AbstractWhile the technology is relatively new, low cost 3D printing has impacted many aspects of human life. 3D printers are being used as manufacturing tools for a wide variety of devices in a spectrum of applications ranging from diagnosis to implants to external prostheses. The ease of use and availability of 3D design software and low cost has made 3D printing an accessible manufacturing and fabrication tool in many research laboratories. 3D printers can print materials with varying density, optical character, strength and chemical properties providing platforms for a huge number of strategies that can be chosen for user’s needs. In this review, we focus on applications in biomedical diagnostics and how this revolutionary technique is facilitating development of low cost, sensitive and often geometrically complex tools. 3D printing in fabrication of microfluidics, supporting equipment, optical and electronic components of diagnostic devices is presented. Emerging diagnostic 3D bioprinting as a tool to incorporate living cells or biomaterials into 3D printing is also discussed.

This study concerns the transport and retention of polydisperse micron-sized (16 ± 6 µm) of microplastics (MPls) in porous media under varying flow rate conditions. Sorption kinetics were modeled using first-order reversible and irreversible kinetic sorption models, with sensitivity analyses providing insights into each sorption parameter's effect. Both numerical modeling and experimental measurements were employed to assess sand filter retention rates. The impact of flow rate on sorption reveals variations in distribution coefficient (Kd), mass transfer coefficient (β), and irreversible sorption rate (K1). Lower flow rates are correlated with higher Kd and β values, indicating an increase in sorption and diminished mass transfer rates. The findings revealed that an increase in Kd resulted in a more gradual sorption process with a decrease in peak concentration, whereas changes in β influenced the rate of sorption and peak concentration to a lesser extent compared to Kd. Lower K1 values are associated with higher peak concentrations and decreased retention efficiency. Retention rates were evaluated by a numerical model and found as 28 ± 1% at a flow rate of 31 ml min⁻¹ and 17 ± 1% at 65 ml min⁻¹. The introduction of MPls into soil environments has been noted to modify transport dynamics into soil. As a result, these alterations effects hydrological characteristics of soil, thereby impacting quality of groundwater and agricultural output. The mean absolute error (MAE) of 6% between modeled and observed retention rates suggests minor discrepancies. This study highlights the importance of examining retention efficiency and the accuracy of numerical models in porous media during MPl transport.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in community and hospital settings. Infections of the urinary system can range from pyelonephritis to urethritis. Acute renal infections encompass entities such as acute pyelonephritis, acute focal bacterial nephritis, renal and perinephric abscesses, emphysematous pyelonephritis, and pyonephrosis,while xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory condition that affects the kidneys. The diagnosis of UTIs predominantly relies on clinical assessment and confirmation through abnormal laboratory results. Therefore, routine medical imaging is typically reserved for complicated cases, aiming to identify contributing factors such as renal calculi, determine the type of infection, and evaluate the extent of the infection and its associated complications. Furthermore, imaging has become crucial for radiologists during interventional procedures in the treatment of pyonephrosis and renal abscesses. Traditional imaging tools, like abdominal X-rays, are vital for identifying renal calculi and gas shadows in emphysematous pyelonephritis, while ultrasonography emerges as an excellent modality for assessing urinary infections in emergency scenarios, pregnancy, and paediatric cases. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) or non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is the imaging method of choice in the most complex situations, allowing for precise assessment of the disease burden. Current MRI sequences yield promising results in specific scenarios, such as pregnancy and paediatric subjects, where minimising radiation exposure is a concern. This article focuses on elucidating the essential radiological modalities and their distinctive features in the context of renal infections, offering valuable guidance to microbiologists and physicians.

In this work, we present a transceiver front-end in SiGe BiCMOS technology that can provide an ultra-wide bandwidth of 100 GHz at millimeter-wave frequencies. The front-end employs a novel configuration for low-loss distribution of broadband generated pulses as well as coherent spatial combining of received pulses. This leads to the realization of a fully integrated ultra-high-resolution imaging chip for biomedical applications. We realized an ultra-wide imaging bandwidth of 100 GHz by the integration of two adjacent, disjointed frequency sub-bands of 10–50 GHz and 50–110 GHz respectively. The transceiver front-end is capable of both transmit (TX) and receive (RX) operations. This is a key building-block for a scalable system in which a unit cell is repeated in the X and Y directions resulting in less power and area consumption. The imaging elements were designed and fabricated in Global Foundry 130-nm SiGe 8XP BiCMOS process technology.

Imaging-based biomarkers have developed as an effective tool in neurology, providing vital understandings of the structural, functional, and molecular changes associated with neurological disorders. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and computed tomography (CT) have been widely employed to record disease-related alterations in the brain. These techniques provide a wide range of biomarkers, such as functional connectivity patterns, volumetric measurements, molecular imaging agents, and perfusion parameters, enabling the correct identification of neurological disorders. These biomarkers have proven useful in early diagnosis, disease progression tracking, therapy response prediction, and surgical planning. This review emphasizes the various obstacles and limitations that are associated with imaging-based biomarkers. Technical constraints, standardization obstacles, ethical concerns, regulatory challenges, and cost-effectiveness concerns all offer substantial barriers to wider use. It is vital to overcome these challenges if imaging biomarkers are to be successfully integrated into routine clinical practice. Imaging technology advancements like high-resolution imaging, multimodal imaging, and artificial intelligence-based analysis hold immense promise for imaging-based biomarkers in the future. While more study and standardization are needed, their ongoing development and integration into clinical practice have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and management of neurological disorders, resulting in better patient care and outcomes.

The Compact Midwave Imaging System (CMIS) is a wide field of view, multi-angle, multi-spectral pushframe imager that relies on the forward motion of the satellite to create a two-dimensional (2D) image swath. An airborne demonstration of CMIS was successfully completed in January-February 2021 on the NASA Langley Research Center Gulfstream III. The primary objective of the four-flight campaign was to demonstrate the capability of this unique instrument to perform stereo observations of clouds and other particulates (e.g. smoke) in the atmosphere. It is shown that the midwave infrared (MWIR) spectral bands of CMIS provide a unique 24/7 capability with high resolution for accurate stereo sensing. The instrument relies on new focal plane array (FPA) technology, which provides excellent sensitivity at much warmer detector temperatures than traditional technologies. This capability enabled a compact, low-cost design that can provide atmospheric motion vectors and cloud heights to support requirements for atmospheric winds in the 2017-2027 Earth Science Decadal Survey. Applications include day/night observations of the planetary boundary layer, severe weather, and wildfires. A comparison with current space-based earth science instruments demonstrates that the SWIR/MWIR multi-spectral capability of CMIS is competitive with larger, more expensive instrumentation. Imagery obtained over a controlled burn and operating nuclear power plant demonstrated the sensitivity of the instrument to temperature variations. The system relies on a mature stereoscopic imaging technique applied to the same scene from two independent platforms to unambiguously retrieve atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) with accurate height assignment. This capability has been successfully applied to geostationary and low-earth orbit satellites to achieve excellent accuracy. When applied to a ground-point validation case, the accuracy for the CMIS aircraft observations was 20 m and 0.3 m/s for cloud heights and motion vectors, respectively. This result was confirmed by a detailed error analysis with analytical and covariance models. The results for CMIS cases with underflights of Aeolus, CALIPSO and Aqua provided a good validation of expected accuracies. The paper also showed the feasibility of accommodating CMIS on CubeSats to enable multiple instruments to be flown in a leader-follower mode.

