This brief report aimed to show the utility of photon-counting technology alongside standard cranial imaging protocols for visualizing shunt valves in a patient’s cranial computed tomography scan. Photon-counting CT scans with cranial protocols were retrospectively surveyed and four types of shunt valves were encountered: proGAV 2.0^®, M.blue^®, Codman Certas^®, and proSA^®. These scans were compared with those obtained from non-photon-counting scanners at different time points for the same patients. The analysis of these findings demonstrated the usefulness of photon-counting technology for the clear and precise visualization of shunt valves without any additional radiation or special reconstruction patterns. The enhanced utility of photon-counting is highlighted by providing superior spatial resolution compared to other CT detectors. This technology facilitates a more accurate characterization of shunt valves and may support the detection of subtle abnormalities and a precise assessment of shunt valves. Full article

Implant-supported-screw-retained prostheses are highly popular. Some of the most frequent complications are connected with the mechanical properties of the fixing elements. These include abutment screw loosening or even screw fracture. Using an intermediate abutment can offer several advantages. However, few studies detail how this affects the mechanical behavior of dental restorations. This study focuses on understanding the mechanical behavior of implant-supported restorations with a transepithelial component compared to direct implant-supported restoration. It was carried out using the finite element method (FEM) and was experimentally validated. The results showed that in the case of transepithelial-supported restoration, the prosthetic screw mounted over the transepithelial component suffered higher stress than the one screwed directly into the implant. After applying a cyclic fatigue load, it was experimentally proven that, in the transepithelial-supported restorations, the fuse changed from being the screw that went into the implant to being the upper one. In conclusion, we can state that the use of an intermediate abutment in dental restoration not only provides better protection for the rest of the dental restoration but also allows for easier repair in the event of a fracture. This can potentially lead to more efficient procedures and improved patient outcomes. Full article

The HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein forms the outer shell of the viral core that is released into the cytoplasm upon infection. CA binds various cellular proteins, including CPSF6, that direct HIV-1 integration into speckle-associated domains in host chromatin. Upon HIV-1 infection, CPSF6 forms puncta in the nucleus. Here, we characterised these CPSF6 puncta further in HeLa cells, T-cells and macrophages and confirmed that integration and reverse transcription are not required for puncta formation. Indeed, we found that puncta formed very rapidly after infection, correlating with the time that CA entered the nucleus. In aphidicolin-treated HeLa cells and macrophages, puncta were detected for the length of the experiment, suggesting that puncta are only lost upon cell division. CA still co-localised with CPSF6 puncta at the latest time points, considerably after the peak of reverse transcription and integration. Intriguingly, the number of puncta induced in macrophages did not correlate with the MOI or the total number of nuclear speckles present in each cell, suggesting that CA/CPSF6 is only directed to a few nuclear speckles. Furthermore, we found that CPSF6 already co-localised with nuclear speckles in uninfected T-cells, suggesting that HIV-1 promotes a natural behaviour of CPSF6. Full article

This population-based study aimed to assess the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and overt hypothyroidism (OH) and their association with congenital heart defects (CHDs) in patients with Down syndrome (DS). The population included all live births residing in Tuscany (Italy) diagnosed with DS recorded in the Registry of Congenital Defects and in the Registry of Rare Diseases of Tuscany in the years 2003–2017. The prevalence of CH and OH in DS patients was calculated by sex and by period. The association of CH and OH with CHDs in DS patients was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. The cohort included 228 subjects. The prevalence of CH and OH was 11.4% (95%CI: 7.4–16.7%) and 12.7% (95%CI: 8.5–12.3%), respectively, with no significant difference by sex. A significant increase in the prevalence of CH (p < 0.0001) was found in the years 2010–2017 compared to the previous period, and among preterm infants (p = 0.009). The presence of CH was associated with a higher prevalence of CHDs (adjusted OR = 2.24, p = 0.082). A significant association between ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and the occurrence of OH (adjusted OR = 3.07, p = 0.025) was also observed. This study confirmed the higher prevalence of both CH and OH in DS compared to the general population. Furthermore, the risk of association between DS and CHDs was higher in the presence of CH, while VSDs are associated with OH, providing relevant insights into the epidemiology of hypothyroidism in DS and associated anomalies. Full article

