantages. This MOF glass layer with the fast and more uniform lithium diffusion in the monolithic interior and its interface enables dendrite-free lithium plating and stripping through surface confinement effect and interfacial effect. When employed in symmetric batteries, the achieved Li metal anode can operate over 300 h at 1 mA cm-2. The full batteries matched with LiFePO4 exhibit high capacity (148 mAh g-1), excellent rate performance (61 mAh g-1 at 5 C), and outstanding cycling stability (with capacity retention of ≈90% after 1000 cycles). The full batteries matched with high-voltage LiCoO2 also show superior performances. Therefore, the strategy of utilizing a MOF glass layer enables the development of high-performance lithium metal anodes.

Transforming waste cellulosic fabric dyed with Reactive Yellow C4GL into value textile by a microwave assisted energy efficient system of color stripping.

A million ton of cotton fabric is wasted during cutting process in garment industry as well as in textile dyeing industry due to faulty dyeing. Color stripping of cotton fabric has become a significant challenge in the textile industry because the harsh chemicals used in chemical stripping processes affects the quality of fabric very badly. Conventional stripping methods lead with severe effects due to prolonged treatment time and high chemical concentrations. Recently, microwave-assisted stripping techniques have been emerged as effective alternatives to improve stripping efficiency. In this research, the developed microwave assisted stripping system is improved by the application of Urea, which is utilized as a microwave absorber to further reduce stripping time, temperature, and chemical concentration kept focus on quality parameters of recycled cotton fabric. This study inspects the efficiency of microwave absorber-assisted alkali hydrolysis and reduction in terms of dye-fabric bond cleavage, chromophores removal, chemical consumption, and processing time and compared with sequential stripping, microwave assisted stripping without absorber and conventional methods. The results indicated that microwave absorber-assisted alkali hydrolysis and reduction achieved 90 % stripping efficiency by using lowest concentrations of chemicals, while sequential stripping yielded a stripping efficiency of 96 %. Similarly, microwave absorber assisted methods resulted in minor loss in tear strength and weight. These outputs highlight the superior performance of microwave absorber-assisted techniques, demonstrating their efficiency, novelty, time-saving nature, and reduced damage compared to other methods.

Large-Scale Integration of the Ion-Reinforced Phytic Acid Layer Stabilizing Magnesium Metal Anode.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) have garnered significant attention for their potential in large-scale energy storage applications. However, the commercial development of RMBs has been severely hampered by the rapid failure of large-sized Mg metal anodes, especially under fast and deep cycling conditions. Herein, a concept proof involving a large-scale ion-reinforced phytic acid (PA) layer (100 cm × 7.5 cm) with an excellent water-oxygen tolerance, high Mg2+ conductivity, and favorable electrochemical stability is proposed to enable rapid and uniform plating/stripping of Mg metal anode. Guided by even distributions of Mg2+ flux and electric field, the as-prepared large-sized PA-Al@Mg electrode (5.8 cm × 4.5 cm) exhibits no perforation and uniform Mg plating/stripping after cycling. Consequently, an ultralong lifespan (2400 h at 3 mA cm-2 with 1 mAh cm-2) and high current tolerance (300 h at 9 mA cm-2 with 1 mAh cm-2) of the symmetric cell using the PA-Al@Mg anode could be achieved. Notably, the PA-Al@Mg//Mo6S8 full cell demonstrates exceptional stability, operating for 8000 cycles at 5 C with a capacity retention of 99.8%, surpassing that of bare Mg (3000 cycles, 74.7%). Moreover, a large-sized PA-Al@Mg anode successfully contributes to the stable pouch cell (200 and 750 cycles at 0.1 and 1 C), further confirming its significant potential for practical utilization. This work provides valuable theoretical insights and technological support for the practical implementation of RMBs.

Electrochemical Detection of Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ with Sensors Based on Carbonaceous Nanomaterials and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles.

