Absorption Correction for Reliable Pair Distribution Functions from Low Energy X-ray Sources

Objective This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with acute or subacute retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD). Additionally, it sought to identify the appropriate intraoperative stent landing zone and the optimal stent size. Method A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with acute/subacute RTAD who received TEVAR treatment at our hospital from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2023. The aortic diameter was measured using the IFINIT imaging computing platform. Patient characteristics, surgical details, hospitalization, follow-up data, and aortic remodeling were analyzed. The stent landing zone and stent size were determined based on preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) images and intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and were further verified through aortic remodeling results. Outcomes A total of 78 patients were included, all of whom were admitted during the acute or subacute phase. In-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality rates were both 6.4%. The 30-day complication rate was 11.5%. The overall technical success rate was 98.7%. With a median follow-up time of 41 months (interquartile range 25.5–71.5 months), the overall cumulative survival rate were 91.7% (95% CI: 85.2%–98.2%) at 1 and 3 years, and 89.3% (95% CI: 81.5%–97.1%) at 5 years. One of the 78 patients developed an isolated ascending aorta dissection 6 months after surgery; this patient remains alive without treatment. During follow-up, positive ascending aortic remodeling was observed in 89.7% of patients. Conclusion TEVAR appears to be a safe, effective, and durable treatment option for carefully selected patients with acute or subacute RTAD. Simultaneously, thorough screening is essential for patients presenting with dissection in the acute phase.

Anti-interferon-γ autoantibody (Anti-IFN-γ Aab) disease is associated with frequent recurrent infections. Adjunctive immunosuppressive treatment, including rituximab, can achieve disease remission. However, disease relapses and recurrent infections occur after immunosuppressive drugs are discontinued. Azathioprine (AZA) is used for maintenance therapy in many autoimmune diseases with few adverse effects. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of AZA in maintaining clinical remission in patients with Anti-IFN-γ Aab disease. This retrospective observational study was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand, from 2019 to 2023. The study involved two patient groups with Anti-IFN-γ; Aab disease who received maintenance therapy with AZA and without AZA, respectively. The patients' demographics, clinical disease courses, and other relevant information were collected. Of the 29 sampled patients, 15 received AZA maintenance therapy, and 14 did not. There were no notable differences between the groups regarding demographics (age and sex), clinical presentation, identified pathogens, and infection episodes before initiating immunosuppressive treatment or the induction regimen. The Kaplan-Meier 50% cumulative survival analysis of disease relapse time was 3.99 years in the AZA group compared to 0.88 years in the group without AZA. The covariate-adjusted survival curve estimations of the durations of antimicrobial treatments, Anti-IFN-γ Aab inhibition titers before AZA initiation, and induction regimens showed a hazard ratio of 0.096 (p=0.006, 95%CI: 0.018-0.507) in the AZA group. AZA was generally safe and associated with prolonged remission in Anti-IFN-γ; Aab disease and reducing relapse rates, despite the occurrence of some breakthrough infections. Not applicable.

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsThe geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) has shown good predictive value for some diseases. However, its association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains uncertain. This study investigated the correlation between the GNRI and MACEs.Patients and MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study. We consecutively enrolled 1515 ACS patients who underwent PCI. The median duration of follow‐up was 1000 days. The primary endpoints were MACEs, including all‐cause mortality, severe heart failure rehospitalization, revascularization, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) recurrence, and restenosis/intrastent thrombosis.ResultsROC curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.603, with a GNRI cutoff value of 110.78. Cox regression analysis indicated that lower GNRI levels were independently associated with an increased risk of MACEs, a finding supported by risk score assessments. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log‐rank tests indicated significantly lower cumulative survival rates in patients with lower GNRI value. Lower GNRI levels were also correlated with a higher risk of rehospitalization and cardiovascular death, as confirmed by the competing risk model. These associations remained significant after adjustments (all p for interaction > 0.05). RCS analysis and trend tests (all p < 0.05) further supported these findings.ConclusionGNRI, as an indicator of nutritional status, was correlated with the risk of MACEs in ACS patients undergoing PCI, particularly in predicting cardiac death and rehospitalization, suggesting that the GNRI level may serve as a valid indicator for predicting poor prognosis in patients with ACS undergoing PCI.

Full-length gene-humanized mice engineered by completely replacing mouse loci with human counterparts, including untranslated and regulatory regions, provide a robust in vivo platform for human gene function studies. However, reliably humanizing large genomic regions remains challenging due to limited DNA insert sizes, complex protocols, and specialized material requirements. This study introduces a streamlined approach that enables full-length gene humanization through two sequential CRISPR-assisted homologous recombination steps in embryonic stem cells. This method supports targeted knock-in of genomic fragments ( > 200 kbp) and is applicable across multiple mouse strains. Humanized alleles generated using the developed method recapitulate human-like splicing isoforms and organ-specific gene expression while restoring essential functions in hematopoiesis, spermatogenesis, and survival. Furthermore, disease-associated mutations can be engineered into humanized alleles to model human genetic disorders in vivo. This versatile platform enables the creation of physiologically relevant, fully gene-humanized mouse models for broad applications in biomedical research.

