Visual Analysis of Two-Phase Flow Displacement Processes in Porous Media

We present the visual analysis of our novel parameter study of porous media experiments, focusing on gaining a better understanding of drainage processes on the micro-scale. We analyze the temporal evolution of extracted characteristic values, and discuss how to directly compare experiments that exhibit processes at different temporal scales due to varying boundary and physical conditions. To enable spatio-temporal analysis, we introduce a new abstract visual representation showing which paths through the porous media were occupied to what extent, e.g., allowing for classification into viscous and capillary regimes. This joint work of porous media experts and visualization researchers yields new insights regarding immiscible two-phase flow on the micro-scale toward the overarching goal of characterizing flow based on boundary conditions and physical fluid properties

Visual Analysis of Two-Phase Flow Displacement Processes in Porous Media

We present the visual analysis of our novel parameter study of porous media experiments, focusing on gaining a better understanding of drainage processes on the micro-scale. We analyze the temporal evolution of extracted characteristic values, and discuss how to directly compare experiments that exhibit processes at different temporal scales due to varying boundary and physical conditions. To enable spatio-temporal analysis, we introduce a new abstract visual representation showing which paths through the porous media were occupied to what extent, e.g., allowing for classification into viscous and capillary regimes. This joint work of porous media experts and visualization researchers yields new insights regarding immiscible two-phase flow on the micro-scale toward the overarching goal of characterizing flow based on boundary conditions and physical fluid properties

Visual Analysis of Two-Phase Flow Displacement Processes in Porous Media

We present the visual analysis of our novel parameter study of porous media experiments, focusing on gaining a better understanding of drainage processes on the micro-scale. We analyze the temporal evolution of extracted characteristic values, and discuss how to directly compare experiments that exhibit processes at different temporal scales due to varying boundary and physical conditions. To enable spatio-temporal analysis, we introduce a new abstract visual representation showing which paths through the porous media were occupied to what extent, e.g., allowing for classification into viscous and capillary regimes. This joint work of porous media experts and visualization researchers yields new insights regarding immiscible two-phase flow on the micro-scale toward the overarching goal of characterizing flow based on boundary conditions and physical fluid properties

How to Assess the Efficacy of Interventions for Actinic Keratosis? A Review with a Focus on Long-Term Results

Actinic keratoses (AK) are common lesions of the skin caused by cumulative sun exposure. Since AK may progress to invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), guidelines uniformly recommend early and consequent treatment. A variety of interventions are available; however, most randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and guidelines focus on outcomes that are usually evaluated 8–12 weeks after the end of treatment. Importantly, these assessments can capture the short-term, transient outcomes, but do not allow any conclusions about long-term results to be drawn and do not reflect the probability of transition towards cSCC. Until now, few studies have assessed the long-term results of interventions for AK. Indeed, finding the most appropriate end-point and adjunct time point for determining the long-term results of interventions for AK remains a challenge. Here, we provide an overview of the different ways of measuring the efficacy of AK treatments, such as using recurrence rates or sustained clearance rates, and discuss methodological aspects. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of evidence from post-marketing surveillance trials for the detection of efficacy values and safety signals. Additionally, we emphasize that a follow-up period of 12 months might not be sufficient to reflect the long-term results and stress the urgent need for a longer follow-up period and regular risk-stratified surveillance

The Value of Total Body Photography for the Early Detection of Melanoma: A Systematic Review

Early detection of melanoma is critical to reduce the mortality and morbidity rates of this tumor. Total body photography (TBP) may aid in the early detection of melanoma. To summarize the current evidence on TBP for the early detection of melanoma, we performed a systematic literature search in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for eligible records up to 6th August 2020. Outcomes of interest included melanoma incidence, incisional and excisional biopsy rates, as well as the Breslow’s index of detected tumors. Results from individual studies were described qualitatively. The risks of bias and applicability of the included studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 checklist. In total, 14 studies published between 1997 and 2020 with an overall sample size of n = 12,082 (range 100–4692) were included in the qualitative analysis. Individuals undergoing TBP showed a trend towards a lower Breslow’s thickness and a higher proportion of in situ melanomas compared to those without TBP. The number needed to excise one melanoma varied from 3:1 to 14.3:1 and was better for lesions that arose de novo than for tracked ones. The included studies were judged to be of unclear methodological concern with specific deficiencies in the domains “flow and timing” and “reference standard”. The use of TBP can improve the early detection of melanoma in high-risk populations. Future studies are warranted to reduce the heterogeneity of phenotypic risk factor definition and the technical implementation of TBP. Artificial intelligence-assisted analysis of images derived from 3-D TBP systems and digital dermoscopy may further improve the early detection of melanoma

Electrochemical activation of molecular nitrogen at the Ir/YSZ interface.

Nitrogen is often used as an inert background atmosphere in solid state studies of electrode and reaction kinetics, of solid state studies of transport phenomena, and in applications e.g. solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), sensors and membranes. Thus, chemical and electrochemical reactions of oxides related to or with dinitrogen are not supposed and in general not considered. We demonstrate by a steady state electrochemical polarisation experiments complemented with in situphotoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) that at a temperature of 450 °C dinitrogen can be electrochemically activated at the three phase boundary between N2, a metal microelectrode and one of the most widely used solid oxide electrolytes—yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ)—at potentials more negative than E = −1.25 V. The process is neither related to a reduction of the electrolyte nor to an adsorption process or a purely chemical reaction but is electrochemical in nature. Only at potentials more negative than E = −2 V did new components of Zr 3d and Y 3d signals with a lower formal charge appear, thus indicating electrochemical reduction of the electrolyte matrix. Theoretical model calculations suggest the presence of anionic intermediates with delocalized electrons at the electrode/electrolyte reaction interface. The ex situSIMS analysis confirmed that nitrogen is incorporated and migrates into the electrolyte beneath the electrode

Evaluation of PD-L1 Expression and HPV Genotyping in Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare cancer with increasing incidence. Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes is the major cause for its development. We retrospectively analyzed tumor samples from 54 anal SCC patients for infection with a panel of 32 HPV subtypes in a PCR-based approach, determined the PD-L1 expression status, and correlated the findings with the clinical data and the survival of the patients. Forty-two patients (77.8%) were HPV-positive and harbored at least one carcinogenic HPV subtype. HPV16 was the most frequently detected (n = 39, 72.2%). Four patients were infected with multiple HPV subtypes. HPV infection was significantly more often detected in female than in male patients (90.3% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.018). Patients with PD-L1 positive tumors showed a significantly better median overall survival (OS) compared with patients with PD-L1 negative tumors (69.3 vs. 28.3 months, p = 0.006). The median OS was significantly different among the distinct tumor stages (p = 0.029). Sex, grade of differentiation, and HPV infection status did not influence the median OS. Furthermore, HPV infection status and PD-L1 expression were not correlated. A multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that PD-L1 expression status was an independent prognostic marker for survival (p = 0.012)