Two electrochemical sensors were developed in this study, with their preparations using two nanomaterials with remarkable properties, namely, carbon nanofibers (CNF) modified with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and multilayer carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) modified with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The modified screen-printed electrodes (SPE) were thus named SPE/Fe3O4-CNF and SPE/Fe3O4-MWCNT and were used for the simultaneous detection of heavy metals (Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+). The sensors have been spectrometrically and electrochemically characterized. The limits of detection of the SPE/Fe3O4-CNF sensor were 0.0615 µM, 0.0154 µM, 0.0320 µM and 0.0148 µM for Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+, respectively, and 0.2719 µM, 0.3187 µM, 1.0436 µM and 0.9076 µM in the case of the SPE/ Fe3O4-MWCNT sensor (following optimization of the working parameters). Due to the modifying material, the results showed superior performance for the SPE/Fe3O4-CNF sensor, with extended linearity ranges and detection limits in the nanomolar range, compared to those of the SPE/Fe3O4-MWCNT sensor. For the quantification of heavy metal ions Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ with the SPE/Fe3O4-CNF sensor from real samples, the standard addition method was used because the values obtained for the recovery tests were good. The analysis of surface water samples from the Danube River has shown that the obtained values are significantly lower than the maximum limits allowed according to the quality standards specified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and those of the World Health Organization (WHO). This research provides a complementary method based on electrochemical sensors for in situ monitoring of surface water quality, representing a useful tool in environmental studies.

Microelectrode Voltammetric Analysis of Low Concentrations of Se(IV) Ions in Environmental Waters.

The current research is an attempt to analyze on-site selenium(IV) ions in environmental water samples using an eco-friendly miniaturized sensor developed by deposition of a very thin amount of metallic bismuth in a solid Bi electrode tightly closed in miniaturized housing. Numerous experimental variables are optimized, including the composition of the supporting electrolyte and its pH, as well as activation and accumulation conditions. Under optimized measurement conditions, the method shows high sensitivity, permitting a very low limit of detection equal to 7 × 10-10 mol L-1 to be achieved in a short accumulation time of 50 s. The performance of this microsensor was investigated against numerous interference factors and its good anti-interference capability was demonstrated. A series of voltammetric experiments by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) were carried out and they proved that the miniaturized sensor is characterized by very good accuracy and precision as well as long-term stability. The solid bismuth microelectrode displays a good voltammetric response in the analysis of diverse samples with a complex matrix and demonstrates a good recovery rate.

Nucleation of Pitting and Evolution of Stripping on Lithium-Metal Anodes.

The stripping reaction of lithium (Li) will greatly impact the cyclability and safety of Li-metal batteries. However, Li pits' nucleation and growth, the origin of uneven stripping, are still poorly understood. In this study, we analyze the nucleation mechanism of Li pits and their morphology evolution with a large population and electrode area (>0.45 cm2). We elucidate the dependence of the pit size and density on the current density and overpotential, which are aligned with classical nucleation theory. With a confocal laser scanning microscope, we reveal the preferential stripping on certain crystal grains and a new stripping mode between pure pitting and stripping without pitting. Descriptors like circularity and the aspect ratio (R) of the pit radius to depth are used to quantify the evolution of Li pits in three dimensions. As the pits grow, growth predominates along the through-planedirection, surpassing the expanding rate in the in-plane direction. After analyzing more than 1000 pits at each condition, we validate that the overpotential is inversely related to the pit radius and exponentially related to the rate of nucleation. With this established nucleation-overpotential relationship, we can better understand and predict the evolution of the surface area and roughness of Li electrodes under different stripping conditions. The knowledge and methodology developed in this work will significantly benefit Li-metal batteries' charging/discharging profile design and the assessment of large-scale Li-metal foils.

Membrane stripping in group B streptococcus carriers does not impede adequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis: a retrospective study.