Objective We aimed to identify clinicopathological risk factors associated with distant metastasis in follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) and to evaluate prognostic factors influencing survival in distant metastatic FTC patients, thereby providing evidence for risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies. Methods In this retrospective study, we enrolled FTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy, or thyroid lobectomy at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2014 to December 2021. Eligible patients were divided into 2 groups: the distant metastasis group (DM group) and the group with no evidence of distant metastasis during the study period (NDM group). The DM group was further divided into the survival group and the mortality group at the last follow-up. Results In total, 111 patients who underwent thyroid surgery were included. 30 patients (27.03%) had distant metastasis (DM group), and 81 patients (72.97%) had no distant metastasis (NDM group). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the FTC subtype (odds ratio [OR]: 141.244; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.128–2798.802; P = 0.001), the number of lymph node metastases LNMs (OR: 0.028; 95% CI: 0.001–0.563; P = 0.020), T stage (OR: 0.048; 95% CI: 0.003–0.766; P = 0.032) and the type of initial surgery (OR: 175.685; 95% CI: 6.452–4783.472; P = 0.002) were independent risk factors predicting DM. Overall, the 3-year cumulative survival rates of DM patients was 83.0%. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed significant differences in the 3-year survival time according to T stage (P = 0.019). Conclusion Widely invasive FTC, lymph node metastasis, T3/T4 stage, and initial total thyroidectomy are independent predictors of distant metastasis in FTC patients. For FTC patients with DM, high T stage may be related to a greater likelihood of mortality.

Estimation of the Reliability Function of the Maxwell - Boltzmann Distribution Using the M-Robust Estimation Methods and Comparing them With Conventional Methods

Robust averaging is an analytic feature of our perceptual systems that adaptively downweights outlying information during information processing. Here, we test whether individuals demonstrate robust averaging for a critical source of social information-facial affect-whether it is altered by psychotic-like experiences, and whether it is associated with social connection (the positive sense of relatedness from relationships and perceived/received support and inclusion). Participants completed a novel face averaging task in which they judged whether face arrays that varied as a function of reliability (variance of the faces), strength (emotional intensity of the faces), and valence (positive or negative), were on average more positive or negative. Afterwards, participants completed self-report measures of psychotic-like experiences and social connection. Two analytic approaches revealed the presence of robust averaging for emotional faces whereby inlying faces (i.e., those closer to the mean emotion expression of the face array) were given greater weight compared to outlying faces on trial-by-trial decisions. This effect was specific to high variance trials. There were no associations between robust averaging and social connection or psychotic-like experiences. These findings suggest individuals use robust averaging as an adaptive strategy to summarize social information, although any clinical and behavioral implications of individual differences remain to be clarified.

Ultrathin neuromorphic transistors with sub-10 nm indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) channels and 20 nm Al2O3 gate dielectrics have been fabricated via low-temperature (250 °C) atomic layer deposition (ALD), achieving conformal interfaces critical for reliable synaptic functionality. Low-frequency noise analysis reveals that the ALD-derived atomically flat interface (γ = 0.934) generates tunable shallow-level defects, acting as transient trapping sites and forming a controllable 1/f noise source. The devices exhibit exceptional stability, with threshold voltage drift below 330 mV under 4500 s of bias/illumination stress and minimal variation (<10 mV) after 500 mechanical bending cycles. Leveraging these properties, we implement hybrid audio-digit labels for information concealment, achieving 89.58% recognition accuracy, and demonstrate a three-level image encryption system. This work provides a scalable, energy-efficient platform for back-end-of-line-compatible monolithic 3D memory integration, highlighting the interplay between defect engineering and interfacial dynamics in ultrathin oxide semiconductors.

