Preliminary Application Research Articles

Analytical validation of quantitative SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic and viral load laboratory developed tests conducted on the Panther Fusion® (Hologic) with preliminary application to clinical samples.

Validate the performance characteristics of two analyte specific, laboratory developed tests (LDTs) for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) and viral load on the Hologic Panther Fusion® using the Open Access functionality. Custom-designed primers/probe sets targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Envelope gene (E) and subgenomic E were optimized. A 20-day performance validation following laboratory developed test requirements was conducted to assess assay precision, accuracy, analytical sensitivity/specificity, lower limit of detection and reportable range. Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 sgRNA (LDT-Quant sgRNA) assay, which measures intermediates of replication, and viral load (LDT-Quant VLCoV) assay demonstrated acceptable performance. Both assays were linear with an R2 and slope equal to 0.99 and 1.00, respectively. Assay precision was evaluated between 4-6 Log10 with a maximum CV of 2.6% and 2.5% for LDT-Quant sgRNA and LDT-Quant VLCoV respectively. Using negative or positive SARS-CoV-2 human nasopharyngeal swab samples, both assays were accurate (kappa coefficient of 1.00 and 0.92). Common respiratory flora and other viral pathogens were not detected and did not interfere with the detection or quantification by either assay. Based on 95% detection, the assay LLODs were 729 and 1206 Copies/mL for the sgRNA and VL load LDTs, respectively. The LDT-Quant sgRNA and LDT-Quant VLCoV demonstrated good analytical performance. These assays could be further investigated as alternative monitoring assays for viral replication; and thus, medical management in clinical settings which could inform isolation/quarantine requirements.

Construction and Preliminary Application of the Carbon-based Spatial Governance Performance Evaluation System ——Taking Zhejiang Province as an Example

Construction and Preliminary Application of the Carbon-based Spatial Governance Performance Evaluation System ——Taking Zhejiang Province as an Example

Low safe interest rates: A case for dynamic inefficiency?

We reexamine the tests for dynamic inefficiency in productive overlapping-generations economies with stochastic growth. Contrary to certain claims in the recent literature, we argue that the size of real safe interest rates relative to average GDP growth is an inconclusive test for dynamic inefficiency. A more accurate test should take into account the correlation between growth and the marginal utility of wealth. We provide an exhaustive criterion based on the growth-adjusted dominant root of the stochastic discount factor emerging at the competitive equilibrium. Surprisingly, a preliminary rough empirical application of this criterion uncovers dynamic inefficiency of the US economy for any reasonable degree of risk aversion. We also distinguish capital overaccumulation from an inefficient distribution of consumption risk. The refined test for capital overaccumulation is rather stringent: Capital is not overaccumulated if the net dividend remains positive with some probability, as opposed to always, as in the original Abel et al. (1989)'s formulation.

The validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Men (SSS-M)

Objective: This study was carried out to determine whether the Turkish version of the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Men (SSS-M), a modified version of the Women Sexual Satisfaction Scale (SSS-W) developed by Meston and his friends is a valid and reliable tool or not. Material and Methods: This is a methodological study and was conducted between March and July 2021. After the language translation and content validity studies of the 30-item of which Likert-type scale and five sub-dimensions a preliminary application was carried out on a group of 30 people. Data were obtained from 193 male individuals on an online platform after ethical approval. Whereas for the scope\content validity of the scale Content Validity was used, to test for validity Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed. To verify its dependableness, the Cronbach Alpha score and item-total correlation score were tested. The time invariance of the scale was evaluated with a test-retest. Results: The scale and content validity was reviewed by eight experts. The construct validity of the scale was performed by using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Confirmatory factor loads were determined between .55 and .87, and exploratory factor loads were determined between 0.34 and .83. The correlation coefficient between the score of each item and the scale score was determined as r=.35-.80 (p<.001). The Cronbach Alpha internal consistency and reliability coefficients were found as .95 in the total of the scale and were found as.82-.95 in its sub-dimensions. No significant difference was found in the test-retest reliability analysis (p>.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study, it was determined that the Turkish version of the five-dimension "Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Men (SSS-M)" is a valid and reliable four-dimensional instrument and can be used in research and clinic. Keywords: sexual satisfaction, men, reability, validity

The Gray Panther Movement as a Model for Intergenerational Approaches and Late-Life Activism: A Critical Cosmopolitan Perspective

ABSTRACT While the practical benefits of intergenerational approaches are known, it remains undertheorized. To broaden knowledge and inform sustainable intergenerational programming, the discourse requires a firmer theoretical base. This conceptual article proposes that critical cosmopolitan theory holds promise as a theoretical framework. The utility of critical cosmopolitan theory is considered by unpacking the intergenerational workings of the Gray Panther movement. This article highlights the promise of critical cosmopolitanism as a theoretical framework and considers the Gray Panthers as a model for sustainable intergenerational model. This preliminary theoretical application can usefully contribute to the study of gerontology and intergenerational education.

