Browse Articles

In vivo study of intraoral scanner trueness in partial edentulism

Context flexibly modulates cue representations in visual cortex

Individualizing glioma radiotherapy planning by optimization of a data and physics-informed discrete loss

Abstract Brain tumor growth is unique to each glioma patient and extends beyond what is visible in imaging scans, infiltrating surrounding brain tissue. Understanding these hidden patient-specific progressions is essential for effective therapies. Current treatment plans for brain tumors, such as radiotherapy, typically involve delineating a uniform margin around the visible tumor on pre-treatment scans to target this invisible tumor growth. This “one size fits all" approach is derived from population studies and often fails to account for the nuances of individual patient conditions. We present the Glioma Optimizing the Discrete Loss (GliODIL) framework, which infers the full spatial distribution of tumor cell concentration from available multi-modal imaging, leveraging a Fisher-Kolmogorov type physics model to describe tumor growth. This is achieved through the newly introduced method of Optimizing the Discrete Loss (ODIL), where both data and physics-based constraints are softly assimilated into the solution. Our test dataset comprises 152 glioblastoma patients with pre-treatment imaging and post-treatment follow-ups for tumor recurrence monitoring. By blending data-driven techniques with physics-based constraints, GliODIL enhances recurrence prediction in radiotherapy planning, challenging traditional uniform margins and strict adherence to the Fisher-Kolmogorov partial differential equation model, which is adapted for complex cases.

<i>closo</i> ‐Carboranyl Analogs of β‐Arylethylamines: Direct Synthesis from Alkenes via EnT‐Catalysis

Abstract closo ‐Carboranes are icosahedral carbon–boron clusters with unique properties and broad applicability. They particularly stand out in the context of drug development as privileged structural motifs for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and as highly hydrophobic bioisosteres for the rotational volume of phenyl rings. Herein, we unveil the synthesis of N‐protected carboranyl analogs of β‐arylethylamines—widely found structural motifs in biologically active molecules—via a one‐step alkene difunctionalization approach. Key for our success were the enabling mechanistic characteristics of energy transfer catalysis which we have used for the first time to generate closo ‐carboranyl radicals. Downstream modifications gave a series of analogs of amino acids and known N ‐methyl‐ d ‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists.

Donor‐π‐Acceptor Photoinitiators for High‐Efficiency Visible LED and Sunlight Polymerization and High‐Precision 3D Printing

Abstract This study presents the development and evaluation of five dyes with varying conjugated energy levels and donor‐π‐acceptor (D‐π‐A) structures as photoinitiators for free radical polymerization. Their photoinitiation efficiencies are systematically assessed under both visible‐light LED and sunlight. Notably, the conversions reach up to 81% within just 30 s under sunlight, demonstrating the ultrafast and efficient polymerization capabilities of the dyes. The efficient electron transfer is facilitated by the D‐π‐A structure, where the conjugation is reduced or interrupted by the high distortion between the electron‐withdrawing and the electron‐releasing units. This distortion can prevent the overlap of frontier molecular orbitals, decreasing the energy difference between the ground state and the excited state of dyes, thereby enhancing the electron transfer reactivity with additives. Additionally, we propose a chemical mechanism for the electron transfer reaction in the three‐component systems. The study also explores the application of naphtho[2,3‐ d ]thiazole‐4,9‐dione‐based dyes as donors in additive manufacturing demonstrating their effectiveness in three different 3D printing technologies, i.e., direct laser writing (DLW), digital light processing (DLP), and liquid crystal display (LCD). These three‐component formulations achieve high‐precision 3D printed objects, with detailed characterization and comparison of the resulting structures.

Improving education in perinatal mental health, a participatory qualitative analysis

Effect of endovascular management and anticoagulation alone on acute deep venous thrombosis in patients with inferior vena cava thrombosis

A comparative study of the effectivity of MSC-based, NP-based and combined therapies in an experimental model of NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent the promising options for retinal therapy and combined therapy with nanoparticles (NPs) could currently provide increased immunoregulatory and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, we tested the effect of silver (Ag)NPs on the properties of MSCs in an experimental model of chronic retinal degeneration. The results showed that simultaneous administration had no effect on the survival of MSCs, but a less effective local regulation of Iba-1 expression compared to MSC- or AgNP-only treated groups was observed. In addition, MSCs applied alone or in combination with AgNPs and sorted from the degenerated retina had increased expression of genes for retinal markers (rhodopsin, S-antigen, recoverin), and for TGF-β and IGF-1. These effects were confirmed also on protein level by increased production of IGF-1 and proportion of rhodopsin+ MSCs. Nevertheless, the increased expression of the gene for GDNF was observed only in the MSCs combined with AgNPs. Regarding the immune response, the application of MSCs with AgNPs triggered increased expression of the IL-6 gene in the CD45 cells separated from the retina. In conclusion, applications of MSCs or AgNPs, as a single therapy, were able to modulate the inflammation. However, the combined applications decreased the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs or AgNPs.