Background/Objectives: Edentulism represents a major public health challenge, causing disorders of social, psychological and biological origin. Full-arch implant-supported restorations represent a viable alternative to mitigate this problem. This study aimed to evaluate immediate implant-supported restorations for the rehabilitation of the edentulous maxilla using four implants and distal implant tilting between 15 and 20 years. Methods: A total of 740 patients were included (women: 440; men: 300; average age: 55.3 years) rehabilitated with 740 prostheses, supported by 2960 dental implants. The primary outcome measure was prosthetic/implant cumulative survival and success (CSurR;CSucR). Secondary outcome measures included marginal bone loss (MBL), and the incidence of complications was evaluated as a secondary outcome measure. The outcomes were evaluated at 15 and 20 years. Results: In total, 287 patients (38.8%) with 1148 implants (38.8%) were lost to follow-up. A total of 170 implants (5.7%) in 101 patients (13.6%) failed, resulting in an implant CSurR and CSucR of 90.7% and 84.6%, respectively, after up to 20 years of follow-up. The prosthetic success rate was 98.1%. The average MBL was 1.07 mm ± 1.38 mm and 1.46 mm ± 1.56 mm at 15- and 20-years, respectively. Mechanical complication incidence was 78.5%, occurring in 581 patients (provisional prostheses: n = 448, 60.5%; definitive prostheses: n = 374, 50.5%). Biological complications occurred in 449 implants (15.2%) in 260 patients (35.1%). Biological complications and smoking habits were major risk indicators. Conclusions: Considering the study limitations, it can be concluded that the current rehabilitation concept is a viable treatment option in the long term, with mechanical and biological maintenance being necessary throughout the patients’ lives.

The proper and reliable functioning of the bonding mechanism in the presence of saliva is a challenging process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of decontamination methods on surface roughness, contact angle, and shear bond strength of various framework materials bonded to composite resin cement. A total of 180 specimens were prepared, with 60 specimens each from zirconia and two different production methods of CoCr alloys. The specimens were randomly separated to 6 subgroups for each material; no saliva contamination served as a control group. Group CO: saliva contamination, group AW: saliva contamination + air dried and water rinsed, group S: saliva contamination + air abrasion, group K and group Z were treated with different cleaning solutions after saliva contamination. Prior to resin cement application, zirconia primer was applied to the zirconia specimens, while alloy primer was used for the CoCr alloys specimens. Shear bond strength test was measured with universal test machine (3340, Instron Corp., Wycombe, UK). Fracture analysis was evaluated with stereomicroscope. Water contact angle was measured using a goniometer, and surface roughness was assessed with a profilometer. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANCOVA and multiple comparison tests at a 0.05 significance level. All decontamination methods enhanced SBS values compared to the saliva-contaminated groups. However, only sandblasting (Group S) revealed significantly higher SBS values than the other decontamination methods for all frameworks (p < 0.05). Decontamination methods altered the surface roughness and contact angle values of all framework materials. Decontamination process after saliva contamination enhanced the bond strength and wettability. Cleaning solution may be the alternative decontamination technique to sandblasting for framework materials.

A clinical impact of apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage on feline chronic kidney disease.

Understanding the breeding ecology and trophic dynamics of the Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) is essential for conserving grassland raptor populations in northern Mexico. We evaluated reproductive success, nest-site characteristics, and diet of the species in the grasslands of Janos, Chihuahua, during the 2006 breeding season. Eighteen nests were monitored to estimate daily survival rates (DSRs) using the Mayfield method. Overall nest success was 44.4%. DSR declined significantly from incubation (0.99 ± 0.00079) to the nestling stage (0.98 ± 0.00087; z = 8.5, p < 0.001), resulting in cumulative survival of 79.9% and 56.2%, respectively. Successful nests tended to occur farther from towns, although this trend was not statistically significant. Most nests were built in mesquite trees at intermediate elevations and in areas with low human disturbance. Diet analyses of 56 pellets and 91 prey remains revealed a predominance of vertebrates (63.17%), mainly mammals and reptiles, with vertebrate frequency significantly exceeding that of invertebrates (χ2 = 23.19, p < 0.001). These results highlight the species' reliance on vertebrate prey and the vulnerability of the nestling stage, underscoring the importance of long-term monitoring in semi-arid grasslands.

Minor lower-limb amputations are limb and potentially life-saving procedures. However, they are associated with serious adverse events, including acute kidney injury (AKI). We conducted a single-center retrospective study to determine the incidence of AKI after these procedures, identify risk factors, and assess impact on patient survival. We included 201 patients. AKI occurred in 18.9% using AKIN criteria, and 24.9% using KDIGO criteria. Only 1 patient required temporary dialysis. Patients with AKI were older (73.0 ± 10.4 vs. 68.5 ± 11.8 years, p=0.033), had a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD); estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<45mL/min/1.73m2 (39.5 vs. 14.7%, p=0.001), and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (28.9 vs. 13.5% p=0.028), and higher use of diuretics (68.4 vs. 49.1%, p=0.049), fluoroquinolones (71.1 vs. 52.8% p=0.047), and/or carbapenems (10.5 vs. 2.5%, p=0.043) compared to patients without AKI. eGFR <45mL/min/1.73m2 (OR: 3.24, CI: 1.40-7.52, p=0.006), use of fluoroquinolones (OR: 3.19, CI: 1.30-7.82, p=0.012), and day-1 C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR: 1.01, CI: 1.00-1.01, p=0.009) were established as independent risk factors for AKI. Cumulative survival was not significantly lower in patients with AKI (log rank: 0.02, p=0.88). AKI is a potential complication following minor lower-limb amputations. Age, COPD, diuretics, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems were associated with increased incidence of AKI. An eGFR < 45mL/min/1.73m2, day-1 C-reactive protein, and fluoroquinolone use were identified as independent risk factors for AKI.

