Relevant Biomarkers in Medical Practices: An Analysis of the Needs Addressed by an International Survey

(1) Backround: Technological advances should foster gains in physicians’ efficiency. For example, a reduction of the medical decision time can be enabled by faster biological tests. The main objective of this study was to collect responses from an international panel of physicians on their needs for biomarkers and also to convey the improvement in the outcome to be made possible by the potential development of fast diagnostic tests for these biomarkers. (2) Methods: we distributed a questionnaire on the Internet to physicians. (3) Results: 508 physicians participated in this survey. The mean age was 38 years. General practice and emergency medicine were heavily represented, with 95% CIs of 44% (39.78, 48.41) and 32% (27.84, 35.94)), respectively. The two most represented countries were France (95% CI: 74% (70.20, 77.83)) and the USA (95% CI: 11% (8.65, 14.18)). Ninety-eight percentages of the physicians thought that obtaining cited biomarkers more quickly would be beneficial to their practice and to patient’s care. The main biomarkers of interest identified by our panel were troponin (95% CI: 51% (46.24, 54.94)), C-reactive protein (95% CI: 42% (38.03, 46.62)), D-dimer (95% CI: 29% (24.80, 32.68)), and brain natriuretic peptide (95% CI: 13% (10.25, 16.13)). (4) Conclusions: Our study highlights the real technological need for fast biomarker results, which could be provided by biosensors. The relevance of some answers such as troponin is questionable.

Inflammasome and Its Therapeutic Targeting in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Inflammasome is a cytoplasmic multiprotein complex that facilitates the clearance of exogenous microorganisms or the recognition of endogenous danger signals, which is critically involved in innate inflammatory response. Excessive or abnormal activation of inflammasomes has been shown to contribute to the development of various diseases including autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative changes, and cancers. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and complex autoimmune disease, in which inflammasome activation plays a pivotal role in immune dysregulation and joint inflammation. This review summarizes recent findings on inflammasome activation and its effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of RA and potential development of therapeutic targeting of inflammasome for the immunotherapy of RA.

Flame retardant high-power Li-S flexible batteries enabled by bio-macromolecular binder integrating conformal fractions

Polymer binders for sulfur cathodes play a very critical role as they prerequisites for an in-situ immobilization against polysulfide shuttle and volume change, while ensuring good adhesion within active materials for ion conduction along with robust mechanical and chemical stability. Here, we demonstrate anionic surface charge facilitated bio-polymer binder for sulfur cathodes enabling excellent performance and fire safety improvement. The aqueous-processable tragacanth gum-based binder is adjusted to house high sulfur loading over 12 mg cm−2 without compromising the sulfur utility and reversibility, imparting high accessibility for Li-ions to sulfur particles about 80%. The intrinsic rod and sphere-like saccharidic conformal fraction’s multifunctional polar units act as active channels to reach the sulfur particles. As a result, the binder entraps polysulfides with 46% improvement and restrains the volume changes within 16 % even at 4 C. Moreover, the flexible Li-S battery delivers a stack gravimetric energy density of 243 Wh kg–1, demonstrating high reactivity of sulfur along with good shape conformality, which would open an avenue for the potential development of the compact and flexible high-power device.

Behavioural Intention Determinants of Augmented Reality Technology Adoption in Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

In this paper, the adoption of Augmented Reality, as one of the emerging and intriguing digital technologies, has been investigated. This research uses the extended Unified Theory on Acceptance and Use of Technology framework to analyze these factors. The student population respondents' data about Augmented Reality adoption was collected. The student population has been chosen due to the highest probability of accepting new technologies. The research results show a positive and significant performance expectancy and enjoyment, while effort expectancy showed a negative and significant impact on the behavioural intention dependent variable. These research results can be used for the potential development of Augmented Reality apps in the retail industry and the academic implications of the connections between variables in the UTAUT framework.

The New Concept of Disruptive Logistics

In an increasingly disruptive global environment, marked by the potential development of the Post-New World Economic Order, more innovative, effective, and efficient logistics solutions are demanded. It is necessary to offer radical improvements in logistics services through new models. It is considered necessary to define the new concept of disruptive logistics based on three fundamental pillars: globalization, digitization, and sustainability. This chapter aims to address the new concept, more effective and efficient, in a highly turbulent environment that has become disruptive, with unpredictable, substantial, and impactful changes. The most significant geoeconomics aspects that would condition a hypothetical Post-New World Economic Order are analyzed, the main factors of the global sustainable logistics are studied, and the development of the concepts of Logistics 4.0 and Supply Chain Management 4.0 is reviewed. Finally, as a result, the main aspects of the proposed new concept are analyzed.

The Implementation of Madrasah Aliyah Curriculum: Quality Improvement Management

Curriculum is one element that contributes greatly to realizing the students’ quality and potential development. To face the challenges that will befall the world of education in Indonesia, clarity of the curriculum and its implementation is needed to improve the performance of education which is far behind the developed countries in the world. This study aims to see how to improve the quality of curriculum implementation at Madrasah Aliyah in Bandar Lampung City. The researcher employed the mixed methods with source explanatory design and source triangulation design involving 34 teachers in two madrasahs in Bandar Lampung City. The study revealed that teachers' ability to prepare lesson plans influences their performance in learning. The percentage of effects obtained from MAN 1 Bandar Lampung was 36.6 percent, while the percentage value obtained from MAN 2 Bandar Lampung was 46.4 percent. The results are in line with the theory that the teacher's ability to prepare lesson plans will positively impact the teacher's ability to carry out learning. The results in both schools show that the greater the teacher's ability to prepare lesson plans, the greater the teacher's ability to carry out learning.