It is of great significance for scientific land use planning and ecological security protection to clarify the impacts of land use changes on an ecosystem’s health. Based on the dynamic evolution of land use and ecosystem health on the Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountain (NSTM) from 2000 to 2020, this study utilized the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, the Vitality–Organization–Resilience–Services (VORS) model, and the elasticity approach to assess the impacts of land use changes on ecosystem health under four different scenarios: Natural Development Scenario (ND), Farmland Conservation Priority Scenario (FP), Ecological Conservation Priority Scenario (EP), and Urban Development Priority Scenario (UD). The results indicate that (1) land use on the NSTM from 2000 to 2020 was predominantly characterized by barren land and grassland. (2) The overall level of ecosystem health on the NSTM was poor from 2000 to 2020 but showed a gradual improvement trend. (3) Ecosystem health levels vary greatly across scenarios. In general, ecosystem health improves under FP and EP scenarios but deteriorates significantly under ND and UD scenarios. The resilience of ecosystem health varies significantly across different land categories. In the future, optimizing the current land use pattern and refining the ecological protection policy are essential to enhance ecosystem health and services in the NSTM. Full article

The superior extensor ankle retinaculum (SEAR), a transversely fascial thickening positioned above the tibia–talar joint, serves as a crucial anatomical structure in ankle stability. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare by ultrasound (US) imaging the bilateral thickness and echogenicity of SEAR in football players with previous multiple ankle sprains (group 1) and healthy volunteers (group 2). A cross-sectional study was performed using ultrasound imaging to measure longitudinal and transversal axes using a new protocol in a sample of 50 subjects: 25 football players with previous multiple ankle sprains and 25 healthy subjects. The findings for SEAR thickness revealed statistically significant differences for both axes (p = 0.0011 and p = 0.0032) between the healthy side and the previously sprained side, and with the corresponding side of group 2 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004). Moreover, in group 1, regarding the ROI echogenicity, a statistically significant difference was found between the sides (p = 0.0378). These findings suggest that the football players with previous ankle sprains showed a thicker and inhomogeneous SEAR on the sprain side, unveiling a remodeling of this structure compared to the other side and to the healthy volunteers. In these athletes, during US examination, one needs to keep “a US eye” on side-to-side SEAR comparisons. Full article

This study introduces a specialized Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system, leveraging the Whisper Large-v2 model, specifically adapted for radiological applications in the French language. The methodology focused on adapting the model to accurately transcribe medical terminology and diverse accents within the French language context, achieving a notable Word Error Rate (WER) of 17.121%. This research involved extensive data collection and preprocessing, utilizing a wide range of French medical audio content. The results demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in transcribing complex radiological data, underscoring its potential to enhance medical documentation efficiency in French-speaking clinical settings. The discussion extends to the broader implications of this technology in healthcare, including its potential integration with electronic health records (EHRs) and its utility in medical education. This study also explores future research directions, such as tailoring ASR systems to specific medical specialties and languages. Overall, this research contributes significantly to the field of medical ASR systems, presenting a robust tool for radiological transcription in the French language and paving the way for advanced technology-enhanced healthcare solutions. Full article

