Brain imaging as a prognostic biomarker in urea cycle disorders.

We present a novel promising fabrication technique for Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) plasma actuators based on Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) technology of conductive inks on dielectric surfaces and characterize the AJP-SDBDs optical and electromechanical performance. Linear SDBD designs, with ultra-smooth electrode edges of micrometer thickness have been fabricated, which when driven by AC, High Voltage waveforms, present stable plasma operation and reproducible features. We measure the electromechanical characteristics in terms of ink-related electrical properties (through Van der Pauw-resistivity and Hall measurements), plasma properties through electrical diagnostics, time-resolved imaging and optical emission spectroscopy (OES), while we perform Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) measurements of the induced wall-jet flow. The printed electrodes show a clear metallic behavior, with their electronic properties comparing very favorably to other printable materials. The AJP-SDBDs show similar electromechanical characteristics with conventional SDBDs fabricated via conventional methods, good robustness, and more intense nature indicating lower breakdown voltage requirements. The emission spectra from the discharge show dominant formation of excited N 2 and N 2 + species. Based on high-resolution OES, an estimation of rotational and vibrational temperatures of the N 2 (C) state is performed, showing the strong non-equilibrium nature of the discharges produced. This helps in maintaining the average gas temperature in the positive and negative AC voltage phase at low levels (below 350 K) indicating its minimal impact on the gas dynamics. In terms of induced flow and electrohydrodynamic (EHD) forcing, the AJP-SDBD resulted in wall-jet flows with a maximum velocity achieved of approximately 5 m/s and a wall-jet height of approximately 3 mm at 7 mm from the exposed electrode edge for the 30 kV 3 kHz case. At the same conditions, the EHD force reached more than 27.5 mN/m. The obtained values and trends are in good agreement with literature values of conventional AC driven SDBD actuators, showcasing AJP potential as a promising fabrication technique for robust and efficient plasma actuators and related applications. • First time application of Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) technology in the fabrication of Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) plasma actuators. • Silver ink electrodes present perfect alignment, great adhesion, ultra-fine and ultra-smooth edges, micrometer thickness and low resistivity. • Optical and electromechanical characterization show similar characteristics with SDBDs fabricated via conventional methods, good robustness, and enhanced discharge ignition and intensity characteristics. • Measured maximum induced flow velocities of about 5 m/s and total EHD body force more than 27.5 mN/m. • AJP-SDBDs show great promise as a fabrication technique for next generation of robust, efficient and novel plasma actuators.

The purpose of this study is to enable 3D abdominal imaging and quantitative parameter mapping in free breathing conditions and simultaneously provide proton-density fat fraction (PDFF), water-specific and fat-specific T1 maps. A radially encoded MP2RAGE with alternated fat and water selective pulses was implemented and validated on a phantom containing gadolinium (Gd) and pork fat at different concentrations. Comparison with MR spectroscopy and imaging techniques of reference was performed invitro. Multiple experiments were carried out on healthy volunteers and individuals with a record of liver disease and benign bone marrow lesions to evaluate the method's repeatability, accuracy and potential for clinical application. Invitro water or fat specific T1 was in agreement with estimates provided by reference methods over a wide range of mixture ratios. PDFF was strongly correlated with spectroscopy (Pearson coefficient of 0.98) and other imaging techniques although underestimated due to the imperfect pulse selectivity profile. Images free of ghosting artefacts were acquired invivo on seven volunteers. The whole abdomen was imaged, as well as a large part of the spine (from T11 to L5). Parametric maps provided repeatable estimates in the liver, the bone marrow and the subcutaneous fat that were consistent with values reported in literature and other imaging techniques. The acquisition time could be halved without significantly affecting the quantitative values. Overall, high-contrast MP2RAGE abdominal images, water- and fat- specific T1 maps and PDFF maps were achieved in a single 3D acquisition under free breathing.