Study of biochar in cementitious materials for developing green concrete composites

Response to therapy with direct antiviral drugs in HCV-infected patients with diabetes

Abstract The clinical and metabolic interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) are well documented. The study aimed to compare HCV-infected patients with and without DM. The analysis included 18,968 patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) between 2015 and 2023, whose data were collected retrospectively. In the study population, 2179 patients (11.5%) were diagnosed with DM. Compared to the non-diabetic population, they were male-dominated (p = 0.003), had a significantly higher proportion of patients aged ≥ 50 years (p &lt; 0.001), and were more burdened with comorbidities (p &lt; 0.001). The most common HCV genotype was 1b with a significantly higher prevalence in the diabetic group (p &lt; 0.001). Liver disease advancement was higher in diabetic patients, with 17.9% advanced fibrosis and 48% cirrhosis compared to 13.2% (p &lt; 0.001) and 21.8% (p &lt; 0.001) in the non-diabetic population. The effectiveness of DAA therapy in patients with DM was significantly lower compared to the population without diabetes, both in intent-to-treat analysis 93.1% vs. 94.6%, p = 0.015, and per-protocol analysis 96.8% vs. 97.7%, p = 0.0128, however, logistic regression analysis did not confirm the role of diabetes as an independent predictor of treatment failure, suggesting that in the absence of other negative prognostic factors, DM alone does not reduce the chances of cure.

Ox-LDL induces a non-inflammatory response enriched for coronary artery disease risk in human endothelial cells

Abstract Oxidised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) is critical in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. While excessive atherogenic lipids in the arterial intima can trigger endothelial dysfunction in advanced lesions, the response of endothelial cells to ox-LDL in the early stages of atherogenesis remains unclear. Here, we conducted a comprehensive, genome-wide multi-omics characterisation of the cellular response to ox-LDL in primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Our results reveal that the exposure of HAECs to ox-LDL leads to pathogenic changes in metabolism, transcriptome and epigenome, but in the absence of a typical inflammatory endothelial phenotype. An integrative analysis implicates the role of AP-1, NFE-2 and CEBP transcription factors in regulating ox-LDL-induced transcription. We further demonstrate that ox-LDL activates endothelial cell migration through the epigenomic rewiring of transcription factor binding. Notably, these ox-LDL-induced dynamic binding sites are enriched for the genetic risk of coronary artery disease, enabling the discovery of the gene-environment interaction of rs62172376 and ox-LDL at the CALCRL / TFPI locus. Collectively, our findings provide an unbiased understanding of the transcriptional regulation in endothelial cells in response to ox-LDL, together with its interaction with the genetic element of coronary artery disease.

Neutrophil-mediated degradation of type III collagen is elevated in inflammatory bowel disease and DSS-induced colitis reflecting early mucosal damage

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of butcher shop workers about foodborne pathogens and safety measures in Addis Ababa city and Burayu town, Ethiopia

Optical imaging of flavor order in flat band graphene

Abstract Spin- and valley flavor polarization plays a central role in the many-body physics of flat band graphene, with Fermi surface reconstruction — often accompanied by quantized anomalous Hall and superconducting state — observed in a variety of experimental systems. Here we describe an optical technique that sensitively and selectively detects flavor textures via the exciton response of a proximal transition metal dichalcogenide layer. Through a systematic study of rhombohedral and rotationally faulted graphene bilayers and trilayers, we show that when the semiconducting dichalcogenide is in direct contact with the graphene, the exciton response is most sensitive to the large momentum rearrangement of the Fermi surface, providing information that is distinct from and complementary to electrical compressibility measurements. The wide-field imaging capability of optical probes allows us to obtain spatial maps of flavor order with high throughput, and with broad temperature and device compatibility. Our work helps pave the way for optical probing and imaging of flavor orders in flat band graphene systems.

Photoenzymatic enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated amides with remote stereocenter

Automatic melanoma detection using an optimized five-stream convolutional neural network

Predictors of fatigue improvement in multimodal, multimodal-aerobic and aerobic exercise intervention studies in breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue

Abstract Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common among breast cancer (BC) survivors. In addition to aerobic training, psychoeducation, sleep education/restriction, and mindfulness-based therapies are shown to reduce CRF. This study investigates the predictive effect of hygiogenetic and salutogenetic concepts, such as autonomic regulation (aR), self-regulation (SRS) and internal coherence (ICS) along with sleep quality (PSQI) and quality of life (EORTC QLQ C30, including cognitive, emotional and physical functioning) on the success of CRF therapies. Two studies are analyzed: a pilot (CRF-1) with 36 BC patients and a follow-up study (CRF2) with 126 patients either randomized or assigned to therapy by preference. All parameters were assessed at baseline and 10 weeks post-intervention (T1), and in CRF-2 also six months later (T2), and after four years (T3). Multiple linear regression models were applied. Trait aR and ICS are shown to be significant predictors of CRF when all timepoints of the CRF-2 study are included (βTrait aR = −0.170, df = 70, p &lt; 0.001; βICS = −0.210, df = 70, p &lt; 0.01) as well as when combined with data of the CRF-1 study (βTrait aR = −0.144, df = 101, p = 0.001; βICS = −0.211, df = 101, p &lt; 0.01). Cognitive Function showed a borderline significance only at T3 and when all CRF-2 study time measurements were combined (βCF = −0.073, df = 70, p &lt; 0.05). Using data from two studies with multimodal, aerobic and combined CRF treatments, this study highlights Trait aR and ICS at baseline as long-term predictors of CRF even four years after intervention. A stable autonomic regulation including rest/activity regulation and internal coherence are predictors for therapy response of a multimodal, combination or aerobic treatment in breast cancer survivors with CRF.

Cold tolerance strategies of freshwater mussels across latitudes

Quantitative evaluation of metal artifact reduction in CBCT under varying exposure modes and rod orientations

Phase gradient ultra open metamaterials for broadband acoustic silencing