Objective: Membrane stripping in group B streptococcus (GBS) carriers poses an increased risk of inadequate antibiotic prophylaxis, potentially due to accelerated labor, thereby potentially impacting the management of GBS colonization during delivery. We compared the adequacy of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis between pregnant women colonized with GBS, who underwent membrane stripping and those who did not. The study aimed to determine whether the performance of membrane stripping, by potentially shortening labor duration, increases the risk of inadequate antibiotic prophylaxis dispensation. Study design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on GBS screen-positive women with a full-term singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation, who were eligible for vaginal delivery. The exposed group consisted of women who underwent membrane stripping, while the unexposed group consisted of women who did not undergo membrane stripping. The primary outcome was defined as inadequate duration of antibiotic prophylaxis during labor, wherein less than 4 h of beta-lactam antibiotics were administered prior to delivery. Neonatal outcome was compared between the groups. Results: This retrospective cohort study comprised 1,609 women, with 129 in the exposed group (stripping group) and 1,480 in the unexposed group (no stripping group). Adequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was received by 64.3% (83/129) of the exposed group, compared to 46.9% (694/1,480) of the unexposed group (p = 0.003). Membrane stripping was associated with increased odds of receiving adequate prophylaxis (OR 1.897, 95% CI 1.185-3.037, p = 0.008). After excluding women who presented to the labor ward in active labor and delivered in less than 4 h, both the exposed and unexposed groups had similarly high rates of adequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (87.5% vs. 85.8%, respectively). No significant difference was observed in adverse neonatal outcomes between the groups. Conclusion: The provision of membrane stripping did not impede adequate intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and was correlated with a higher rate of sufficient prophylaxis in comparison to non-swept patients. These observations suggest that membrane stripping can be considered a safe option for ensuring adequate antibiotic prophylaxis in women colonized with GBS.

Validation of a CFD model for cell culture bioreactors at large scale and its application in scale-up.

Among all the operating parameters that control the cell culture environment inside bioreactors, appropriate mixing and aeration are crucial to ensure sufficient oxygen supply, homogeneous mixing, and CO2 stripping. A model-based manufacturing facility fit approach was applied to define agitation and bottom air flow rates during the process scale-up from laboratory to manufacturing, of which computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was the core modeling tool. The realizable k-ε turbulent dispersed Eulerian gas-liquid flow model was established and validated using experimental values for the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa). Model validation defined the process operating parameter ranges for application of the model, identified mixing issues (e.g., impeller flooding, dissolved oxygen gradients, etc.) and the impact of antifoam on kLa. Using the CFD simulation results as inputs to the models for oxygen demand, gas entrance velocity, and CO2 stripping aided in the design of the agitation and bottom air flow rates needed to meet cellular oxygen demand, control CO2 levels, mitigate risks for cell damage due to shear, foaming, as well as fire hazards due to high O2 levels in the bioreactor gas outlet. The recommended operating conditions led to the completion of five manufacturing runs with a 100% success rate. This model-based approach achieved a seamless scale-up and reduced the required number of at-scale development batches, resulting in cost and time savings of a cell culture commercialization process.

Ultrasmall and Highly Dispersed Pt Entities Deposited on Mesoporous N-doped Carbon Nanospheres by Pulsed CVD for Improved HER.

Vapor-based deposition techniques are emerging approaches for the design of carbon-supported metal powder electrocatalysts with tailored catalyst entities, sizes, and dispersions. Herein, a pulsed CVD (Pt-pCVD) approach is employed to deposit different Pt entities on mesoporous N-doped carbon (MPNC) nanospheres to design high-performance hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts. The influence of consecutive precursor pulse number (50-250) and deposition temperature (225-300 °C) are investigated. The Pt-pCVD process results in highly dispersed ultrasmall Pt clusters (≈1 nm in size) and Pt single atoms, while under certain conditions few larger Pt nanoparticles are formed. The best MPNC-Pt-pCVD electrocatalyst prepared in this work (250 pulses, 250 °C) reveals a Pt HER mass activity of 22.2 ± 1.2 A mg-1 Pt at -50 mV versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), thereby outperforming a commercially available Pt/C electrocatalyst by 40% as a result of the increased Pt utilization. Remarkably, after optimization of the Pt electrode loading, an ultrahigh Pt mass activity of 56 ± 2 A mg-1 Pt at -50 mV versus RHE is found, which is among the highest Pt mass activities of Pt single atom and cluster-based electrocatalysts reported so far.