Optical design of a compact aberration-corrected time-delay compensated monochromator for high-order harmonic source

The provenance and circulation of archaeological ceramics are key to understanding ancient societies' trade networks and cultural exchanges. However, comparing coarse and fine wares using bulk compositional analysis remains challenging due to the variable chemical contribution of temper (e.g., sand), which masks the signature of the raw clay. This study introduces a novel quantitative μ-LIBS (micro-Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) imaging methodology to isolate and analyse the clay fraction composition of archaeological ceramics, enabling direct geochemical comparisons between tempered coarse wares and fine wares for provenance studies. By combining multi-elemental mapping (Ca, Fe, Ti, K, Si, Al, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Zr, Rb, Sr, Ba) with calibration based on bulk X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, the method provides accurate microscale quantification. Elemental maps are segmented to extract the clay fraction composition, overcoming the limitations of traditional bulk analysis. The protocol was validated using fired briquettes with controlled sand contents and firing temperatures, confirming its accuracy and robustness. Applied to four coarse ware specimens (mainly amphorae) from Lugdunum (Roman Lyon (France) during the Augustan-period, the reconstructed clay compositions were compared to a reference database of 235 contemporaneous ceramics, including coarse wares and three Lugdunum Terra sigillata production groups. Results reveal a shared raw clay source between calcareous amphorae and La Muette B sigillata, supporting earlier hypotheses, while other sigillata wares remain compositionally distinct. This approach significantly advances ceramic provenance studies, particularly for complex assemblages, by enabling direct comparisons between ware types previously hindered by temper variability, together with the common total bulk elemental composition measurements.

Beneficial effects of electro-acupuncture treatment in photothrombotic ischemia model rats by remodeling neurovascular unit.

Characterization of pericardium collagen stiffening after riboflavin/UV- and low energy electron irradiation by IR spectroscopic imaging.

Nitrogen fixation is a challenging target in chemistry. N2 adsorption on transition metal sites has been identified as a prerequisite for activating the stable N≡N triple bond in industrial and biological processes. The structural and bonding properties of the Rh2O2(N2)n- (n = 1-2) complexes have been investigated via mass-selected photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations. The experimental and theoretical results indicate that the N2 molecules in the Rh2O2(N2)n- (n = 1-2) complexes possess the end-on bonding motifs. Adsorption and activation of dinitrogen are facilitated by charge transfer from Rh and O to N2. The importance of π back-donation from the 4d orbital of the Rh atom to the antibonding π orbitals of N2 for dinitrogen activation is discussed in detail; these results identify Rh2O2(N2)n- (n = 1-2) as a key adsorbed species in the initial stage of dinitrogen activation by rhodium oxide clusters.

Terahertz waves hold immense potential across diverse fields, including healthcare monitoring, biomedical imaging, precision navigation, high-speed communication, security screening, industrial quality control, and space exploration. However, the widespread adoption of terahertz technology has been hindered by the bulky, complex, and costly nature of existing systems. Here, we demonstrate gain-enhanced interband photomixing in quantum well (QW) PIN photodiodes as an efficient mechanism for frequency-tunable terahertz generation and detection, achieving significant improvements in power efficiency and sensitivity over the state-of-the-art. QWs embedded in PIN photodiodes-key elements of commercially available photonic integrated circuits (PICs)-enable monolithic integration of lasers, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), modulators, filters, demultiplexers, and other passive optical components. By establishing QW PIN photodiodes as the foundation of a Monolithically Integrated Terahertz Optoelectronic (MITO) platform, this work paves the way for compact, scalable terahertz optoelectronic systems with applications in high-speed data transfer, spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging. This advancement positions terahertz technology for widespread use, facilitating practical applications across remote sensing, communications, and medical diagnostics within portable devices.