Background/Objectives: Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage liver disease, and patients treated by surgeons with higher service volumes have better therapeutic outcomes. However, few studies have examined the effects of cumulative service volume on the survival of liver transplant patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a surgeon’s cumulative service volume on the survival rates of liver transplant patients. Methods: The study was a retrospective and nationwide cohort study. Patients who underwent a liver transplant in 2005–2013 were identified. The data were from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The primary outcome was the effect of surgeon service volume on 1-year survival after surgery for liver transplant patients. Results: A total of 3233 patients who underwent liver transplantation had a first-year survival rate of 85.8%. The high relative service volume group (>307 cases) had the highest patient survival rate at 1 year after operation (95.31%), while the low relative service volume group (<31 cases) had the lowest survival rate (71.39%). After relevant adjustment variables, the risk of mortality was significantly higher among patients operated on when their surgeons had accumulated fewer than 41 prior transplant cases, and the risk of mortality decreased as the cumulative service volume of surgeons rose. Conclusions: This nationwide cohort study demonstrated an association, rather than a causal relationship, between surgeon cumulative service volume and 1-year survival after liver transplantation. One-year survival reached approximately 85% once surgeons had accumulated 41–60 prior transplant cases. These findings may provide a reference for understanding the clinical learning curve in liver transplantation.

Center experience is associated with greater survival following donation after circulatory death heart transplantation.

Clinical Performance of Direct Composite Resin for Anterior Space Closure: A Retrospective Evaluation.

A high preoperative prognostic nutritional index is associated with improved overall survival in patients undergoing brain tumor resection.

Currently, bridge load tests use the verification coefficient to evaluate the structural performance of bridges in China, but this method is unsuitable. This paper presents a method that utilizes reliability to compare the actual bridge structural performance with the designed performance. Reliability functions for strain and deflection in load testing of simply supported beam bridges were established. The Monte Carlo calculation method of component reliability and the implementation process of the MATLAB program are introduced. The factors affecting the reliability assessment of the load test are discussed. For specific examples, the strain and deflection reliability of each component are calculated. Finally, the calculation process for the reliability of the test span’s series system was established using the reliability block diagram (RBD) method. The findings indicate that the reliability index under eccentric load conditions is calculated to be 3.7, while it is 2.7 under central load conditions; both indices fall within the target reliability index range for the serviceability limit states (SLSs). The overall structural performance of the examined bridge can be considered to meet the design performance requirements. This research enhances the comprehensiveness and precision of existing bridge load testing and evaluation methods, aligning them with bridge design specifications that are predicated on reliability.

Timely and accurate prediction of mandibular third molar eruption is a key component of effective orthodontic planning. In dental practice, the most commonly used radiological examination methods are orthopantomography (OPG) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT); however, their diagnostic accuracy requires comparative evaluation. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic capabilities of OPG and CBCT in determining the position of mandibular third molars and predicting their eruption. A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from 84 patients aged 12–24 years who underwent both OPG and CBCT with no more than one month between examinations. Manual measurements were performed on printed OPG images using a ruler and protractor, while CBCT measurements were taken using the “ImplaStation” software, which provides digital tools for assessing angular and linear parameters. The evaluated parameters included: mesial angulation of the third molar relative to the second molar, available space for eruption, mesiodistal width of the third molar, the ratio between eruption space and crown width, and the Grishyna eruption probability index. The results indicated no statistically significant difference between OPG and CBCT only in measuring the mesial angulation of the third molar (p=0.228; R=0.9242). In all other parameters, statistically significant differences were observed in favor of CBCT (p&lt;0.0001). Specifically, the average Grishyna index based on CBCT was 0.69 compared to 0.56 for OPG, and the ratio of eruption space to crown width was 0.87 versus 0.69, respectively. High correlations were observed between the two methods (R ranging from 0.6 to 0.87), confirming data consistency, though not equal accuracy. Thus, CBCT demonstrates superior precision, spatial reliability, and diagnostic functionality in evaluating and predicting the status of mandibular third molars, enabling more informed clinical decisions. Further research should focus on improving automated image analysis algorithms and integrating them with digital jaw models.