Evaluation of Less Invasive Sampling Tools for the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Background: Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) usually relies on invasive samples, but it is unclear whether more patient-friendly tools are good alternatives for diverse lesions when used with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: Patients with suspected CL were enrolled consecutively in a prospective diagnostic accuracy study. We compared dental broach, tape disc, and microbiopsy samples with PCR as index tests, using PCR with skin slit samples as reference test. Subsequently, we constructed a composite reference test including microscopy, the 3 index tests and skin slit PCR, and we compared these same tests with the composite reference test. We assessed diagnostic accuracy parameters with 95% confidence intervals for all comparisons. Results: Among 344 included patients, 282 (82.0%) had CL diagnosed, and 62 (18.0%) CL absence, by skin slit PCR. The sensitivity and specificity by PCR were 89.0% (95% confidence interval, 84.8%-92.1%) and 58.1% (45.7%-69.5%), respectively, for dental broach, 96.1% (93.2%-97.8%) and 27.4% (17.9%-39.6%) for tape disc, and 74.8% (66.3%-81.7%) and 72.7% (51.8%-86.8%) for microbiopsy. Several reference test-negative patients were consistently positive with the index tests. Using the composite reference test, dental broach, and skin slit had similar diagnostic performance. Discussion: Dental broach seems a less invasive but similarly accurate alternative to skin slit for diagnosing CL when using PCR. Tape discs lack specificity and seem unsuitable for CL diagnosis without cutoff. Reference tests for CL are problematic, since using a single reference test is likely to miss true cases, while composite reference tests are often biased and impractical as they require multiple tests.

Evaluation of the Consistency of Two Interproximal Reduction Methods in Clear Aligner Therapy: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: To compare the consistency of two interproximal reduction (IPR) methods in terms of the amount of planned and performed IPR during clear aligner therapy (CAT). Methods: Thirty-four patients who received IPR using hand-operated abrasive strips (Group 1, 20 patients, 162 teeth) and motor-driven 3/4 oscillating segmental disks (Group 2, 14 patients, 134 teeth) during CAT were included in this preliminary study. The consistency between the planned and performed IPR amounts was evaluated within and between groups for teeth and quadrants. Results: In Group 1, the amount of IPR performed on teeth numbers 22 and 43 and in the upper left quadrant was found to be statistically less than that of planned. On the other hand, the amount of performed IPR was statistically higher on tooth number 44 and in the upper right quadrant, whereas it was statistically less on tooth number 33 when compared with the planned amount in Group 2. The inconsistency between the planned and performed IPR amounts were statistically significant only in Group 1 and for teeth numbers 11, 21, 32, 33, and 43. No significant difference was found when the same parameter was compared between the groups. Conclusion: The consistency of IPR was found to be better with the motor-driven oscillating disk system than with the hand-operated IPR strip system.

Cation-Loaded Porous Mg2+-Zeolite Layer Direct Dendrite-Free Deposition toward Long-Life Lithium Metal Anodes.