Preserved structure modeling of soil-rock mixtures and physical cover generation based on finite element meshes

Soil and rock mixture (SRM) is ubiquitous in nature and also an excellent engineering fill material. Accurate evaluation of mechanical characteristics of SRM is of vital importance in the analysis of stability and deformation. Unfortunately, the presence of mega blocks in SRM makes it impossible to grasp the real attributes of full graded SRM using indoor or in-situ experiments. Consequently, numerical methods, especially those three-dimensional methods, become crucial to the objective evaluation of SRM mechanical properties. However, even the most powerful and sophisticated mesh generators become too weak to produce even low-quality meshes of real SRM samples. Accordingly, the numerical manifold method (NMM) is an excellent tool for this purpose since it successfully throws off shackles of mesh generation. In this study, we first produce an SRM sample according to the given size distribution and content of rock blocks. Then, we employ a tetrahedron mesh to act as the mathematical cover of the SRM sample; the mesh does not match the SRM sample domain. Next, we utilize Boolean operations in Ansys to generate the physical cover of the SRM sample and the robustness of the program is hence ensured to the greatest extent. As a preliminary application, finally we demonstrate the permeability evaluation of SRM, indicating that even for those SRM samples that cannot be meshed with the most powerful mesh generator, the proposed procedure can easily arrive at their solutions.

Preparation of thrombin-loaded calcium alginate microspheres with dual-mode imaging and study on their embolic properties in vivo

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has played a huge role in the interventional treatment of organ bleeding and accidental bleeding. Choosing bio-embolization materials with good biocompatibility is an important part of TAE. In this work, we prepared a calcium alginate embolic microsphere using high-voltage electrostatic droplet technology. The microsphere simultaneously encapsulated silver sulfide quantum dots (Ag2S QDs) and barium sulfate (BaSO4), and fixed thrombin on its surface. Thrombin can achieve an embolic effect while stopping bleeding. The embolic microsphere has good near-infrared two-zone (NIR-II) imaging and X-ray imaging effects, and the luminous effect of NIR-II is better than that of X-rays. This breaks the limitations of traditional embolic microspheres that only have X-ray imaging. And the microspheres have good biocompatibility and blood compatibility. Preliminary application results show that the microspheres can achieve a good embolization effect in the ear arteries of New Zealand white rabbits, and can be used as an effective material for arterial embolization and hemostasis. This work realizes the clinical embolization application of NIR-II combined with X-ray multimodal imaging technology in biomedical imaging, achieving complementary advantages and excellent results, more suitable for studying biological changes and clinical applications.

The Selective Trigeminal Nerve Motor Branching Transfer: an Preliminary Clinical Application for Facial Reanimation.

To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of selective trigeminal nerve motor branching in the repair of facial palsy. The clinical data of patients with advanced facial palsy from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including pictures and videos before and 18 months after surgery. The House-Brackmann grading system was used to evaluate facial nerve function before and after repair, and the symmetry scale of oral commissure at rest and Terzis' smile functional evaluation scale were used to qualitatively assess the symmetry of the mouth angle and smile function. The distance of oral commissure movement was assessed to evaluate the dynamic repair effect, and the FaCE facial muscle function scale was used to assess patients' subjective perception before and after surgery. A total of four patients were included in the study, all of whom showed signs of recovery of facial nerve function within six months. In all four cases, significant improvements were observed in House-Brackmann ratings, the smile function score and the symmetry scale of oral commissure at rest. Compared to the pre-operative period, the four patients demonstrated various degrees of eye-closing function recovery, and a significant improvement in oral commissure movement was observed ( P <0.001). FaCE scores also improved significantly after surgery ( P =0.019). Concurrent selective facial nerve repair with trigeminal branch-facial nerve anastomosis resulted in eye-closing function recovery while improving static and dynamic symmetry, yielding acceptable postoperative results.

