Phosphatidylserine nanobubbles: A macrophage-targeted ultrasound contrast agent - promising approach for the early detection of acute cardiac rejection.

Dual-readout aptasensor based on CRISPR/Cas12a and nanozyme for accurate detection of KIM-1 and its application in kidney transplant prognosis.

Human oral mastication and in vitro digestive behaviour of tofu supplemented with soybean residue (okara).

Optimization of lens size and ion source parameters for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomics using hydrogen as a carrier gas.

Graphene hybrid nanoprobes for targeted microbial sensing and ultralow-energy, deep-tissue, noninvasive multiphoton imaging in the NIR-I/II region.

RNA detection on a microfluidic platform using Thyclotides.

Inner ear high signal on non‑contrast 3D FLAIR imaging in patients with cerebrospinal fluid leaks: Association with dural/subdural changes and with audiovestibular symptoms.

Differential brainstem circuits mediating conditioned pain modulation induced analgesia and hyperalgesia: A cross-sectional, ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Behavioral and neurophysiological evaluation of pyrethroid effects on honey bee olfactory perception and learning.

Passive solid-state detectors based on lithium fluoride (LiF) crystals and TLD-100 pellets were irradiated in the range from 0.65 to 1000 Gy and LiF thin films from 20 to 1000 Gy at different dose-rates within the two dose ranges, with the 60 Co source of the Calliope irradiation facility at ENEA Casaccia, Italy. The 1 mm-thick LiF crystals and pellets were commercially available, while the LiF films were grown, by thermal evaporation on bare and Al coated Si(100) substrates, with nominal thickness of 0.5, 1 and 2 μm, at ENEA Frascati, Italy. The principle of operation of these radiation detectors is the optical reading of visible radiophotoluminescence (RPL) emitted by radiation-induced F 2 and F 3 + color centers (CCs). The RPL spectra of the LiF crystals and of the TLD-100 pellets were measured under continuous wave laser excitation at 445 nm, while for the LiF films the spectrally integrated RPL signal was measured by a fluorescence microscope equipped with a blue LED as pumping source. In pellets, the RPL signal intensity showed a linear behavior as a function of the irradiation dose, which is independent from the dose rate. Despite of the close similarity of the RPL spectra, a slightly supra-linear behavior was found for the LiF crystals. Due to the LiF films limited thickness and thus the low RPL signal, a linear RPL response was clearly measured only at the highest doses, for both kind of substrates and all the investigated thicknesses. On the basis of these results, further investigations are under way to understand the observed behaviors in order to exploit the RPL of these LiF-based detectors for dosimetry of gamma rays in a very wide dose range up to MGy. • LiF crystals, thin films and TLD-100 pellets were gamma irradiated up to 1 kGy • F 2 , F 3 + CCs RPL spectra measured under cw laser excitation in crystals and pellets • RPL showed linear response with dose and dose-rate independence in pellets • F 2 , F 3 + CCs RPL measured by a fluorescence microscope in LiF thin films • RPL showed linear response at the highest doses in films on Si and Al substrates

Quantitative analysis of solid-state NMR data, based on magic-angle spinning with cross-polarization experiments (CP-MAS), often requires extensive signal processing, from the transformation of raw time-domain data (FIDs) to the extraction of quantitative data and the modelling of signal intensity kinetics. Many current workflows rely on semi-manual peak fitting and heterogeneous tools across laboratories for intensity curve modelling, limiting reproducibility and throughput. In this work, we propose a fully reproducible and open workflow combining two key methodological approaches: (1) an adaptive bucketing approach, extraction of relevant variables for analysis (ERVA), implemented in NMRProcFlow application, to automatically segment 13C spectra into chemically relevant spectral regions; and (2) an online modelling platform that allows users to fit intensity curves over contact time with multiple models, guided by objective indicators including fit quality scores and parameter sensitivity metrics. This integrated approach provides a fast, user-friendly and transparent path from FIDs to kinetic model parameters, opening new perspectives for reproducible quantitative solid-state NMR.

Development and validation of an indirect ELISA based on recombinant N-P fusion protein for detecting antibodies against parrot bornavirus in psittacine birds.

Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma is a rare renal neoplasm with imaging characteristics that may make it challenging to differentiate from benign cystic lesions. This retrospective single-institution study characterized the multimodality imaging features of pathologically confirmed tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma with emphasis on ultrasound (US) findings. Cases identified between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed for demographic, clinical, and imaging features on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and US. Seven patients (6 male, 1 female; mean age 61 ± 8y) were included, with presentations of abdominal pain (n=2), hematuria (n=1), and incidental detection (n=4). The mean maximal tumor diameter was 2.4cm (range: 1.4-4.8cm); 6 lesions were round and 1 was bilobed. On CT, masses demonstrated low attenuation (mean 15 HU) with variable enhancement (mean 23 HU). MRI in 5 cases demonstrated predominantly T1 hypointense and T2 hyperintense lesions, with 1 lesion showing mixed T2 signal intensity; 3 cases showed enhancement, including septa or a mural nodule. Two hyperechoic lesions demonstrated enhancement on MRI, with enhancement corresponding to the hyperechoic portions of the mixed echogenic mass. US in 5 cases showed 3 uniformly hyperechoic, 1 mixed echogenic, and 1 septated hypoechoic mass, all demonstrating posterior acoustic enhancement. CEUS in 1 case revealed septal enhancement. Although CT and MRI features may mimic cysts, US most commonly demonstrates a hyperechoic lesion with posterior acoustic enhancement and may provide important additional diagnostic information when other imaging findings are equivocal.

Magnetic resonance imaging has been used to evaluate graft integration following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The DOSTAR study is a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating semitendinosus (ST) versus a dual tendon semitendinosus and gracilis (STG) hamstring autograft. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis identifies differences in graft signal between the two autograft options, and whether signal changes between 6- and 12- months. Patients from the DOSTAR trial were invited to take part in this MRI study. Patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using either semitendinosus or STG autograft. MRI scans were completed at 6- and 12-months post operatively. The MRI scans were assessed to measure signal intensity ratio (SIR) at several regions of interest. Linear mixed models were used to assess the changes over time for MRI variables. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm and Cincinnati scores were documented at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. KT-1000 arthrometer measurements were recorded at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. A total of 49 patients were recruited into this MRI study, with 38 undergoing MRI at both 6 and 12 months. At 12-months, statistically significant differences were seen on T1 sequences in SIR between the two groups; within the tibial tunnel (3.10 vs 2.07, p < 0.001), adjacent to the tibial tunnel (2.63 vs 1.88, p = 0.002), in the mid portion of the graft (3.16 vs 2.45, p = 0.009), and within a freehand region encompassing the intra-articular portion of the graft (3.03 vs 2.46, p = 0.018). Differences were not statistically significant adjacent to the femoral tunnel (2.41 vs 2.08, p > 0.05) and within the femoral tunnel (3.09 vs 2.89, p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in any PROMS or in KT-1000 measurements between the ST and STG groups at 6 or 12 months. Lower SIR was seen in the semitendinosus group. This was observed in T1 and T2 sequences at 6 and 12 months. Graft SIR did not change significantly between 6 and 12 months (p > 0.05). Level 2, Subgroup analysis of prospective, single-blinded, RCT.

Despite being increasingly more common in the forensic routine, DNA mixtures still present an important roadblock in the analysis of genetic evidence. The International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) recommends the use of the Likelihood Ratio (LR) in the statistical evaluation of the evidence for the contribution of a certain Person of Interest (POI). Numerous mathematical models have been developed for this purpose, which can be classified according to the information included: i) binary models only use the allelic information, ii) qualitative or semi-continuous models also accommodate drop-out and drop-in probabilities and iii) quantitative or fully continuous models include additionally allelic signal intensity (peak heights or read coverage). Before being implemented in the forensic routine, any software that supports a form of these models must be tested in different scenarios to perform an internal validation. In this work we present the results of our internal validation of the fully continuous model present in EuroForMix (EFM) and DNAStatistX (used as control of EFM in this study), comparing its performance to the semi-continuous model in LRmix Studio. To do so, 59 artificial samples were prepared from 8 unrelated contributors in mixtures of 2, 3 and 4 contributors; besides, 19 tests from 7 real cases were run in both software. The following analyses were conducted: i) scrutiny of contributors in single-source serially diluted samples; ii) estimation of the percentage of contribution to the mixture; iii) comparison of results obtained in artificial mixtures for H1-True and H1-False hypotheses; iv) effect of sensitivity analysis in the final result; v) discrimination power of each model; vi) the behaviour of the Automatic Model Search option in EuroForMix and vii) comparison of results obtained in real casework analyses. Our results show that EFM returns higher values than LRmix Studio both in single-source and mixed scenarios. The fully continuous model has demonstrated a neutral behaviour, returning inconclusive results when genetic evidence is scarce. If a reporting threshold is applied EFM is especially affected, with a higher proportion of negative log(LR) results turning inconclusive in comparison to LRmix Studio. Overall, EuroForMix has shown a correct performance, returning reliable results and reducing the subjectivity of the analysis.

MRI characteristics of the lateral pterygoid muscle and correlation with temporomandibular disorder severity: a multimodal quantitative study.