Accurate identification of Allium seed genotypes is essential for cultivar authentication, breeding, and fraud prevention, yet remains challenging due to morphological similarities. This study evaluates the potential of a visible and near-infrared (Vis–NIR) spectrometer and a hyperspectral camera for non-destructive classification of seven closely related Allium genotypes, including shallot, red, white, and yellow onions, bon-sorkh, and two leek varieties. A total of 700 spectra and 70 images were acquired using the Vis–NIR spectrometer and hyperspectral camera, respectively, under controlled conditions and spectral preprocessing was applied to enhance signal quality. For spectrometer data, classification models were developed using soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA), artificial neural networks (ANN), and histogram-based gradient boosting (HisGB). For hyperspectral data, pixel-level spectra were used to train ANN, HisGB, and deep convolutional neural networks (1D and 2D CNNs). Among the spectrometer models, the combination of second derivative preprocessing with HisGB achieved the highest performance (F1-score: 98.52%). For HSI, HisGB yielded the highest pixel-level classification accuracy (F1-score: 97.83%; error: 2.49%), followed by 1D CNN (F1-score: 96.85%). Spatial analysis revealed that HisGB and 1D CNN produced consistent classification maps across genotypes, whereas ANN and 2D CNN exhibited higher misclassification rates, particularly for morphologically similar classes such as shallot and bon-sorkh. At image level, the hyperspectral camera outperformed the Vis–NIR spectrometer, achieving perfect classification across all models. These results demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral imaging, especially when combined with ensemble and deep learning approaches, for high-throughput, non-destructive seed sorting and genotype purity assessment. The study also emphasizes the trade-off between the lower cost but reduced precision of the Vis–NIR spectrometer and the superior accuracy offered by the hyperspectral camera.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) exhibit pronounced alterations in lipid organization that contribute to tumor aggressiveness and resistance to radiotherapy. In this work, we combine atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) and fluorescence imaging to investigate nanoscale lipid remodeling in Schwann and MPNST cells exposed to cannabidiol (CBD) and ionizing radiation, while introducing a new semiquantitative strategy for AFM-IR image analysis. Conventional band-based AFM-IR spectroscopy was first employed to identify characteristic biochemical signatures in the perinuclear region, revealing CBD- and irradiation-dependent modifications of phospholipids (1260 cm-1-1240 cm-1) and cholesteryl esters, monitored via the ester carbonyl band at 1740 cm-1. These spectral changes provided a biochemical basis for further nanoscale analysis, but were restricted to intensity-based interpretation. To overcome this limitation, we introduce, for the first time, a pixel-based AFM-IR semi-quantification framework that converts nanospectroscopic maps into statistically robust biochemical metrics. High-resolution AFM-IR images were processed to extract pixel-resolved ester-specific signals, enabling semi-quantitative determination of both the average cholesteryl ester signal intensity and the nanoscale surface area occupied by ester-rich domains. Statistical evaluation using ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test allowed direct comparison of lipid redistribution across experimental conditions. Application of this framework revealed distinct nanoscale patterns of cholesteryl ester remodeling in Schwann versus MPNST cells under CBD and irradiation, including pronounced spatial reorganization that was not evident from spectral intensities alone. Importantly, the AFM-IR-derived spatial metrics were independently validated by fluorescence lipid droplet staining, demonstrating similar trends between nanoscale infrared measurements and cellular lipid abundance. In parallel, AFM-IR analysis of the Amide I and II regions uncovered CBD-dependent modulation of protein secondary structure, highlighting differential responses between normal and malignant cells. Overall, this study establishes a transferable, pixel-based AFM-IR analysis strategy for nanoscale biochemical semi-quantification and demonstrates its utility in resolving lipid organization and remodeling in complex biological systems.

PurposeTo investigate functional and metabolic changes in the primary visual cortex (V1) and frontal eye fields (FEFs) of patients with acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE), identify potential biomarkers, and explore their associations with clinical features.MethodsFifteen patients with AACE and 15 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and single-voxel ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in V1 and FEF, as well as the absolute concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu), and glutathione (GSH) in V1 and FEF, were compared between the two groups and selected via LASSO regression.ResultsCompared with controls, the AACE group exhibited significantly increased ReHo and ALFF in both V1 and FEF (all false discovery rate [FDR] q < 0.05). ReHo levels in V1 and FEF significantly discriminated patients with AACE from controls in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis (area under the curve = 0.77–0.83, all FDR q < 0.05). Asp and NAA levels in V1 were significantly lower in the AACE group than those in the control group and had significant discrimination by ROC analysis (all q < 0.05). Logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regressions identified ReHo in FEF and V1, ALFF in FEF, NAA and Asp levels in V1, and GSH and NAA levels in FEF as potential biomarkers of AACE.ConclusionsThe pathogenesis of AACE might involve dual neural mechanisms: neuronal metabolism alteration and adaptive function upregulation within the visual cortex and oculomotor cortical regions. ReHo in V1 and FEF could serve as core functional biomarkers, and NAA and Asp levels in V1 and NAA and GSH levels in FEF might serve as core metabolic biomarkers of AACE.