This study introduces a novel method for analyzing vibration data related to drill bit failure. Our approach combines explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) with convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Conventional signal analysis methods, such as fast Fourier transform (FFT) and wavelet transform (WT), require extensive knowledge of drilling equipment specifications, which limits their adaptability to different conditions. In contrast, our method leverages XAI algorithms applied to CNNs to directly identify fault signatures from vibration signals. The signals are transformed into their frequency components and then employed as inputs to a CNN model, which is trained to detect patterns indicative of drill bit failure. XAI algorithms are then employed to generate attention maps, highlighting regions of interest in the CNN. By scrutinizing these maps, engineers can identify critical frequencies associated with drill bit failure, providing valuable insights for maintenance and optimization. This method offers a transparent and interpretable framework for analyzing vibration data, enabling informed decision-making and proactive maintenance strategies to enhance drilling efficiency and minimize downtime. The integration of XAI with CNNs facilitates a deeper understanding of the root causes of drill bit failure and improves overall drilling performance. Full article

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is one of the main reasons for liver transplantation (LT). Biomarkers, such as alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and Des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP), can be helpful in defining the recurrence risk post LT. This study aims to evaluate the association between the intensity of DCP immunohistochemical labelling and serum DCP levels in patients undergoing LT for HCC. We carried out a prospective monocentric study including patients who all underwent LT for cirrhosis between 2016 and 2018 and all fell under the Milan criteria. The accepted diagnostic criteria for HCC were contrast-enhanced imaging and histology. Thirty-nine patients were followed for a median of 21 months, with HCC lesions categorized into negative, focally positive, and diffusely positive groups based on DCP immunohistochemistry. The serum DCP levels were significantly higher in the positive groups (258 mAU/mL for the focally and 257 mAU/mL for the diffusely positive) than in the negative group (48 mAU/mL) (p = 0.005) at diagnosis and at the time of liver transplantation (220 mAU/mL for the diffuse positive group). Microvascular invasion (58.8% vs. 19.0% for the diffusely positive and negative groups, respectively, p < 0.001) and lesion size (20 mm in the diffusely labelled group versus 12 mm in the other groups, p = 0.002) were significantly correlated with DCP labelling. Late recurrence occurred only in the positive groups; in the negative group, it occurred within the first 3 months after transplantation. DCP labelling in liver lesions correlates with serum levels and a more aggressive tumour profile. Further investigation is needed to determine if highly DCP-labelled tumours allow for the better selection of high-risk patients before LT. Full article

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is closely linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), notably prevalent in southern China. Although type II latency of EBV plays a crucial role in the development of NPC, some lytic genes and intermittent reactivation are also critical for viral propagation and tumor progression. Since T cell-mediated immunity is effective in targeted killing of EBV-positive cells, it is important to identify EBV-derived peptides presented by highly prevalent human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) molecules throughout the EBV life cycle. Here, we constructed an EBV-positive NPC cell model to evaluate the presentation of EBV lytic phase peptides on streptavidin-tagged specific HLA-I molecules. Utilizing a mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based immunopeptidomic approach, we characterized eleven novel EBV peptides as well as two previously identified peptides. Furthermore, we determined these peptides were immunogenic and could stimulate PBMCs from EBV VCA/NA-IgA positive donors in an NPC endemic southern Chinese population. Overall, this work demonstrates that highly prevalent HLA-I-specific EBV peptides can be captured and functionally presented to elicit immune responses in an in vitro model, which provides insight into the epitopes presented during EBV lytic cycle and reactivation. It expands the range of viral targets for potential NPC early diagnosis and treatment. Full article

The design and synthesis of analogs of natural products can be a valuable source of medicinal preparations for the pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, the structural elucidation of eleven derivatives of 2,4-dihalogeno substituted synthetic analogues of the natural compound carvacrol was carried out by means of NMR experiments, and of another thirteen by DFT calculations. By selective NOE experiments and the irradiation of CH signals of the isopropyl group, individual conformers were assigned as syn and anti. By comparing GIAO/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)-calculated and experimentally measured vicinal ³J_CH spin-spin constants, this assignment was confirmed. An unusual relationship is reported for proton-carbon vicinal couplings: ³J_CH (180°) < ³J_CH (0°). The conformational mobility of carvacrols was studied by 2D EXSY spectra. The application of homonuclear decoupling technique (HOBS) to these spectra simplifies the spectra, improves resolution without reducing the sensitivity, and allows a systematic examination of the rotational barrier of all compounds via their CH signals of the isopropyl group in a wider temperature interval. The rate constants of the isopropyl rotation between syn and anti conformers were determined and the corresponding energy barriers (14–17 kcal/mol) were calculated. DFT calculations of the energy barriers in carvacrol derivatives allowed the determination of the steric origin of the restricted isopropyl rotation. The barrier height depends on the size of the 2- and 4-position substituents, and is independent of the derivatization of the OH group. Full article