Development and Preliminary Application of Temperature Stress Test Machine for Cast-in-Place Inner Shaft Lining.

Over the past 20 years, as the depth and diameter of shaft lines increased in China, the cracking and water leakage of the inner walls of frozen shafts have become increasingly severe, resulting in significant safety threats and economic losses. Understanding the stress variation patterns of cast-in-place inner walls under the combined effects of temperature and constraint during construction is a prerequisite for evaluating the crack resistance performance of inner walls and preventing water leakage in frozen shafts. The temperature stress testing machine is an important instrument for studying the early-age crack resistance performance of concrete materials under the combined effects of temperature and constraint. However, existing testing machines have shortcomings in terms of applicable specimen cross-sectional shapes, temperature control methods for concrete structures, and axial loading capacity. In this paper, a novel temperature stress testing machine suitable for the inner wall structure shape, capable of simulating the hydration heat of the inner walls, was developed. Then, a reduced-scale model of the inner wall according to similarity criteria was manufactured indoors. Finally, preliminary investigations of the temperature, strain, and stress variations of the inner wall under 100% end constraint conditions were conducted by simulating the actual hydration heating and cooling process of the inner walls. Results show that the hydration heating and cooling process of the inner wall can be accurately simulated. After approximately 69 h of concrete casting, the accumulated relative displacement and strain of the end-constrained inner wall model were -244.2 mm and 187.8 με, respectively. The end constraint force of the model increased to a maximum value of 1.7 MPa and then rapidly unloaded, causing the model concrete to crack in tension. The temperature stress testing method presented in this paper provides a reference for scientifically formulating technical approaches to prevent cracking in cast-in-place concrete inner walls.

Partitioning for Easy Multiplexing: A Versatile Droplet PCR Application for Clone Monitoring in Tumors

Clinical genome-wide next-generation sequencing (NGS) has brought new challenges to genetic laboratories. The identification of numerous patient-specific variants that may require to be screened for on multiple other samples poses an issue when striving for time and cost-effectiveness. Here, we propose d-multiSeq, a straightforward method utilizing the advantages of droplet PCR for multiplexing combined with amplicon-based NGS. By comparing d-multiSeq with a standard multiplex amplicon-based NGS, it was shown that partitioning prevents the amplification competition seen when multiplexing and leads to a homogeneous representation of each target in the total read count for up to a 40-target multiplex without the need for prior adjustment. Variant allele frequency was reliably evaluated with a sensitivity of 97.6% for variant allele frequency up to 1%. The applicability of d-multiSeq was also tested on cell-free DNA with the successful amplification of an eight-target multiplex panel. Preliminary application of the technique to assess the clonal evolution in a childhood leukemia harboring high interpatient variability in its somatic variants is shown. d-multiSeq represents a turnkey solution for analyzing large sets of patient-specific variants on low DNA amounts and cell-free DNA.

Preliminary application of combined auditory monitoring technique in resection of vestibular neurinoma

Objective: To explore the value of electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR) monitoring combined with brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and compound action potential (CAP) monitoring during vestibular schwannoma resection for the protection of the cochlear nerve. Methods: Clinical data from 12 patients with vestibular schwannomas who had useful hearing prior to surgery were analyzed at the PLA General Hospital from January to December 2021. Among them, there were 7 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 25 to 59 years. Before surgery, patients underwent audiology assessments (including pure tone audiometry, speech recognition rate, etc.), facial nerve function evaluation, and cranial MRI. They then underwent vestibular schwannoma resection via the retrosigmoid approach. EABR, BAEP, and CAP were simultaneously monitored during surgery, and patients' hearing preservation was observed and analyzed after surgery. Results: Prior to surgery, the average PTA threshold of the 12 patients ranged from11 to 49 dBHL, with a SDS of 80% to 100%. Six patients had grade A hearing, and six patients had grade B hearing. All 12 patients had House-Brackman grade I facial nerve function prior to surgery. The MRI indicated tumor diameters between 1.1 and 2.4 cm. Complete removal was achieved in 10/12 patients, while near-total removal was achieved in 2/12 patients. There were no serious complications at the one-month follow-up after surgery. At the three-month follow-up, all 12 patients had House-Brackman grade I or II facial nerve function. Under EABR with CAP and BAEP monitoring, successful preservation of the cochlear nerve was achieved in six of ten patients (2 with grade B hearing, 3 with grade C hearing, and 1 with grade D hearing). Successful preservation of the cochlear nerve was not achieved in another four patients (all with grade D hearing). In two patients, EABR monitoring was unsuccessful due to interference signals; however, Grade C or higher hearing was successfully preserved under BAEP and CAP monitoring. Conclusion: The application of EABR monitoring combined with BAEP and CAP monitoring during vestibular schwannoma resection can help improve postoperative preservation of the cochlear nerve and hearing.