Background: global longitudinal strain (GLS) measures myocardial deformation and is a sensitive modality for detecting subclinical myocardial dysfunction and predicting cardiac outcomes. The accuracy of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is dependent on temporal resolution. A novel software enables relatively high frame rate (Hi-FR) (~200 fps) echocardiographic images acquisition which empowers us to investigate the impact of Hi-FR imaging on GLS analysis. The goal of this pilot study was to demonstrate the feasibility of Hi-FR for STE. Methods: In this prospective study, we acquired echocardiographic images using clinical scanners on patients with normal left ventricular systolic function using Hi-FR and conventional frame rate (Reg-FR) (~50 FPS). GLS values were evaluated on apical 4-, 2- and 3-chamber images acquired in both Hi-FR and Reg-FR. Inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities were assessed in Hi-FR and Reg-FR. Results: There were 143 resting echocardiograms with normal LVEF included in this study. The frame rate of Hi-FR was 190 ± 25 and Reg-FR was 50 ± 3, and the heart rate was 71 ± 13. Strain values measured in Hi-FR were significantly higher than those measured in Reg-FR (all p < 0.001). Inter-observer and intra-observer correlations were strong in both Hi-FR and Reg-FR. Conclusions: We demonstrated that strain values were significantly higher using Hi-FR when compared with Reg-FR in patients with normal LVEF. It is plausible that higher temporal resolution enabled the measurement of myocardial strain at desired time point. The result of this study may inform clinical adoption of the novel technology. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the value of Hi-FR to assess myocardial strain in stress echocardiography in the setting of tachycardia.

Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is a new imaging modality that sensitively and specifically detects superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Many labs have been developing cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tools using both SPIONs and fluorine-19 (19F)-based contrast agents for numerous important applications, including tracking of immune and stem cells used for cellular therapies. SPION-based MRI cell tracking has very high sensitivity, but low specificity. SPIONs produce negative contrast in MRI, or signal voids. SPIO is not directly detected by MRI, but indirectly through its relaxation effects on protons, therefore, it is not possible to reliably quantify the local tissue concentration of SPION particles and cell number cannot be determined. 19F based cell tracking uses perfluorocarbons (PFC) to label cells. The number of 19F atoms can be directly measured from 19F MR images and related to cell number. 19F MRI has high specificity, but low sensitivity. MPI cell tracking displays great potential for overcoming the challenges of MRI-based cell tracking allowing for both high cellular sensitivity and high specificity and quantification of SPIO labeled cell number. In this paper we describe nanoparticle and MPI system factors that influence MPI sensitivity and resolution, quantification methods and give our perspective on testing and applying MPI for cell tracking.

Imaging lidars are one of the hottest topics in the optronics industry. The need to sense the surroundings of every autonomous vehicle has pushed forward a career to decide the final solution to be implemented. The diversity of state-of-the art approaches to the solution brings, however, a large uncertainty towards such decision. This results often in contradictory claims from different manufacturers and developers. Within this paper we intend to provide an introductory overview of the technology linked to imaging lidars for autonomous vehicles. We start with the main single-point measurement principles, and then present the different imaging strategies implemented 8 in the different solutions. An overview of the main components most frequently used in practice is also presented. Finally, a brief section on pending issues for lidar development has been included, 10 in order to discuss some of the problems which still need to be solved before an efficient final implementation.Beyond this introduction, the reader is provided with a detailed bibliography containing both relevant books and state of the art papers.

A focal plane array (FPA) detector was used for hyperspectral imaging in the infrared (IR) spectral region using thermal and synchrotron light sources. FPA Fourier-transform IR (FTIR) imaging microspectroscopy will be able to monitor real time changes at specific absorption bands when combined with high brightness synchrotron source. In this study, several types of samples with unique structural motifs were selected and used for assessing the capability of the FPA-FTIR imaging technique. It was shown that the time required for polariscopy at IR wavelengths can be substantially reduced by the FPA-FTIR imaging approach. By using natural and laser fabricated polymers with sub-wavelength features, alignment of absorbing molecular dipoles was revealed as well as higher order patterns (laser fabricated structures). Micro-spectroscopy of absorber orientation reveals alignment patterns even when they are not spatially resolved.

We present a tutorial to realize a multidimensional fitting procedure capable of extracting all the relevant information contained in a sequence of charged particle images acquired as a function of time in femtosecond pump-probe experiments. The images are reproduced using a 3D fitting method, which provides the velocity (or center-of-mass kinetic energy) and angular distributions contained in the images and their time evolution. A detailed example of the method is shown through the analysis of the time-resolved predissociation dynamics of CH₃I on the B-band origin [Gitzinger et al., J. Chem. Phys. 133, 234313 (2010)]. We show that the multidimensional approach is essential for the analysis of complex images that contain several overlapping contributions where reduced dimensionality analyses cannot provide a reliable description of the features present in the image sequence. This methodology can be generalized to many types of multidimensional data analysis.

1) Background: Ultrasound-based strain imaging is now available in several ultrasound (US) scanners. Strain ratio (SR) can be used to quantify strain recorded simultaneously in two different user-selected areas, ideally exposed to the same amount of stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate SR variability when assessed in an in-vitro setup with a tissue-mimicking phantom, on resected tissue samples and in live tissue scanning with endoscopic applications. 2) Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of SR for quantification of elastic contrasts in a tissue-mimicking phantom containing four homogenous inclusions, in 38 resected bowel wall lesions and in 48 focal pancreatic lesions examined in vivo. Median SR and the inter-quartile range (IQR) was calculated on all external and endoscopic US-applications. The IQR/median provides a measure of the SR variability focusing on the two percentiles of the data closest to the median value. 3) Results: The overall variability of SR was lowest in a tissue-mimicking phantom (mean QR/median SR: 0.07). In resected bowel wall lesions representing adenomas, adenocarcinomas or Crohn lesions, the variability increased (mean IQR/Median: 0.62). During an endoscopic examination of focal pancreatic lesions in vivo, the variability increased further (mean IQR/Median: 2.04). 4) Conclusion: SR variability increased when assessed on different targets with growing heterogeneity and biological variability as one moved from homogeneous media to live tissues and endoscopic application. This may indicate a limitation for the accuracy SR evaluation in clinical applications.