Although deep learning reconstruction (DLR) has been shown to improve image quality in MRI, its impact on quantitative physiologic parameters derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion in brain tumor imaging remains unclear. To evaluate the impact of DLR on quantitative parameters derived from DWI and DSC in patients with brain tumors. Retrospective. Sixty-two patients (33 male) with post-radiation brain metastasis. 3.0 T; T2, FLAIR, T1WI, DWI, DSC perfusion, and contrast-enhanced T1WI. DWI and DSC images were reconstructed at three DLR levels (high, medium, and low). Agreement between original and DLR images for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), mean transit time (MTT), and time to peak (TTP) was assessed using the coefficient of variation, repeatability coefficient (RC), and concordance correlation coefficient. For DSC time-series, signal-to-noise ratio, root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) were computed within tumor masks. DWI comparisons used mean signal intensity at b = 0 and b = 1000. Paired t-tests compared ADC, relative CBV, and DWI signals. RMSE and MAE were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Significance was set at p < 0.05. ADC (p = 0.955-0.979) and CBV (p = 0.341-0.708), CBF (p = 0.684-0.983), and MTT (p = 0.403-0.971) values showed no significant differences between original and DLR images, while high-level DLR showed significantly higher TTP than original images. RCs demonstrated high reproducibility across DLR levels for ADC (21.78-22.20), CBV (0.88-0.96), CBF (27.98-34.18), MTT (1.26-1.50), and TTP (3.40-3.99). DSC analysis showed the best noise reduction with high-level DLR (lowest RMSE, 254.62 and MAE, 253.18 of DSC) without compromising CBV quantification. DLR effectively reduced noise in DWI and DSC while preserving quantitative accuracy of ADC, CBV, CBF, and MTT. DLR may enable robust physiological MRI when applied in brain tumor imaging. Stage 3.

Conventional vibration demodulation typically utilizes nearby sample points in conjunction with pulses having relatively wide width for demodulation, which has drawbacks, including inconsistent spatial positions corresponding to adjacent sampling points and limited spatial resolution. This research proposes a novel quantitative vibration demodulation technique based on direct detection Φ-OTDR to address this issue. At a set repetition frequency, this technique alternately emits optical pulses with comparable but different pulse lengths. To precisely demodulate the vibration phase, it obtains two optical intensity signals at the same fiber position, which have different initial phases but virtually similar vibration-induced phase shifts. Compared with the conventional demodulation method, the proposed technique achieves a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement of 9.4 dB. By not relying on the data acquisition card's (DAQ) sampling rate, this technique reduces the acquisition system's cost and performance requirements while avoiding the spatial resolution deterioration associated with conventional demodulation using nearby sampling points.

Depth-of-interaction enhanced Compton camera using pixelated LYSO(Ce) scintillator arrays and dual-ended SiPMs.

To investigate the frequency of visually ill-demarcated small pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) and compare their clinicopathologic and MRI characteristics with those of well-demarcated tumors. This multicenter retrospective study enrolled 210 patients with surgically confirmed small PDACs (≤ 20mm) who underwent preoperative unenhanced MRI. Clinical and pathological data were collected. Two radiologists independently evaluated the following MRI features: (a) tumor delineation (well-demarcated or ill-demarcated), (b) tumor signal intensity, and (c) secondary signs, including distal parenchymal signal intensity, parenchymal atrophy, main pancreatic duct (MPD) stenosis and dilatation, and small retention cyst. Clinicopathologic features and MRI findings were compared between well-demarcated and ill-demarcated PDACs using the Mann-Whitney and Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with ill-demarcated PDAC. Visually ill-demarcated tumors accounted for 46.7% of small PDACs. Compared with well-demarcated tumors, ill-demarcated tumors were associated with less frequent elevation of tumor marker levels (P = 0.001) and smaller tumor size (P < 0.001). Abnormal distal parenchymal signal intensity was observed more frequently on T1-weighted imaging than on diffusion-weighted imaging (P = 0.012) or T2-weighted imaging (P < 0.001), and was significantly more frequent in ill-demarcated tumors across all MRI sequences (all P < 0.05). MPD stenosis and dilatation on T2-weighted imaging were more frequent in ill-demarcated tumors (both P < 0.001). Ill-demarcated tumors were also more frequently associated with at least one secondary sign (P = 0.002). On multivariable analysis, smaller tumor size (P = 0.002) and the presence of MPD dilatation (P = 0.002) were independently associated with ill-demarcated PDAC. Nearly half of the small PDACs were visually ill-demarcated on MRI. Therefore, when a focal tumor is not clearly visible, careful assessment of secondary MRI findings, particularly distal parenchymal signal abnormalities on T1-weighted imaging and MPD dilatation on T2-weighted imaging, may aid in the diagnosis.