Identifying Application Areas for Machine Learning in the Retail Sector

Machine learning (ML) has the potential to take on a variety of routine and non-routine tasks in brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce. Many tasks previously executed manually are amenable to computerization using ML. Although procedure models for the introduction of ML across industries exist, the tasks for which ML can be implemented in retail need to be determined. To identify these application areas, we followed a dual approach. First, we conducted a structured literature review of 225 research papers to identify possible ML application areas in retail, as well as develop the structure of a well-established information systems architecture. Second, we triangulated these preliminary application areas with the analysis of eight expert interviews. In total, we identified 21 application areas for ML in online and offline retail; these application areas mainly address decision-oriented and economic-operative tasks. We organized the application areas in a framework for practitioners and researchers to determine appropriate ML use in retail. As our interviewees provided information at the process level, we also explored the application of ML in two exemplary retail processes. Our analysis further reveals that, while ML applications in offline retail focus on the retail articles, in e-commerce the customer is central to the application areas of ML.

QSAR-QSIIR-based prediction of bioconcentration factor using machine learning and preliminary application

Bioconcentration factor (BCF) is one of the important parameters for developing human health ambient water quality criteria (HHAWQC) for chemical pollutants. Traditional experimental method to obtain BCF is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, prediction of BCF by modeling has attracted much attention. QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) model based on molecular descriptor is often used to predict BCF, however, in order to improve the accuracy of prediction, previous models are only applicable for prediction for a single category of substance and a single species, and cannot meet the needs of BCF prediction of pollutants lacing toxicity data. In this study, optimized 17 traditional molecular descriptor and five kinds of bioactivity descriptor were selected from more than 200 molecular descriptor and 25 kinds of biological activity descriptors. A QSAR-QSIIR (Quantitative Structure In vitro-In vivo Relationship) model suitable for multiple chemical substances and whole species is constructed by using optimized 4-MLP machine learning algorithm with selected molecular and bioactivity descriptors. The constructed model significantly improves the prediction accuracy of BCF. The R2 of verification set and test set are 0.8575 and 0.7924, respectively, and the difference between predicted BCF and measured BCF is mostly less than 1.5 times. Then, BCF of BTEX in Chinese common aquatic products is predicted using the constructed QSAR-QSIIR model, and the HHAWQC of BTEX in China are derived using the predicted BCF, which provides a valuable reference for establishment of China’s BTEX water quality standards.

Validation of automated image co-registration integrated into in-house software for voxel-based internal dosimetry on single-photon emission computed tomography images.

To develop an automated co-registration system and test its performance, with and without a fiducial marker, on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. Three SPECT/CT scans were acquired for each rotation of a Jaszczak phantom (to 0°, 5°, and 10° in relation to the bed axis), with and without a fiducial marker. Two rigid co-registration software packages-SPM12 and NMDose-coreg-were employed, and the percent root mean square error (%RMSE) was calculated in order to assess the quality of the co-registrations. Uniformity, contrast, and resolution were measured before and after co-registration. The NMDose-coreg software was employed to calculate the renal doses in 12 patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE, and we compared those with the values obtained with the Organ Level INternal Dose Assessment for EXponential Modeling (OLINDA/EXM) software. The use of a fiducial marker had no significant effect on the quality of co-registration on SPECT images, as measured by %RMSE (p = 0.40). After co-registration, uniformity, contrast, and resolution did not differ between the images acquired with fiducial markers and those acquired without. Preliminary clinical application showed mean total processing times of 9 ± 3 min/patient for NMDose-coreg and 64 ± 10 min/patient for OLINDA/EXM, with a strong correlation between the two, despite the lower renal doses obtained with NMDose-coreg. The use of NMDose-coreg allows fast co-registration of SPECT images, with no loss of uniformity, contrast, or resolution. The use of a fiducial marker does not appear to increase the accuracy of co-registration on phantoms.