Abstract: This article provides a brief review of the ontogeny of chondrocytes and the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA), and details how physical exercise improves the health of osteoarthritic joints and enhances the potential of mesenchymal stem cells for successful transplantation therapy. In response to exercise chondrocytes increase their production of glycosaminoglycans, bone morphogenic proteins and antiinflammatory cytokines and decrease their production of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix degrading metalloproteinases. These changes are associated with improvements in cartilage organization and reductions in cartilage degeneration. Studies in humans indicate that exercise increases peripheral blood recruitment of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) and upregulates BM-MSC expression of osteogenic and chondrogenic genes, osteogenic micro-RNAs, and osteogenic growth factors. Rodent experiments are uniform in demonstrating that exercise enhances the osteogenic potential of BM-MSC while diminishing their adipogenic potential, and that exercise done after stem cell implantation may benefit stem cell transplant viability. Physical exercise also exerts a beneficial effect on the skeletal system by decreasing immune cell production of osteoclastogenic cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (INF)-γ while increasing their production anti-osteoclastogenic cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. In conclusion, physical exercise done both by stem cell donors and recipients may improve the outcome of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.

We aimed to directly compare the cost-effectiveness of the NELSON and NLST screening protocols, two trials influencing lung cancer screening implementation internationally. A decision-analytic model analyzing the cost-effectiveness of the NELSON protocols was manipulated to reflect the protocols of the NLST, while maintaining features specific to the Hungarian healthcare setting. In the NELSON protocol, there are three possible outcomes to the initial round of screening: positive, negative, or indeterminate, indicating an uncertain degree of suspicion for lung cancer. This pro-tocol differs from the NLST protocol, in which the only possible screening outcomes are positive or negative, with no indeterminate option. The NLST pathway for smokers aged 55-74 resulted in a 43 € increase in total average lifetime costs compared to the Hungarian screening pathway and re-sulted in a lifetime gain of 0.006 QALYs. The incremental costs and QALYs yield an ICER of 7875 €/QALY. Our results demonstrate that assigning any suspicious LDCT screen as a positive result (NLST protocol) rather than indeterminate (NELSON protocol) can yield a slight QALY gain that is worth the additional use of resources according to Hungary’s willingness to pay threshold. Our study provides insight on the cost-effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages of various LDCT screening protocols for lung cancer and can assist other countries as they implement their screening programs.

This mini-review explores the comparative efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of high-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) intravenous infusion versus oral acid pump inhibitor therapy following endoscopic treatment for bleeding peptic ulcers. Recent evidence suggests that intravenous PPIs can significantly reduce the rebleeding rates within the critical first 72 hours post-intervention, with a noted rebleeding rate of 6% compared to 14% in patients receiving oral Vonoprazan (VPZ) therapy. Additionally, the rapid onset of action associated with intravenous administration leads to faster stabilization of vital signs and a reduced need for subsequent blood transfusions. Safety profiles for both intravenous and oral VPZ were favourable, with minimal adverse effects, the most common being transient headaches.However, the findings from our single-centre study with a moderate sample size prompt consideration of more extensive, multicentre trials to enhance the generalizability of the results. Current limitations include potential biases, short-term focus, missing data issues, and a need for long-term outcome data, necessitating further research. Future studies should also explore the cost-effectiveness of intravenous versus oral VPZ and the impact on patient quality of life and long-term mortality rates.This review underscores the importance of tailored PPI therapy in managing bleeding peptic ulcers post-endoscopy. It suggests a potentially pivotal role for intravenous PPIs in high-risk patient groups, advocating for a shift towards more aggressive and immediate care protocols in specific clinical settings.

This study assessed the performance of low-dose CT lung scans across various acquisition parameters and examined the impact of iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms on image quality for lung cancer screening. The performance of multi-slice CT scanners was assessed by using a Catphan 600 phantom, specifically within the CTP404 test module that contains materials like Teflon, Delrin, Acrylic, Polystyrene, LDPE, PMP, Air, and water. Three protocols were selected and categorized into standard, low dose, and ultra-low dose. The standard protocol featured a tube voltage of 100 kVp for single-detector CT, a pitch of 0.75, detector collimation of 0.60 mm, and a gantry rotation time of 0.33 seconds, with 5 mm slice thickness. Images were reconstructed using standard kernels like B80f and 170f, combined with either FBP or various IR algorithms. Findings indicated that the noise power spectrum (NPS) peak value (HU2mm2) increased with higher IR levels, with FBP showing the highest peak. Additionally, NPS spatial frequency diminished as IR levels rose. Optimizing contrast and spatial resolution for both background and regions of interest involved adjusting the target transfer function (TTF) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), crucial for protocol optimization. Proper adjustment of IR levels is vital, as higher levels can alter image texture and affect NPS spatial frequency. The results of this study showed that the use of IR algorithms in low-dose CT lung scans significantly improved image quality, particularly in terms of noise reduction and spatial resolution. However, the choice of acquisition parameters also played a crucial

Our hypothesis that controlled ozone applications interfere into the redox balance of the biological organism (first published in 1998 with a preclinical trial on protecting the liver from CCl4 intoxication), has been verified over the last 2 decades in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced mitochondrial pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, aging processes, diabetes-2 and in prevention of intoxications. Low-dose ozone acts as a redox bioregulator: The restoration of the disturbed redox balance is comprehensible in a number of preclinical and clinical studies by a remarkable increase of the antioxidant repair markers, here mainly shown as glutathione increase and a reduction in oxidative stress markers, mainly malondialdehyde. The mechanism of action is shown, relevant data are displayed, evaluated and comprehensively discussed: The repair side of the equilibrium increases by 21% up to 140% compared to the non-ozone treated groups and depending on the indication; the stress markers are simultaneously reduced, the redox system regains its balance.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of radiation dose on the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for benign meningiomas and determine an optimal dosing strategy for balancing tumor control and treatment-related toxicity. Clinical data of 147 patients with 164 lesions treated between 2014 and 2022 were reviewed. Primary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), local control rate (LCR), and radiation-induced toxicity, with secondary outcomes focusing on LCR and radiation-induced peritumoral edema (PTE) in two dose groups (≥14 Gy and &lt;14 Gy). Results revealed a median follow-up duration of 47 months, with 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year PFS rates of 99.3%, 96.7%, and 93.8% respectively, and an overall LCR of 95.1%. Radiation-induced toxicity was observed in 24.5% of patients, primarily presenting mild symptoms. Notably, no significant difference in LCR was found between the two dose groups (P = 0.628), while Group 2 (&lt;14 Gy) exhibited significantly lower PTE (P = 0.039). The study concludes that SRS with a radiation dose &lt;14 Gy demonstrates comparable tumor control with reduced toxicity, advocating for consideration of such dosing to achieve a balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety.