The main objective of this article is to classify all finite singleton local rings, which are associative rings characterized by a unique maximal ideal and a distinguished basis consisting of a single element. These rings are associated with four positive integer invariants $p,n,s$, and $t,$ where p is a prime number. In particular, we aim to classify these rings and count them up to isomorphism while maintaining the same set of invariants. We have found interesting cases of finite singleton local rings with orders of $p^6$ and $p^7$ that hold substantial importance in the field of coding theory. Full article

We present a case of endogenous endophthalmitis with urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by group B Streptococcus (GBS). An 86-year-old female initially presented with ocular pain and sudden visual disturbance of the left eye. The patient did not complain of other symptoms and had no history of recent ocular surgery or trauma. Endogenous endophthalmitis was clinically diagnosed based on ophthalmic examination, history, and lab results showing systemic infection. A few days later, GBS was identified in her aqueous humor, blood, and urine cultures. Intravitreal ceftazidime and vancomycin injections, as well as fortified ceftazidime and vancomycin eye drops, were used immediately after clinical diagnosis. However, the symptoms worsened despite repeated intravitreal injections, so evisceration was performed. Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by GBS is very virulent and may present without evident systemic symptoms. The early recognition of the disease and systemic work up, followed by prompt treatment, is necessary. Full article

Land surface temperature (LST) and its relationship with vegetation indices (VIs) have proven to be effective for monitoring water stress in large-scale crops. Therefore, the objective of this study is to find an appropriate VI to analyse the spatio-temporal evolution of olive water stress using LST images and VIs derived from Landsat 5 and 8 satellites in the semi-arid region of southern Peru. For this purpose, VIs (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index 2 (EVI2) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI)) and LST were calculated. The information was processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE) for the period 1985 to 2024, with an interval of every five years for the summer season. The triangle method was applied based on the LST-VIs scatterplot analysis, a tool that establishes wet and dry boundary conditions for the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI). The results indicated a better appreciation of olive orchard water stress over time, with an average of 39% drought (TVDI_NDVI and TVDI_SAVI), 24% severe drought (TVDI_NDVI) and 25% (TVDI_SAVI) of the total area, compared to TVDI_EVI2, which showed 37% drought and 16% severe drought. It is concluded that TVDI_NDVI and TVDI_SAVI provide a better visualisation of the water stress map of the olive crop and offer a range of options to address current and future problems in water resource management in the olive sector in semi-arid areas of southern Peru. Full article

Acne vulgaris (AV) significantly reduces the quality of life (QoL) of young people, so it is important to look for factors that can improve their QoL. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary antioxidants measured using the new DAQI index and QoL measured using standardized tests. The DAQI included the following elements: antioxidant vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, polyphenols, phytosterols, lignans, and the total antioxidant capacity of the diet. The study involved 165 young women with AV, mainly students. A self-report survey was used to collect basic data on their sociodemographic status, anthropometric information, and lifestyle. The energy value of the diet and the content of vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids with antioxidant activity in the diet were estimated using 3-day food diaries and the Diet 6.0 program. The antioxidant potential of the diet and the content of polyphenols, phytosterols, lignans, and selenium were calculated based on the consumption of individual food products and available databases. The results of this study showed that the QoL of the young women with AV was impaired. However, greater adherence to an antioxidant diet reduces the risk of AV impact on the QoL by approximately 30–32% and the risk of depression by 33%. The DAQI may be used as a new indicator of diet quality in acne vulgaris. Full article