Quantitative imaging of lipid peroxidation-derived biomarkers in living cells remains challenging because signal fluctuations and probe heterogeneity often compromise the reliability of cellular surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements. Here, we report a biocompatible ratiometric SERS nanoprobe for quantitative detection and cellular imaging of malondialdehyde (MDA), a key biomarker of oxidative stress. The probe integrates a plasmonic core-shell architecture with a surface-confined chemical reaction, in which 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) reacts with MDA through a Schiff-base condensation to generate a characteristic Raman band at 1657 cm-1. By using the invariant Raman band at 1080 cm-1 as an internal reference, a ratiometric readout (I1657/I1080) enables self-calibrated detection and effectively compensates for variations in laser excitation and nanoprobe distribution. Importantly, the probe demonstrates high chemical specificity toward MDA, showing negligible cross-reactivity with structurally related aldehydes, ketones, and common cellular biomolecules. The silica shell enhances structural stability and significantly reduces Ag-associated cytotoxicity, allowing reliable operation in biological environments. The developed probe exhibits a linear range (0.25-12.5 μM) and a detection limit of 0.5 nM for MDA. In cellular studies, the nanoprobe enables dose-dependent visualization of exogenous MDA and quantitative imaging of endogenous MDA generated during AAPH-induced lipid peroxidation. The ratiometric SERS imaging clearly differentiates oxidative stress levels among treatment groups. This ratiometric SERS platform provides a robust strategy for the mapping of cellular oxidative stress and offers a versatile tool for evaluating antioxidant interventions and neurodegenerative processes.

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique for pain-related deep brain regions. This study aimed to investigate neural mechanisms underlying TUS effects on pain processing using neuroimaging. Thirty-two healthy participants underwent two double-blind, randomised sessions (active or sham). A tonic cold stimulus was applied during multifocal TUS applied to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). While no significant main effect on pain intensity was observed, active TUS showed a significantly greater reduction in pain ratings between 28- and 55-minutes post-stimulation, suggesting a delayed analgesic effect. Active TUS altered sensory encoding, disrupting the relationship between temperature and pain intensity. There was increased functional connectivity between the dACC and the supplementary motor area, pre-motor cortex, mid-ACC and supramarginal gyrus, and altered salience network connectivity. Overall, these findings suggest dACC-TUS has multidimensional effects across behavioural and neural aspects of pain processing, supporting its potential therapeutic value.

Arsenic (As) contamination in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a persistent threat to global food safety. Expansin-like proteins have been implicated in cell wall dynamics and metal binding; however, their in planta role in As detoxification remains unexplored. This study reveals a pivotal role for the rice expansin-like protein OsELP in As compartmentalisation and tolerance. Using transgenic approaches in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, we showed that OsELP overexpression significantly enhanced tolerance to both arsenite and arsenate stress, protecting biomass and photosynthetic efficiency. Mechanistically, OsELP facilitated the apoplastic sequestration of As in roots, as visualised by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) imaging. This sequestration acted as a root filter, increasing root As retention and reducing shoot translocation, which culminated in a significant reduction of As in grains in the overexpression lines. This spatial restriction of As mitigated oxidative and photosynthetic damage by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and limiting reactive oxygen species accumulation. In contrast, the Oselp knockout line exhibited increased As accumulation in aerial tissues and heightened sensitivity. This study reveals a previously uncharacterised functional link between cell wall-associated expansin-like proteins and As mobility regulation, highlighting OsELP as a promising genetic target for developing low-As rice cultivars.

Targeted IL-4 nanoparticles for osteal macrophages modulation in osteoporosis.

Early intervention in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is critical to halt disease progression. However, noninvasive tools for monitoring early-stage MASH and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models remain limited, impeding preclinical drug development. This study establishes an integrated approach using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 9.4 T to dynamically track disease development and drug response in a prefibrotic MASH mouse model. Mice were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD) for 16 weeks to induce early MASH without fibrosis and treated with the anti-MASH drug semaglutide for 8 weeks after modeling. Longitudinal MRI assessments-including proton density fat fraction (PDFF), 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), T2 mapping, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-were performed every 4 weeks and correlated with histopathology. Histology confirmed early MASH after 16 weeks, without fibrosis. All MRI parameters strongly correlated with histopathological scores. HFHCD feeding led to significant changes: PDFF, MRS-derived liver fat content (LFC), and T2 values increased by 6.8-, 5.2-, and 2.5-fold, respectively, while apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) decreased by 30% (p < 0.001). T2 and ADC also correlated with MRS-quantified saturated fatty acids. Semaglutide treatment effectively reversed these changes: PDFF decreased by 73%, LFC by 62%, T2 by 46% (p < 0.001), and ADC increased 1.4-fold (p = 0.017) compared to the vehicle group. This work demonstrates multiparametric MRI as a powerful noninvasive platform for monitoring early MASH dynamics and treatment response. By enabling longitudinal assessment in a prefibrotic model, this approach accelerates translational research in MASH diagnosis and drug development. The established multiparametric MRI evaluation system provides a valuable noninvasive monitoring platform for preclinical early-stage MASH research, demonstrating significant potential to accelerate the translational progress in MASH diagnosis and drug development. A novel prefibrotic MASH model was established to assess early-stage MASH progression. Multiparametric MRI at 9.4 T enables noninvasive, longitudinal monitoring of early MASH. Semaglutide-induced improvement in steatosis and inflammation can be monitored by multiparametric MRI.