Background: Computed tomography examinations have produced high radiation doses to patients, especially the CT brain. This study aimed to optimize the radiation dose and image quality in adult CT brain protocol. Materials and Methods: Images were acquired by Catphan 700 phantom. Radiation doses were recorded as CTDIvol and dose length product (DLP). CT brain protocols were optimized by varying parameters such as kVp, mAs, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level, and Clearview iterative reconstruction (IR). Image quality were also evaluataion by The AutoQA Plus software. Results: CT Number accuracy and linearity had a robust positive correlation with the linear attenuation coefficient (µ) and showed more inaccurate CT numbers when using 80 kVp. MTF showed a higher value in 100 and 120 kVp protocols, while high contrast spatial resolution showed a higher value in 80 and 100 kVp protocols. Low contrast detectability and CNR tended to increase when using high mAs, SNR and Clearview IR protocol. Noise decreased when using a high radiation dose and a high percentage of Clearview IR. CTDIvol and DLP were increased with increasing kVp, mAs, and SNR levels, while the increasing percentage of Clearview did not affect the radiation dose. Conclusion: Optimized protocols, including radiation dose and image quality, should be evaluated to preserve diagnostic capability. The recommended parameter settings include kVp set between 100-120 kVp, mAs ranging from 200-300 mAs, SNR level within the range of 0.7-1.0, and an iterative reconstruction value of 30% Clearview to 60% or higher.

The best form of prevention against human infection through bacteria, viruses and other parasites is ozone disinfection of wastewater and drinking water as a highly effective, well-known method. As a therapeutic measure, various preclinical studies showed promising results, which are being revisited and reconsidered in times of pandemics and led to interesting results in recent clinical trials and reports, as presented by the example of protective measures against covid-19 in particularly vulnerable clinical personnel. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, repeated ozone treatments have led to new findings in the "immunomodulation" through ozone. The more effective immune response is discussed as the response of innate immune memory and opens interesting aspects for complementary treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Local anaesthetic agents suppress action potentials in excitable tissues by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. In doing so they inhibit the depolarisation of nociceptive nerve fibres and so prevent the transmission of pain impulses. UK legislation allows HCPC-registered Podiatrists with POM-A annotation access to six local anaesthetic drugs and two of these with the addition of adrenaline. The use of local anaesthetia has transformed the treatment of nail pathology by Podiatrists. In the UK, the drug of choice in podiatric practice is 3% mepivacaine hydrochloride: it is a good choice of drug for digital anaesthesia. This paper will review the chemistry, pharmacology and dose calculation of mepivacaine, and challenge some of the orthodoxy over the rigid calculation of maximum safe dosages.

Background: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody widely used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Despite reports of its effectiveness in the treatment of demyelinating diseases of central nervous system (DDCNS), it is not yet approved for use in these disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of low dose rituximab in three different subgroups of DDCNS including relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and neuromyelitis-optica-spectrum disorders (NMOSD).Methods: In a prospective cohort study, we monitored expanded-disability-status-scale (EDSS), relapses (new attacks) and serum-IgG levels to assess effectiveness and drug-adverse-events for safety in patients with RRMS, SPMS and NMOSD. These patients were candidates to receive rituximab according to our common practice protocol. We switched patients to rituximab if there was poor response to first line therapies. We follow a low dose protocol in our center (500 mg twice, two weeks apart, repeating every six months) and these patients treated in a 4-year period were assessed retrospectively for evaluation of our protocol’s safety and effectiveness. Results: 99 patients (42 RRMS, 43 SPMS and 14 NMOSD) received rituximab for a range of 12 to 40 months period. New attacks occurred in 8 RRMS (19%), 10 SPMS (23%) and 1 NMOSD (7%) patients. EDSS decreased in RRMS and NMOSD cases. Serum-IgG levels decremented in SPMS and NMOSD patients. Drug-adverse-events happened in two cases.Conclusion: In this study, low dose rituximab showed substantial effectiveness in preventing disease progression with a considerably good safety profile.

A single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic and serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist, may be associated with antidepressant effects. The mechanism behind its antidepressive action is unknown but could be linked to increased synaptogenesis and down-regulation of cerebral 5-HT2AR. Here, we investigate if a single psychedelic dose of psilocybin changes synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) and 5-HT2AR density in the pig brain. Twenty-four awake pigs received either 0.08 mg/kg psilocybin or saline intravenously. Twelve pigs (n=6/intervention) were euthanized one day post-injection, while the remaining twelve pigs were euthanized seven days post-injection (n=6/intervention). We performed autoradiography on hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) sections with [3H]UCB-J (SV2A), [3H]MDL100907 (5-HT2AR antagonist) and [3H]Cimbi-36 (5-HT2AR agonist). One day post psilocybin injection, we observed 4.4% higher hippocampal SV2A density and lowered hippocampal and PFC 5-HT2AR density (-15.21% to -50.19%). These differences were statistically significant in the hippocampus for all radioligands and in PFC for [3H]Cimbi-36 only. Seven days post-intervention, there was still significantly higher SV2A density in hippocampus (+9.24%) and PFC (+6.1%) whereas there were no longer any differences in 5-HT2AR density. Our findings suggest that psilocybin’s antidepressive actions are linked to increased persistent synaptogenesis and possibly also to an acute decrease in 5-HT2AR density.

Herein, we examined the effects of weather parameters and individual clinicodemographic risk factors on hemorrhagic stroke (HS) incidence, severity on admission, and disability at discharge in a harsh desert climate. In a retrospective design we studied patients admitted to a stroke unit in Arab Emirates in 2016-2019. With a distributed lag nonlinear model we explored immediate and delayed effects of weather on stroke incidence. Supervised machine learning was used to build models predictive of scores in NIHSS and mRS scales. We assessed model performance by calculating ROC AUC, F1 scores, specificity, and sensitivity. HS risk increased after a significant change in any weather parameter. The risk was reduced below baseline after 1-week adjustment to environmental changes. Climate input from the previous 3 days yielded reliable classification models. Humidex was a better predictor of severity than air temperature, whereas body mass index, age, and time of day at stroke onset were the strongest clinical predictors. Weather parameters before admission were stronger predictors of disease severity than individual clinical factors. We addressed limitations of previous studies by analyzing a full set of climate parameters: ambient temperature, relative humidity, humidex, atmospheric pressure, and wind speed. Predictive models may help to optimize patient management and develop preventative strategies.

Firocoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug specifically formulated for veterinary medicine and selectively acts on inhibiting the cyclooxygenase 2 enzyme(COX-2). This study aimed to evaluate the possible adverse effects of administering oral therapeutic firocoxib on gastric mucosa, hematological parameters, coagulation cascade, and hepatic and renal biochemistry in healthy horses. Nine clinically healthy Arabian horses, approximately nine years old, received 0.1mg/kg of oral firocoxib for 14 days. Before beginning treatment, a gastroscopic examination was conducted, and venous blood samples were obtained for laboratory tests on D0. Follow-up blood samples and gastroscopic examinations were taken on D7 and D14 after starting treatment and one week after completing treatment on D21. No changes were found in the gastroscopic and hematological tests. Additionally, coagulation and serum biochemistry levels remain between normal values for this particular species. However, the increased activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) indicate reduced blood coagulation capacity, which contradicts the expected effect of treatment with selective COX-2 inhibitors, as these drugs theoretically promote coagulation. Administering Firocoxib to horses is safe as it does not cause any significant adverse reactions. Therefore, it is a suitable option for managing inflammatory conditions in these animals.

Accurate weight measurement is pivotal for monitoring the growth and well-being of cattle. However, the conventional weighing process, which involves physically placing cattle on scales, is labor-intensive and distressing for the animals. Hence, the development of automated cattle weight prediction techniques assumes critical significance. This study proposes a weight prediction approach for Korean cattle using 3D segmentation-based feature extraction and regression machine learning techniques from incomplete 3D shapes acquired from real farm environments. In the initial phase, we generated mesh data of 3D Korean cattle shapes using a multiple-camera system. Subsequently, deep learning-based 3D segmentation with the PointNet network model was employed to segment two dominant parts of the cattle. From these segmented parts, three crucial dimensions of Korean cattle were extracted. Finally, we implemented five regression machine learning models (CatBoost regression, LightGBM, Polynomial regression, Random Forest regression, and XGBoost regression) for weight prediction. To validate our approach, we captured 270 Korean cattle in various poses, totaling 1190 poses of 270 cattle. The best result was achieved with mean absolute error (MAE) of 25.2 kg and mean absolute percent error (MAPE) of 5.81% using the random forest regression model.

The pathology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a disease characterized by papillary edema and increased intracranial pressure (IICP), is not yet understood; this disease significantly affects quality of life due to symptoms, including vision loss, headache, and pulsatile tinnitus. By contrast, superficial siderosis (SS), a disorder in which hemosiderin is deposited on the surface of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, potentially causes cerebellar ataxia or hearing loss. So far, no cases of IIH with infratentorial and supratentorial cortical SS have been reported. Herein, we report a case of a 31-year-old woman with obesity who developed this condition. The patient suddenly developed headache and dizziness, had difficulty walking, and subsequently became aware of diplopia. Fundus examination revealed bilateral optic nerve congestive papillae and right eye abducens disturbance. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed prominent SS on the cerebellar surface and cerebral cortex. Lumbar puncture revealed IICP of 32 cmH2O, consistent with the diagnostic criteria for IIH, and treatment with oral acetazolamide was started; subsequently, the intracranial pressure decreased to 20 cmH2O. Her abduction disorder disappeared, and the swelling of the optic papilla improved. She was now able return to her life as a teacher without any sequelae. SS is caused by persistent slight hemorrhage into the subarachnoid space. In this case, both infratentorial and supratentorial cortical superficial SS was observed. Although cases of IIH complicated by SS are rare, it should be kept in mind that a causal relationship between IIH and SS was inferred from our case. Our findings also suggest that cerebrospinal fluid dynamic analysis using MRI is effective in diagnosing IIH and in determining the efficacy of treatment.

Over the past decade, Knowledge bases (KB) have been increasingly utilized to complete and enrich the representation of queries and documents in order to improve the document retrieval task. Although many approaches have used KB for such purpose, understanding how effectively lev-erage entity-based representation still needs to be resolved. This paper proposes a Purely Enti-ty-based Semantic Search Approach for Information Retrieval (PESS4IR) as a novel solution. The approach includes (i) its own entity linking method, (ii) an inverted indexing method, and for document retrieval and ranking, (iii) an appropriate ranking method is designed to take advantage of all the strengths of the approach. We report the findings on the performance of our approach tested by queries annotated by two known entity linking tools, REL and DBpedia-Spotlight. The experiments are performed on the standard TREC 2004 Robust and MSMARCO collections. By using the REL method, for queries whose all terms are annotated and whose average annotation scores are greater than or equal to 0.75, our approach achieves the maximum nDCG@5 score (1.000). Thus, using our approach with any other document retrieval method would be an added value, unless that method achieves the maximum nDCG@5 score for those highly annotated queries.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have rapidly been gaining traction across the research, policy, and practice spheres, touted as transformative actions to jointly address biodiversity loss and climate change. However, there are multiple, alternative ways to imagine NbS in those three spheres. To inform the NbS discourses across these three spheres, we critically reflect on the prevailing framing of NbS and consider the potential of a different framing of NbS to support transformations towards regenerative relationships between humans and nature. Such reflection is urgently needed to ensure that research, policy, and practice delivers on the transformative ambitions of NbS. We propose a novel “core framing” of NbS, charting two pathways for how such a framing can support a human value-based transformation – first through influencing individual beliefs and values, and second through the communication and application of the NbS concept in research, policy, and practice. We argue that for NbS to support transformation, it must support a reframing of human-nature relationships, one where the interdependencies between people and nature are recognized as essential for social and environmental well-being. We elaborate on how such a framing is key to support inclusivity and collaboration between diverse research perspectives, policy objectives across scales, and implementation practices, to deliver successful NbS.

Abstract: The trend of fasting until noon (omission or delayed breakfast) is increasingly prevalent in modern society. This eating pattern triggers discordance between endogenous circadian clock rhythms and the feeding/fasting cycle and is associated with an increased incidence of obesity and T2D. Although the underlying mechanism of this association is not well understood, growing evidence suggests that fasting until noon, also known as an “extended postabsorptive state,” has the potential to cause a deleterious effect on clock gene expression and disrupted regulation of body weight, postprandial and overall glycemia, skeletal muscle protein synthesis, appetite and may also lead to lower energy expenditure. This manuscript overviews the clock gene-controlled glucose metabolism during the active and resting phases. The consequences of postponing until noon the transition from postabsorptive to fed state on glucose metabolism, weight control, and energy expenditure. Finally, we will discuss the metabolic advantage of shifting more energy, carbohydrates (CH), and proteins to the early hours of the day.

This study evaluated the hip joints of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) through imaging and macroscopic analyses and proposed a surgical approach for arthrotomy procedures in this species. The study used four samples fixed in 10% formaldehyde and six thawed carcasses. Radiographic and ultrasound examinations and anatomical dissection allowed the proposal of a surgical approach for the hip joint. The radiographic evaluation occurred with frog-legged ventrodorsal and lateral projections, and the ultrasound enabled joint soft tissue assessment. The articular elements represented similar characteristics to other domestic species. Some anatomical particularities of muscle groups were the intermuscular septum between the tensor fasciae latae and superficial gluteus muscles at the level of the greater trochanter of the femur, which provides lateral access to the femoral head and neck more conservatively. In conclusion, the anatomical particularities of radiographic positioning, the clinical applications of joint ultrasound, and the arrangement of muscle groups must be considered when evaluating and surgically accessing the hip joint of the giant anteater.

The relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and atrial fibrillation (AF) has gained interest in recent years. Previous literature on the topic presents great heterogeneity, focusing especially on computed tomog-raphy imaging. Aim of the present study is to determine whether an increased volume of left atrial (LA) EAT evaluated at routine pre-procedural cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relates to AF recurrences after catheter ablation. 50 patients undergoing AF cryoballoon ablation and pre-procedural cardiac MRI allowing quantification of LA EAT were enrolled. In one patient segmentation of LA EAT could not be achieved. After a median follow-up of 16.0 months, AF recurrences occurred in 17 patients (34%). Absolute volume of EAT was not different in patients with and without AF recurrences (10.35 ml vs. 10.29 ml; p-value=0.963), whereas volume of EAT indexed on the LA (EATi) was lower, albeit non statistically significant, in patients free from arrhythmias (12.77% vs. 14.06%; p-value=0.467). Receiver operating characteristic curve testing the ability of EATi to predict AF recurrence after catheter ablation showed sub-optimal performance (AUC: 0.588). The finest identified cut-off of EATi was 10.65%, achieving a sensitivity of 0.5, a specificity of 0.82, a positive predictive value of 0.59 and a negative predictive value of 0.76. Patients with values of EATi lower than 10.65% showed greater survival free from arrhythmias than patients with values above this cut-off (84% vs. 48%; p-value=0.04). In conclusion, indexed LA EAT volume evaluated at cardiac MRI independently relates to arrhythmia recurrence after AF cryoballoon ablation.

Foxtail millet, a traditional cereal crop, has gained increasing attention for its high nutritional value and potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous and rapid detection of amylose and amylopectin content of foxtail millet flour under different sheep manure application rates by hyperspectral imaging combined with chemometrics. The spectral data preprocessing used multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), and the combined algorithm of competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), random frog (RF), iterated retaining informative variables (IRIV) were employed for key band extraction. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) was then used to establish the prediction model and the regression equation, that was used to visualize the two components. Results demonstrated the key band extraction combined algorithm effectively reduced data dimension without compromising the accuracy of the prediction model. The prediction model for amylose using MSC-RF-IRIV-PLSR exhibited good performance, with the correlation coefficient (R) and root mean square error (RMSE) predicted to be 0.73 and 1.23, respectively. Similarly, the prediction model for amylopectin using MSC-CARS-IRIV-PLSR also demonstrated good performance, with the R and RMSE predicted to be 0.59 and 7.34, respectively. Then, the visualization graph generated clearly shows under the condition of applying 6 m3 of sheep manure, the amount of amylopectin accumulation was highest, and the amount of amylose was lowest. The experimental results offer valuable insights for the rapid detection of nutritional components in foxtail millet, serving as a basis for further research.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into medical imaging has guided in an era of transformation in healthcare. This literature review explores the latest innovations and applications of AI in the field, highlighting its profound impact on medical diagnosis and patient care. The innovation segment explores into cutting-edge developments in AI, such as deep learning algorithms, convolutional neural networks, and generative adversarial networks, which have significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of medical image analysis. These innovations have enabled rapid and accurate detection of abnormalities, from identifying tumors during radiological examinations to detecting early signs of eye disease in retinal images. The article also highlights various applications of AI in medical imaging, including radiology, pathology, cardiology, and more. AI-based diagnostic tools not only speed up the interpretation of complex images but also improve early detection of disease, ultimately delivering better outcomes for patients. Additionally, AI-based image processing facilitates personalized treatment plans, thereby optimizing healthcare delivery. This literature review highlights the paradigm shift that AI has brought to medical imaging, highlighting its role in revolutionizing diagnosis and patient care. By combining cutting-edge AI techniques and their practical applications, it is clear that AI will continue shaping the future of healthcare in profound and positive ways.

Compton cameras detect scattered gamma rays and estimate the distribution of gamma-ray sources. Nonetheless, crafting a camera tailored to a specific application presents formidable challenges, often necessitating the implementation of diverse image reconstruction techniques. Delving into the factors influencing these cameras can pave the way for design optimization and performance enhancement. This study introduces an inventive detector design for Compton imaging systems, building upon the achievements of prior designs. The proposed system contains eight scatterer detectors and a semiconductor absorber detector, spaced at 1 mm and 30 mm intervals, respectively. The source-to-first-scatterer-detector distance is 5 mm, with scatterer and absorber detector plates measuring 70× 70× 2.125 mm³ and 70× 70× 10 mm³, respectively. Geant4 simulation toolkit models the Compton imaging system, and an analytical method reconstructs Compton camera images. Unlike more straightforward techniques, the analytical method directly reconstructs Compton camera images by solving the equation relating to the reflected image data. This approach is implemented in the C++ programming language. The study's findings reveal that the analytical method discerns optimal conditions and parameters that significantly influence efficiency, yielding a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 3.7 mm with an angular uncertainty of approximately 2.7 degrees at an energy level of 0.662 MeV. Compared to another experimental design employing the analytical image reconstruction approach, the FWHM value decreased by 0.7 mm. This study presents an innovative detector design and an analytical reconstruction method for Compton imaging systems, showcasing improved efficiency and accuracy.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with fluorescence in the Near Infrared (NIR) by both one- and two-photon electronic excitation were incorporated in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) using a novel one-pot synthesis procedure where the condensation polymerization of alkoxysilane monomers in the presence of the AuNCs and a surfactant produce hybrid MSNs of 49 nm diameter. This method was further developed to prepare 30 nm diameter nanocomposite particles with simultaneous NIR fluorescence and superparamagnetic properties, with a core composed of superparamagnetic manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe2O4) coated with a thin silica layer, and a shell of mesoporous silica decorated with AuNCs. The nanocomposite particles feature NIR-photoluminescence with 0.6% quantum yield and large Stokes shift (290 nm), and superparamagnetic response at 300 K, with a saturation magnetization of 13.4 emu g-1. The conjugation of NIR photoluminescence and superparamagnetic properties in the biocompatible nanocomposite has high potential for application in multimodal bioimaging.