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is a disease entity that warrants special attention due to its high frequency and potential curability. Identification of “high-risk” patients is increasingly popular for risk stratification and personalization of the management pathway. Traditional regression-based methods have been used to derive prediction models for these patients, and lately, focus has shifted to artificial intelligence-based models, with employment of variable supervised and unsupervised techniques. Multiple endpoints, like overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and development or recurrence of postoperative complications have all been used as outcomes in these studies. This review provides an extensive overview of available clinical prediction models focusing on the prognosis of CRLM and highlights the different predictor types incorporated in each model. An overview of the modelling strategies and the outcomes chosen is provided. Specific patient and treatment characteristics included in the models are discussed in detail. Model development and validation methods are presented and critically appraised, and model performance is assessed within a proposed framework. Full article

This paper examines the corrosion behavior of the welding heat-affected zone (HAZ) of HDR (high chromium, duplex, corrosion-resistant) duplex stainless steel, which currently faces corrosion-related challenges in marine seawater systems. The corrosion behavior of the HAZ was studied using microstructure analysis, polarization curve experiments, and double-loop potentiodynamic reactivation experiments. The results show that (1) the covering welding current can promote the formation of austenite in the HAZ, and that the covering welding current has no strict correspondence with the formation of austenite; (2) increasing the welding gap properly can facilitate the formation of austenite; (3) increasing the covering welding current enhances the material’s pitting resistance, and a covering welding current of 70 A, coupled with a covering welding current of 100 A, represents a reasonable choice in terms of achieving a stronger pitting resistance; (4) in terms of intergranular corrosion resistance, increasing the covering welding current is not conducive to the intergranular corrosion resistance of the material, as the covering current will promote the precipitation of the secondary phase at the grain boundary, thus reducing its intergranular corrosion resistance; and (5) reducing the welding current appropriately contributes to improving the stability of the grain boundary. Full article

Several species of lady beetle native to North America have declined in abundance in the last few decades, often accompanied by contractions in their geographic ranges. Coleomegilla maculata lengi is a lady beetle native to North America that is an important predator of pests in various agroecosystems. Its reported range spans the eastern half of the USA, with no sustained decline in abundance or contraction of its range reported. Indeed, we recently collected several individuals of this lady beetle in central USA roughly 500 km beyond the western edge of its reputed range. We hypothesized that new records could indicate either that previous range characterization failed to include pre-existing collection records further west or that C. maculata lengi has recently expanded its geographic range. To test these hypotheses, we searched several institutional insect collections and digital databases for records and found many earlier records of C. maculata lengi beyond its reputed geographic range, clearly showing that the previous characterization of its geographic distribution in North America was substantially underestimated. In addition, we report a new state record of C. maculata lengi from Wyoming, USA, that further indicates its geographic range expansion in North America. We discuss new records of C. maculata lengi in light of declines in native coccinelline lady beetle species in North America. Full article

Background and Methods: Pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD) carries significant morbidity and mortality, with very few modifiable risk factors. Radiological evidence of sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes. This retrospective study aimed to analyse the relationship between easy-to-use bedside nutritional assessment techniques and radiological markers of muscle loss to identify those patients most likely to benefit from prehabilitation. Results: Data were available in 184 consecutive patients undergoing PD. Malnutrition was present in 33–71%, and 48% had a high visceral fat-to-skeletal muscle ratio, suggestive of sarcopenic obesity (SO). Surgical risk was higher in patients with obesity (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01–1.14, p = 0.031), and length of stay was 5 days longer in those with SO (p = 0.006). There was no correlation between skeletal muscle and malnutrition using percentage weight loss or the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST), but a weak correlation between the highest hand grip strength (HGS; 0.468, p < 0.001) and the Global Leadership in Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria (−0.379, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Nutritional assessment tools give widely variable results. Further research is needed to identify patients at significant nutritional risk prior to PD. In the meantime, those with malnutrition (according to the GLIM criteria), obesity or low HGS should be referred to prehabilitation. Full article