Two-in-One Visual Gelatin Embolization Microspheres for Precise Localization and Rapid Embolization Studies

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has played a huge role in interventional therapy and tumor embolization of organ hemorrhage and accidental hemorrhage. The selection of embolic materials with better biocompatibility is an important part of TAE. In this work, we prepared a gelatin microspheres (GMs) embolization material that simultaneously encapsulates silver sulfide quantum dots (Ag2S QDs) and barium sulfate (BaSO4), giving it good near-infrared second region (NIR-II) imaging and X-ray imaging effects, while luminescence effect of NIR-II is better than that of X-ray, which breaks the limitation of traditional embolization microspheres with only X-ray imaging. In order to improve the therapeutic effect on tumors, we loaded doxorubicin (DOX) antitumor drugs inside the microspheres and bound thrombin on the surface of the microspheres. Thereby, not only can it help achieve rapid embolization during hemostasis, but its sustained release can also accelerate tumor necrosis. The microspheres have good biocompatibility and blood compatibility. Preliminary application results show that the microspheres can achieve a good embolization effect in the ear artery and renal artery of New Zealand white rabbits. Thus, they can be used as a potential embolization system for drug delivery as well as an effective material for arterial embolization and hemostasis. Significantly, this work realizes the clinical embolization application of NIR-II combined with X-ray multimodal imaging technology in biomedical imaging.

A Systems Approach to Understanding How Plants Transformed Earth's Environment in Deep Time

Terrestrial plants have transformed Earth's surface environments by altering water, energy, and biogeochemical cycles. Studying vegetation-climate interaction in deep time has necessarily relied on modern-plant analogs to represent paleo-ecosystems—as methods for reconstructing paleo- and, in particular, extinct-plant function were lacking. This approach is potentially compromised given that plant physiology has evolved through time, and some paleo-plants have no clear modern analog. Advancements in the quantitative reconstruction of whole-plant function provide new opportunities to replace modern-plant analogs and capture age-specific vegetation-climate interactions. Here, we review recent investigations of paleo-plant performance through the integration of fossil and geologic data with process-based ecosystem- to Earth system–scale models to explore how early vascular plants responded to and influenced climate. First, we present an argument for characterizing extinct plants in terms of ecological and evolutionary theory to provide a framework for advancing reconstructed vegetation-climate interactions in deep time. We discuss the novel mechanistic understanding provided by applying these approaches to plants of the late Paleozoic ever-wet tropics and at higher latitudes. Finally, we discuss preliminary applications to paleo-plants in a state-of-the-art Earth system model to highlight the potential implications of different plant functional strategies on our understanding of vegetation-climate interactions in deep time. ▪For hundreds of millions of years, plants have been a keystone in maintaining the status of Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and climate.▪Extinct plants have functioned differently across time, limiting our understanding of how processes on Earth interact to produce climate.▪New methods, reviewed here, allow quantitative reconstruction of extinct-plant function based on the fossil record.▪Integrating extinct plants into ecosystem and climate models will expand our understanding of vegetation's role in past environmental change.

Optimized interferometric encoding of presaturated TurboFLASH B1 mapping for parallel transmission MRI at 7 T: Preliminary application for quantitative T1 mapping in the spinal cord.

The acquisition of accurate B1 maps is critical for parallel transmit techniques (pTx). The presaturated turboFLASH (satTFL) method has been widely used in combination with interferometric encoding to provide robust and fast B1 maps. However, typical encodings, mostly evaluated on brain, do not necessarily fit all coils and organs. In this work, we evaluated and improved the accuracy of the satTFL for cervical spine at 7 T, proposing a novel interferometric encoding optimization. The benefits of such improvements were investigated in an exploratory study of quantitative T1 mapping with pTx-MP2RAGE. Global optimization of interferometric encoding was implemented by simulating the ability of the satTFL to reconstruct B1 maps, with varying encoding and inclusion of complex noise, inside a region of interest covering the cervical spine. The performance of satTFL before and after optimization was compared to actual flip angle imaging. Optimized and non-optimized B1 maps were then used to calculate pTx pulses for MP2RAGE T1 mapping. Interferometric encoding optimization resulted in satTFL closer to actual flip angle imaging, with substantial gain of signal in regions where non-optimized satTFL could fail. T1 maps measured with non-adiabatic pTx pulses were closer to standard non-pTx results (which used adiabatic pulses) when using optimized-satTFL, with substantially lower specific absorption rate. Optimization of the satTFL interferometric encoding improves B1 maps in the spinal cord, in particular in low SNR regions. A linear correction of the satTFL was additionally shown to be required. The method was successfully used for quantitative phantom and in vivo T1 mapping, showing improved results compared to non-optimized satTFL thanks to improved pTx-pulse generation.