Dendritic Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles (DMON) are a new class of biodegradable nanoparticles suitable for biomolecules delivery. In order to escape from the endosomes-lysosomes and to deliver biomolecules in the cytoplasm of cells, we studied photochemical internalization (PCI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of DMON. We added photosensitizers in the framework of DMON. DMON were also loaded with siRNA or FVIII factor protein. We made four formulations with four different photosensitizers, The photosensitizers allowed to perform imaging of DMON in cancer cells, but the presence of the tetrasulfide bond in the framework of DMON quenched the formation of singlet oxygen. Fortunately one formulation allowed to efficiently deliver proapoptotic siRNA in MCF-7 cancer cells leading to 31% of cancer cell death, without irradiation. For FVIII protein, it was loaded in two formulations with drug loading capacities (DLC) up to 25%. In conclusion DMON are versatile nanoparticles which allowed to load siRNA and to deliver it in cancer cells, and to load FVIII protein with good DLC. Due to the presence of tetrasulfide, it was not possible to perform PDT and PCI.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignant hepatic tumor and occurs most often in the setting of chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation is a curative treatment option and is an ideal solution because it solves the chronic underlying liver disorder while removing the malignant lesion. Because of organ shortages this treatment can only be applied to carefully selected patients according to clinical guidelines to minimize risk of recurrence. Artificial intelligence is an emerging technology with multiple applications in medicine with a predilection for domains that work with medical imaging like radiology. With the help of these technologies laborious tasks like segmentation can be automated and workflow in radiology departments can be improved. Other roles include in depth pixel-wise analysis of lesions by radiomics or deep learning in order to find new imaging criteria that allow better prediction of treatment response or risk of recurrence. Liver transplant is an ideal treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of chronic liver disease and artificial intelligence could provide solutions for improving the management of liver transplant candidates to improve survival.

Intratumoral heterogeneity associates with more aggressive disease progression and worse patient outcomes. Understanding the reasons enabling the emergence of such heterogeneity remains incomplete, which restricts our ability to manage it from a therapeutic perspective. Technological advancements such as high-throughput molecular imaging, single-cell omics and spatial transcriptomics now allow recording the patterns of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in a longitudinal manner, thus offering insights into the multi-scale dynamics of its evolution. Here, we review latest technological trends and biological insights from molecular diagnostics as well as spatial transcriptomics, both of which have witnessed a burgeoning growth in recent past in terms of mapping heterogeneity within tumor cell types as well as stromal constitution. We also discuss ongoing challenges, indicating possible ways to integrate insights across these methods to have a systems-level spatiotemporal map of heterogeneity in each tumor, and a more systematic investigation of implications of heterogeneity for the patient outcomes.

At INFN-LNS, and in collaboration with the ATOMKI laboratories, an innovative multi-diagnostic system with advanced analytical methods has been designed and implemented. This is based on several detectors and techniques (Optical Emission Spectroscopy, RF systems, Interfero-polarimetry, X-ray detectors) and here we focus on high resolution spatially-resolved X-ray spectroscopy, performed by means of a X-ray pin-hole camera setup operating in the 0.5−20 keV energy domain. The diagnostic system was installed at a 14 GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source (ATOMKI, Debrecen), enabling high precision X-ray spectrally-resolved imaging of ECR plasmas heated by hundreds of Watts. The achieved spatial and energy resolution were 0.5 mm and 300 eV at 8 keV, respectively. We here present the innovative analysis algorithm that we properly developed for obtaining Single Photon-Counted (SPhC) images providing the local plasma emitted spectrum in a High-Dynamic-Range (HDR) mode, by distinguishing fluorescence lines of the materials of the plasma chamber (Ti, Ta) from plasma (Ar). This method allows a quantitative characterization of warm electrons population in the plasma (and its 2D distribution) which are the most important for ionization, and also to estimate local plasma density and spectral temperatures. The developed post-processing analysis is also able to remove the readout noise, that is often observable at very low exposure times (msec). The setup is now under update including fast shutters and trigger systems in order to allow simultaneously space and time-resolved plasma spectroscopy during transients, stable and turbulent regimes.

pH value almost affects the function of cells and organisms in all aspects, so in biology, biochemical and many other research fields, it is necessary to apply simple, intuitive, sensitive, stable detection of pH and base characteristics inside and outside the cell. Therefore, many research groups have explored the design and application of pH probes based on surface enhanced Raman scattering（SERS）. In this review article, we discussed the basic theoretical background of explaining the working mechanism of pH SERS sensors, and also briefly described the significance of cell pH measurement, and simply classified and summarized the factors that affected the performance of pH SERS probes. Some applications of pH probes based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in intracellular and extracellular pH imaging and the combination of other analytical detection techniques are described. And finally, the development prospect of this field is prospected.

Cells receive external stimuli to incur structural and functional damages. On scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM), speed-of-sound (SOS), attenuation-of-sound (AOS), and thickness values are plotted on the screen to create cellular images, which are related to stiffness, viscosity, and cell size, respectively. The obtained digital data compared using statistical analysis. We aimed to investigate the effects of anticancer drugs, acidic fluids, and heat effects on the cells by using SAM. Anticancer drug cisplatin induced cancer cell apoptosis/necrosis and regeneration in culture, causing elevated SOS, reduced AOS, and thickness. During a more prolonged incubation, the SAM values fluctuated differently between the cisplatin-treated and untreated cells. The tannic and acetic acid and microwave stimuli induced SOS and AOS elevations. These stimuli altered the cell size, number, differentiation, viscosity, and stiffness, which corresponded well to the fluctuation of the SOS and AOS values after incubation. Different anticancer drugs interacted with cancer cells to induce the characteristic alterations of the SAM values. These structural and mechanical alterations induced in cells was difficult to observe on light microscopy. Cellular damages were statistically compared between different stimuli and time-lapse cellular changes were observed using a SAM analysis. SAM is a useful modality to evaluate cellular damage.

Background: Lung CT provides an effective modality to evaluate patients with suspected COVID-19. However, overlapping imaging findings with cardiogenic pulmonary oedema have been reported. Reports comparing lung CT features of these diseases have not been elaborated. Thus, we aimed to investigate these gaps in the knowledge regarding low-dose lung CT features of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with those with acute heart failure (HF). Methods: This retrospective analysis enrolled hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (n=10) and acute heart failure (n=9) that exclusively underwent low-dose lung CT scans within 24-hours of admission. Clinical and lung CT characteristics were collected and analysed. Results: Ground-glass-opacities (GGO) appearance has been recorded in all subjects in HF and COVID-19 group. There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups for rounded morphology, consolidation, crazy paving pattern, lesion distribution, parenchymal band (P> 0.05). However, diffuse lesions were more frequent in HF cases (55.6% vs. 0%) than in COVID-19 pneumonia, which had predominantly multifocal pattern. Notably, CT images in HF patients were more likely to have signs of interstitial tissue thickening such as the interlobular septums, fissures and peribronchovascular interstitium (55.6% vs 0%, 88.9% vs 20% and 44.4% vs 0%,respectively), as well as cardiomegaly (77.8% vs 0%), increased artery to bronchus ratio (55.6% vs 0%), and pleural effusions (77.8% vs 0%). Conclusions: Major overlaps of lung CT imaging features existed between COVID-19 pneumonia and acute HF cases. However, signs of fluid redistribution are clues that favour HF over COVID-19 pneumonia.