Lithium metal, with ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity, is considered as an ideal anode material for the lithium-ion batteries. However, its practical application is severely plagued by the uncontrolled formation of dendritic Li. Here, a cation-loaded porous Mg2+-Zeolite layer is proposed to enable the dendrite-free deposition on the surface of Li metal anode. The skeleton channels of zeolite provide the low coordinated Li+-solvation groups, leading to the faster desolvation process at the interface. Meanwhile, anions-involved solvation sheath induces a stable, inorganic-rich SEI, contributing to the uniform Li+ flux through the interface. Furthermore, the co-deposition of sustained release Mg2+ realizes a new faster migration pathway, which proactively facilitates the uniform diffusion of Li on the lithium substrate. The synergistic modulation of these kinetic processes facilitates the homogeneous Li plating/stripping behavior. Based on this synergistic mechanism, the high-efficiency deposition with cyclic longevity exceeding 2100 h is observed in the symmetric Li/Li cell with Mg2+-Zeolite modified anode at 1 mA cm-2. The pouch cell matched with LiFePO4 cathode fulfills a capacity retention of 88.4% after 100 cycles at a severe current density of 1 C charge/discharge. This synergistic protective mechanism can give new guidance for realizing the safe and high-performance Li metal batteries.

Diamond-Like Carbon Coating Reduces Connection Screw Head Stripping After Multiple Tightening Instances.

The stability of implant-abutment joint is fundamental for the long-term success of implant rehabilitation. The screw loosening, fracture, and head deformation are among the most common mechanical complications. Several surface treatments of titanium screws have been proposed to improve their resistance and stability. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating of the materials is widely used to increase their wear resistance and durability. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of carbon fiber coating on the screw head on screw removal torque and screw head stripping. One hundred titanium implant screws were used, 50 without coating (Group 1) and 50 with DLC coating of the screw head (Group 2). Each screw was tightened with a torque of 25 Ncm and unscrewed 10 times. The removal torque was measured with a digital cap torque tester for each loosening. Optical 3d measurement of the screw head surface was performed by a fully automatic machine before and after multiple tightening to investigate surface modifications. The reverse torque values decreased with repeated tightening and loosening cycles in both groups without significant differences (P > .05). Optical measurements of surface dimensions revealed average changes of 0.0357 mm in Group 1 and 0.02312 mm in Group 2, which resulted to be statistically significant (P < .001). The DLC coating of the retention screw head can prevent its distortion and wear, especially after multiple tightening.

Golden-flower fungus (Eurotiwm Cristatum) presents fungal flower aroma as well as accelerates the aging of white tea (Shoumei).

Golden-flower fungus (Eurotiwm Cristatum, EC) is widely inoculated in dark tea to endow a typical fungal floral aroma. Recently, Golden Flower White Tea (GFWT), prepared by transplanting EC-mediated fermentation to white tea (Shoumei, SM) to reform the roughness and coarseness, has attracted much attention attributed to coordinated flavor. However, the bio-chemistry reactions between EC and SM, along with origination of composited aroma are still unclear. Thus, the rejected EC, GFWT leaves and stems after EC removal were separated by layer-by-layer stripping following sensory evaluation, volatiles and microstructure analysis to uncover aroma formation mechanism. In GFWT, EC presents fungal flower aroma rather than contribution of extracellular enzymes secreted by fungus in Fu brick tea. Moreover, the short "flowering process" (7 days) endows SM with a stale, jujube, and sweet aroma, which is regarded as the typical characteristic of aged white tea. This inspires EC-mediated fermentation as a promising rapid aging process.

Removal of PAHs, TSS, oils and fats from ammonium-rich coke wastewater by granular filtration.

Coke wastewater is a complex industrial wastewater due to its high content of toxic compounds such as cyanides, thiocyanates, phenols, tar, oils, and fats. After a series of treatments, wastewater with a high ammonium content is obtained (around 4,150 mg·L-1). A stripping process is used to reduce it. Certain pollutants in the influent, such as tar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oils, fats and total suspended solids (TSS), interfere with stripping and therefore must be previously removed. In this study, the performance of a pilot-scale airlift sand filter was evaluated under real conditions for the reduction of the concentration of tar, PAHs, oils, fats and TSS, before stripping. Prior to the sand filter, a cationic flocculant was added to the influent (2 ppm). High (10 mm.min-1), medium (7.5 mm.min-1) and low sand speeds (1.9-2.6 mm.min-1) were assessed. The latter conditions gave the best results: a decrease of 98.2% in TSS, 99.7% in oils, fats and grease and 97.6% in PAHs. The final effluent (≤ 1.6 mg PAHs·L-1, ≤ 5 mg TSS·L-1 and ≤ 0.05 mg·L-1 of fats, oils and grease) was suitable for the stripping process.