Application of Newtonian approximate model to LIGO gravitational wave data processing

With the observation of a series of ground-based laser interferometer gravitational wave (GW) detectors such as LIGO and Virgo, nearly 100 GW events have been detected successively. At present, all detected GW events are generated by the mergers of compact binary systems and are identified through the data processing of matched filtering. Based on matched filtering, we use the GW waveform of the Newtonian approximate (NA) model constructed by linearized theory to match the events detected by LIGO and injections to determine the coalescence time and utilize the frequency curve for data fitting to estimate the parameters of the chirp masses of binary black holes (BBHs). The average chirp mass of our results is , which is very close to provided by GWOSC. In the process, we can analyze LIGO GW events and estimate the chirp masses of the BBHs. This work presents the feasibility and accuracy of the low-order approximate model and data fitting in the application of GW data processing. It is beneficial for further data processing and has certain research value for the preliminary application of GW data.

RESTORATION OF A STEAM TURBINE BLADE BY ARC WELDING WITH ORIENTATION OF ZONES OF INCREASED HARDNESS

Turbine blades are characterized by abrasive wear and erosion by solid particles. Features of wear of these elements are its rapid development and unevenness. The consequences of this are a decrease in spalling, a decrease in its cost-effectiveness, and a shortening of the inter-repair period. As a way to avoid uneven wear of the blade surface, it looks like the deposition of metal layers with the orientation of zones of increased hardness. From the literature data and the experience of previous studies, it is known about the positive effect of carbides on the wear resistance of the deposited metal. Taking into account the fact that the turbine blades are made of steels 30ХГСА, 20Х2, 10ХСНД, it was decided to investigate the effect of local preliminary application of carbides on surfacing with materials corresponding to these steels in composition. Surfacing was performed with Veltek-450 HG and Veltek H-50 wires with a diameter of 2 mm, as well as with Plan T-201 tape with a width of 10 mm and a thickness of 3.2 mm, using a UD-249 device in an argon environment. Titanium and boron carbide powders mixed with GF-021 primer were used as strengtheners. Through metallographic research, it was established that the most striking signs of dissolution of carbides are observed when surfacing with Veltek H-460G wire. From the point of view of the properties of the deposited layers, the combination of Veltek H-460G wire with B4C can be considered the most effective of those considered. This is due to the fact that the lower layer deposited with B4C application is more ductile (398 HB), and the upper one is harder (464 HB), which has a favorable effect on the occurrence of tensile stresses. Layers with the orientation of zones of increased hardness should be placed transversely to the movement of abrasive particles and the direction of crack development. It is expected that the arrangement of zones of greater hardness in this way will contribute to a decrease in the intensity of cracking. And zones of lower hardness, in turn, will restrain the development of cracks due to their greater plasticity.

Clinical Applications of TSPO PET for Glioma Imaging: Current Evidence and Future Perspective-A Systematic Review.

Our aim was to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature concerning the clinical applications of positron emission computed tomography (PET) with radiopharmaceuticals targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) in gliomas. A literature search for studies about TSPO PET in the last 10 years (from 2013 to February 2023) was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the following keywords: "PET" AND "Gliomas" AND "TSPO". The Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist for diagnostic test studies was used for testing the quality of selected papers. Ten articles were selected, encompassing 314 glioma patients submitted to PET/CT (9/10) or PET/MRI (1/10) with TSPO ligands. Among the various available TSPO tracers, the most frequently used was the third-generation ligand, [18F]-GE-180. TSPO PET results were useful to identify anaplastic transformation in gliomas and for the prognostic stratification of patients bearing homogeneous genetic alterations. When compared to amino-acid PET, TSPO PET with [18F]-GE-180 presented superior image quality and provided larger and only partially overlapping PET-based volumes. Although biased by some issues (i.e., small sample size, most of the studies coming from the same country), preliminary applications of TSPO PET were encouraging. Further studies are needed to define implications in clinical practice and shape the role of TSPO PET for patients' selection for potential TSPO-targeted molecular therapies.