Arabinoxylan (AX)-based films can improve the mechanical characteristics of biodegradable materials when utilized for food packaging. However, the mechanical properties of AX films for food packaging applications require thorough investigation to establish their viability. In this study, AX was extracted from corn bran coproducts of dry-milling (DCB), wet-milling (WCB), and dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) using an acid–alkali method. Packaging materials were produced using these AX extracts, each combined with laccase and sorbitol, forming the basis for three different films. These films were then modified by immersing the surface in a lipase–acetate solution. We evaluated their mechanical characteristics, including thickness, tensile properties, tear resistance, and puncture resistance. The thickness and tensile properties of the modified AX films derived from DCB and DDGS showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) compared to the unmodified AX films. In contrast, the modified AX films from WCB showed no significant changes (p > 0.05) in thickness and tensile properties compared to the unmodified WCB AX films. A significant increase in tear resistance (p < 0.05) was observed in all modified AX films after immersion in the lipase–acetate mixture. While puncture resistance was enhanced in the modified AX films, the improvement was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) compared to the unmodified films. The presence of hydroxyl (OH) and carbonyl (CO) groups on the surfaces of AX films from DCB and DDGS, modified by the lipase–acetate solution, suggests excellent biodegradability properties. The modification process positively affected the AX films, rendering them more bendable, flexible, and resistant to deformation when stretched, compared to the unmodified AX films. Full article

In this study, binary logistic regression and linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between interoceptive body awareness and suicidal orientation among Colombian university students. Additionally, the bootstrap technique was employed to resample and estimate the distribution of the data. The results support the idea that greater interoceptive awareness may protect against suicidal orientation by improving emotional regulation. An inverse relationship was found between interoceptive awareness and suicidal ideation. These findings align with previous literature emphasizing the importance of body awareness for emotional well-being. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore this relationship more deeply. Full article

To meet the requirements of achieving higher efficiency and lower NOx pollution, the flame temperature in gas turbine combustors increases continually; thus, the effusion-cooling technology has been used to ensure the combustor liner remains within the allowed temperature, by which the combustion characteristics and emission behavior are possibly influenced. In order to investigate the effects of dome cooling air flow on combustion characteristics and NOx emissions, three-dimensional combustion simulations for a swirl-stabilized can-type gas turbine combustor are carried out in this work by using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Through adjusting the ratio of the dome cooling air flow and the dilution cooling air flow, the characteristics of flow field, temperature distribution and NOx emissions under each work condition are analyzed. At different ratios of the dome-cooling air flow to the total air flow, the flow velocity field in the region near the center of the combustion chamber is not changed much, while the velocity field near the chamber wall shows a more significant difference. The temperature in the outer recirculation zone within the combustion chamber is effectively reduced as the dome cooling air flow increases. By analyzing the distribution characteristics of the concentration of OH*, it is demonstrated that the dome cooling air flow does not have a direct effect on the reaction of combustion. It is also found that as the ratio of the dome cooling air flow to the total air flow increases from 0 to 0.15, the value of the NOx emissions drops from 28.4 to 26.3 ppmv, about a 7.4% decrease. The distribution of the NOx generation rate in the combustion chamber does not vary significantly with the increasing dome cooling air flow. Furthermore, by calculating the residence time in different stages, when the the ratio of the dome cooling air flow to the total air flow varies from 0 to 0.15, the residence time in the pilot stage decreases obviously, from 42 ms to 18 ms. This means that reduction in residence time is the main factor in the decrease of NOx emissions when the dome cooling air flow increases. Full article