How to overcome the difficulty in assaying Ni in biodiesel samples? Extraction induced by microemulsion breaking and square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry could be the answer.

Herein, a simple, green, and relatively inexpensive approach to determine nickel (Ni) in biodiesel samples by square wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (SWAdCSV) is presented. A method based on the accumulation of Ni as Ni(II)-dimethylglyoxime (Ni(II)(HDMG)2) on the glassy carbon electrode was carried out in a solution containing the aqueous phase extract (APhEx) obtained from an extraction induced by microemulsion breaking (EIMB), which was achieved by adding a few microliters of ultrapure water to a microemulsion composed of biodiesel, n-propanol and a diluted HNO3 solution. The LOD and LOQ were 0.2 µg L-1 and 0.8 µg L-1, respectively, and the accuracy was evaluated by recovery assays of spiked samples and by analyzing a standard reference material. Results obtained from a comparative method (HR-CS GF AAS) were also used for this evaluation. The method was applied to biodiesel samples produced from different feedstocks. To the best of the authors knowledge, it is the first time that: 1) Ni in biodiesel is determined by a voltammetric method; 2) EIMB is applied to extract Ni from this matrix and 3) this type of sample preparation method is used with adsorptive stripping voltammetry.

Penetration rates into the stratum corneum layer: A novel quantitative indicator for assessing skin barrier function.

BACKGROUND: The stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin epidermis, acts as an effective bi-directional barrier, preventing water loss (inside-outside barrier) and entry of foreign substances (outside-inside barrier). Although transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is a widely-used measure of barrier function, it represents only inside-outside protection. Therefore, we aimed to establish a non-invasive method for quantitative evaluation of the outside-inside barrier function and visually present a skin barrier model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin barrier damage was induced by applying a closed patch of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate to the forearms of eight participants; they were instructed to apply a barrier cream on a designated damaged area twice daily for 5 days. The SC barrier was evaluated by measuring TEWL and fluorescein sodium salt penetration rate before, immediately after, and 5 days after damage. The penetration rate was assessed using tape-stripping (TS) technique and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: The rates of fluorescein sodium salt penetration into the lower layers of SC differed significantly based on the degree of skin barrier damage. The correlation between penetration rate and TEWL was weak after two rounds of TS and became stronger after subsequent rounds. Five days after skin barrier damage, the penetration rate of all layers differed significantly between areas with and without the barrier cream application. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the penetration rate was dependent on skin barrier conditions. The penetration rate and corresponding fluorescence images are suitable quantitative indicators that can visually represent skin barrier conditions.

BOOSTING SKULL-STRIPPING PERFORMANCE FOR PEDIATRIC BRAIN IMAGES.

Skull-stripping is the removal of background and non-brain anatomical features from brain images. While many skull-stripping tools exist, few target pediatric populations. With the emergence of multi-institutional pediatric data acquisition efforts to broaden the understanding of perinatal brain development, it is essential to develop robust and well-tested tools ready for the relevant data processing. However, the broad range of neuroanatomical variation in the developing brain, combined with additional challenges such as high motion levels, as well as shoulder and chest signal in the images, leaves many adult-specific tools ill-suited for pediatric skull-stripping. Building on an existing framework for robust and accurate skull-stripping, we propose developmental SynthStrip (d-SynthStrip), a skull-stripping model tailored to pediatric images. This framework exposes networks to highly variable images synthesized from label maps. Our model substantially outperforms pediatric baselines across scan types and age cohorts. In addition, the <1-minute runtime of our tool compares favorably to the fastest baselines. We distribute our model at https://w3id.org/synthstrip.