Browse Articles

Development of a predictive model for maternal satisfaction with epidural analgesia based on perinatal complications

Improved finite control set model predictive current control design for variable-speed wind-energy conversion system connected to the grid via an LCL filter

Feasibility and acceptability of a stress-management behavioral weight loss intervention for Black breast cancer survivors

Neuropeptide Y drives vitiligo progression via NPYR-mediated NF-κB activation: a novel therapeutic target

Prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite as a potential biomarker of muscle inflammation following physical exercise, considering gender differences

Cr2Se3: a non–van der Waals platform for designing tunable 2D magnetic materials

DUSTrack: Semi-automated point tracking in ultrasound videos

Abstract Ultrasound technology enables safe, non-invasive imaging of dynamic tissue behavior, making it a valuable tool in medicine, biomechanics, and sports science. However, accurately tracking tissue motion in B-mode ultrasound remains challenging due to speckle noise, low edge contrast, and out-of-plane movement. These challenges complicate the task of tracking anatomical landmarks over time, which is essential for quantifying tissue dynamics in many clinical and research applications. This manuscript introduces DUSTrack (Deep learning and optical flow-based toolkit for UltraSound Tracking), a semi-automated framework for tracking arbitrary points in B-mode ultrasound videos. We combine deep learning with optical flow to deliver high-quality and robust tracking across diverse anatomical structures and motion patterns. The toolkit includes a graphical user interface that streamlines the generation of high-quality training data and supports iterative model refinement. It also implements a novel optical-flow-based filtering technique that reduces high-frequency frame-to-frame noise while preserving rapid tissue motion. Semi-automated tracking with DUSTrack demonstrates superior accuracy compared to contemporary zero-shot point trackers and performs on par with specialized methods. This establishes its potential as a general tool for clinical and biomechanical research—one that can generate accurate training data for developing foundation models in ultrasound point tracking. We demonstrate DUSTrack’s versatility through three use cases: cardiac wall motion tracking in echocardiograms, muscle deformation analysis during reaching tasks, and fascicle tracking during ankle plantarflexion. As an open-source solution, DUSTrack offers a powerful, flexible framework for point tracking to quantify tissue motion from ultrasound videos. DUSTrack is available at https://github.com/praneethnamburi/DUSTrack.

Computational modeling of vehicle–bridge interaction with experimental validation under moving loads for structural health monitoring

Unsupervised learning enables instance-level microservice fault detection using traces and resource metrics

Modeling of RC-IGCT-based superconducting hybrid DC circuit breaker with TP KEMA arc model and hybrid SFCL

A data-driven framework for predicting PEG-defined MacroB12 in hypercobalaminemia

The impact of urban climate governance on FDI: empirical evidence from the construction of climate-adaptive pilot cities

Physician burnout and type D personality relate to pericoronary fat phenotype and role of sympathetic activation: a cross-sectional study

Genome-wide identification of eQTL-associated lncRNAs in melon and their role in fruit cracking

Enhancing Winters exponential smoothing: a novel approach with back-casting, Grey Wolf Optimization, and error tracking

Albumin levels and risk of early cardiovascular complications after endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke

Abstract We evaluate the clinical course of patients with hypoalbuminemia who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) within 24 h of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). A retrospective cohort study using data from the global federated research network TriNetX. Adults ≥ 18 years treated with EVT for AIS between 2018 and 2024 with serum albumin measured within 24 h post-EVT were included. Patients were grouped by serum albumin levels: reduced (≤ 3.4 g/dL) vs. normal (≥ 3.5 g/dL). The primary outcome was a 30-day composite of all-cause death, acute heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction, Takotsubo syndrome. Secondary outcomes included individual components and intracranial haemorrhage. Propensity score matching (1:1) balanced covariates, followed by Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI)s. Among 8,698 patients with AIS treated with EVT, 6,233 had normal serum albumin (mean age 67.0 ± 14.5 years, 44.0% female), while 2,465 had reduced albumin (69.7 ± 14.3 years, 51.5% female). After matching, 2,374 patients with reduced albumin had higher risk of the composite outcome (HR 1.28, 95%CI 1.17–1.39), all-cause mortality (HR 1.72, 95%CI 1.50–1.96), and acute myocardial infarction (HR 1.74, 95%CI 1.28–2.35), compared to those with normal albumin. These associations remained consistent across subgroups stratified by age, sex, stroke severity, causes of hypoalbuminemia, degrees of hypoalbuminemia reduction. Hypoalbuminemia in patients with AIS treated with EVT is associated with an increased risk of early cardiovascular events. Serum albumin may be a prognostic biomarker in this population.

An eye drop combination for treating Staphylococcus aureus-induced keratitis in rats: repurposing ibuprofen

Abstract Infectious keratitis is a life-hindering disease that has been one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. The current study aimed to test a combination of levofloxacin and ibuprofen for treating Staphylococcus aureus-associated keratitis, with special emphasis on the potential antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) moiety. keratitis was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by abrasion in the right eye after topical anesthesia, then the wounded eyes were inoculated with a 10 µl aliquot containing Staphylococcus aureus . Rats were divided into five groups: control, infected keratitis rats, infected keratitis rats treated with 0.5% levofloxacin, infected keratitis rats treated with 0.3% ibuprofen, and infected keratitis rats treated with 0.5% levofloxacin + 0.3% ibuprofen. Treatments were given as eye drops for two weeks. Then, the corneal tissues were isolated for investigations. The molecular study showed that, among the four groups, rats treated with combined eye therapy of 0.5% levofloxacin + 0.3% ibuprofen had the lowest expression levels of inflammatory mediators, metalloproteinases, corneal angiogenesis, and the proapoptotic BCL2-associated X (Bax). Histological investigation confirmed the transcriptional changes, with the rats that received combined eye therapy showing the best therapeutic outcomes.

A time series based dynamic prediction model for loess mudstone landslides

From rows to yields: how foundation models for tabular data simplify crop yield prediction

Development and multi-objective optimization of an automatic filtration system with pressure-based preventive control for efficient irrigation water management