The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) posits similar cellular pathologies for particular symptom domains across diagnostic categories. Conversely, knowledge that these differ could advance treatment discovery, especially for affective and non-affective psychoses, as studies usually intermix them. We tested this by comparing metabolite biomarker concentrations for cellular pathologies from whole hippocampal proton magnetic spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI) with symptoms from the original and five factor PANSS, and the Hamilton Depression and Young Mania Scales. Participants were 26 healthy controls; 22 non-psychotic affective cases (NP-aff); and 33 with psychosis (including 20 schizophrenia (Scz) and 13 affective psychosis (aff-P) cases). PANSS activation factor was related to reductions in all cellular component biomarkers in Scz, including glia, membrane turnover, neural integrity, glutaminergic neurotransmission, and energy metabolism (p's<.05), but only to energy metabolism in NP-aff (p=.03). Biomarkers for mood symptoms also varied across categories, suggesting gliosis for mania and depression in HC (p's≤.025), but increased membrane turnover for mania in aff-P (p=.015), and decreased neural integrity and energy metabolism for depression in Scz (p's<.05). In contrast, negative symptoms and autistic preoccupation were related to reduced glia in both NP-aff and aff-P (p's<.05). Autistic preoccupation in Scz was related to both reduced glia and membrane turnover (p's<.05). Only Scz showed a significant finding for positive symptoms, specifically reduced membrane turnover (p=.018). These results suggest both distinct and similar cellular pathologies for symptoms across diagnoses, including affective and non-affective psychoses. The differences support categorizing disorders and stratifying different psychoses in research rather than transdiagnostic approaches.

ABSTRACT Carrier‐envelope phase (CEP)‐stable ultrashort pulse sources in the short‐wave infrared (SWIR) and mid‐infrared (MWIR) are central to modern ultrafast laser science. By combining robust CEP control with high average power and near‐single‐cycle pulse durations, these sources provide compact and versatile platforms for applications ranging from high‐resolution ultrafast spectroscopy and coherent imaging to strong‐field physics. This review surveys recent advances that are driving the broader adoption of coherent broadband few‐cycle infrared ultrafast systems, and we discuss frequency down‐conversion schemes based on difference‐frequency generation and intra‐pulse difference‐frequency generation, optical parametric generation and amplification, passive CEP‐stable architectures, and coherent multi‐octave infrared sources. Such ultrafast CEP‐stable sources provide unprecedented control over spectral tunability, phase stability, and pulse characteristics, fostering exciting opportunities across spectroscopy, imaging, and attosecond science.

Abstract The Lunar Trailblazer mission aimed to assess the presence of water on the lunar surface using imaging spectroscopy in visible shortwave infrared (VSWIR) coupled with high‐resolution multispectral imaging in thermal midwave‐infrared (MWIR), captured simultaneously over the same target from orbit around the Moon with two different instruments. Uncertainties in clock timing, instrument models, and instrument pointing knowledge manifest as geospatial offsets between the two data sets that must be corrected in post‐processing to enable co‐registration, tying the acquired images to their precise latitudes and longitudes on the Moon. This work describes an algorithmic approach to co‐registering and geolocalizing images after acquisition without high precision instrument and spacecraft pointing models, the Iterative Matching Pipeline for Post‐Acquisition Image Localization (IMPPAIL), utilizing previously acquired data for development. We use Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimetry (LOLA) and Kaguya data to make shaded relief maps as the basemap on which to project data. To test our processing pipeline prior to Lunar Trailblazer data collection, we use Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M 3 ) data for VSWIR images and simulated MWIR images. When demonstrated on these data sets, IMPPAIL produces a 98% success rate registering VSWIR data to LOLA/Kaguya shaded relief maps and successfully co‐registered MWIR and VSWIR in all four simulation cases. We include a code package with software tools allowing this algorithm to be used for a variety of data sets across many other missions.