To elucidate dynamic developmental processes in plants, live tissues and organs have to be visualized frequently and for long time periods. The development of roots is studied in depth at a cellular resolution not only to comprehend the basic processes fundamental to maintenance and pattern formation but also study stress tolerance adaptation in plants. Despite technological advancements, maintaining continuous access to samples and simultaneously preserving their morphological structures and physiological conditions without causing damage presents hindrances in the measurement, visualization and analyses of growing organs including plant roots. We propose a preliminary system which integrates the optical real-time visualization through light microscopy with a liquid culture which enables us to image at the tissue and cellular level horizontally growing Brachypodium roots every few minutes and up to 24 hours. We describe a simple setup which can be used to track the growth of the root as it grows including the root tip growth and osmotic stress dynamics. We demonstrate the system’s capability to scale down the PEG-mediated osmotic stress analysis and collected data on gene expression under osmotic stress.

Imaging living cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM) promises not only high-resolution topographical data, but additionally, mechanical contrast, which are not obtainable with other microscopy techniques. Such imaging is however challenging, as cells need to be measured with low interaction forces to prevent either deformation or detachment from the surface. Off-resonance modes which periodically probe the surface have been shown to be advantageous, as they provide excellent force control combined with large amplitudes, which help reduce lateral force interactions. However, the low actuation frequency in traditional off-resonance techniques limits the imaging speed significantly. Using photothermal actuation, we probe the surface by directly actuating the cantilever. Due to the much smaller mass that needs to be actuated, the achievable measurement frequency is increased by two orders of magnitude. Additionally, photothermal off-resonance tapping retains the precise force control of conventional off-resonance modes and is therefore well suited to gentle imaging. Here we show how photothermal off-resonance tapping can be used to study live cells by AFM. As an example of imaging mammalian cells, the initial attachment, as well as long term detachment of a human thrombocytes are presented. The membrane disrupting effect of the antimicrobial peptide CM-15 is shown on the cell wall of E. coli. Finally, the dissolution of the cell wall of B. subtilis by lysozyme is shown. Taken together, these evolutionarily disparate forms of life exemplify the usefulness of PORT for live cell imaging in a multitude of biological disciplines.

The monitoring of sick newborns is a challenging task that health care providers in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) must contend with each day. Conventionally, newborns are monitored via probes that are affixed to their skin and attached to processing monitors (Fig.1). However, an alternative exists in contactless imaging to record such physiological signals (Physio-Markers), surface changes and internal structures which can be used independently of, or in conjunction with conventional monitors. Advantages of contactless monitoring methods include: i) quick data generation; ii) lack of contact with skin, which reduces skin breakdown and decreases risk of infection; and iii) minimizing the number of probes and monitors affixed to the skin, which allows greater body surface-area for other care. This paper is an attempt to build a foundation for and to provide a vision of the potential neonatal clinical applications of technologies that use non-contact modalities such as Visible Light Imaging (VLI), Near InfraRed Spectrum (NIRS), and Thermal Imaging (TI) using InfraRed Spectrum (IRS).

An automated discharge imaging system (ADIS), a non-intrusive and safe approach, was developed for measuring river flows during flash flood events. ADIS consists of dual cameras to capture complete surface images in the near and far fields. Surface velocities are accurately measured using the Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) technique. The stream discharges are then obtained from the depth-averaged velocity (based upon an empirical velocity-index relationship) and cross-section area. The ADIS was deployed at the Yu-Feng gauging station in Shimen Reservoir upper catchment, northern Taiwan. For a rigorous validation, surface velocity measurements were conducted using ADIS/LSPIV and other instruments. In terms of the averaged surface velocity, all measured results were in good agreement with small differences, i.e., 0.004 to 0.39 m/s and 0.023 to 0.345 m/s when compared to those from acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and surface velocity radar (SVR), respectively. The ADIS/LSPIV was further applied to measure surface velocities and discharges during typhoon events (i.e., Chan-Hom, Soudelor, Goni, and Dujuan) in 2015. The measured water level and surface velocity both showed rapid increases due to flash floods. The estimated discharges from ADIS/LSPIV and ADCP were compared, presenting good consistency with correlation coefficient R = 0.996 and normalized root mean square error NRMSE = 7.96%. The results of sensitivity analysis indicate that components till (τ) and roll (θ) of the camera are most sensitive parameter to affect the surface velocity using ADIS/LSPIV. Overall, the ADIS based upon LSPIV technique effectively measures surface velocities for reliable estimations of river discharges during typhoon events.

This paper investigates the influence of sample size and layer height on the elastic modulus of samples 3D printed by fused filament fabrication (FFF). Cubic samples of different sizes from either a stiff thermoplastic polymer (polycarbonate (PC)) or a soft polymer (thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)) were printed at three different layer heights: 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.4 mm. The samples were imaged using micro-computed tomography to visualize porosity and tested under compression. The results indicate that the elastic modulus of TPU varied with sample size, demonstrating size effects due to high porosity. In contrast, PC samples had a low void volume fraction and did not demonstrate statistically significant size effects on the elastic modulus. The variations in elastic modulus due to layer height were statistically significant for both materials. The highest elastic modulus was observed at 0.2 mm layer height for both materials across different sample sizes, which can be attributed to low void volume fractions. The study develops process-structure-property relations for PC and TPU samples manufactured by FFF. It provides new insights into the design guidelines for FFF based on the size effects. The results indicate that variations in mechanical properties due to size effects must be considered during the design stage for TPU to accurately predict the material’s behavior. Additionally, the locations of the printed parts that are subjected to higher loads should be printed closer to the heated print bed due to the lower void volume fraction observed in the section of the samples printed adjacent to the heated print bed.

New multilayer 3D nanocomposite wear-resistant ion-plasma hard and superhard coatings Avinit [(TiN-AlN)(Mo-Cr-V-Si)]_n have been developed.The introduction of additional alloying elements (Mo, Cr, V, Si) into the Ti-Al-N coating composition, which have a high affinity for nitrogen and are capable of forming strong nitride nanoparticles in the Ti-N and Al-N layers.This makes it possible to obtain hard and superhard hardening coatings.The metallographic and tribological studies carried out indicate the prospects of the developed multicomponent multilayer nano- and microstructured Avinit coatings for increasing wear resistance and reducing friction coefficients.This paper is devoted to the development and implementation of Avinit vacuum plasma technologies for strengthening cutting and forming tools to improve tool performance.Production tests of cutting tools with Avinit's developed multilayer wear-resistant ion-plasma coatings in production conditions at many large machine-building enterprises have shown their high efficiency.In serial production, the wear resistance of tools increases by 3 to 30 times, stamps by 5 to 100 times, and parts rubbing against abrasive materials by 10 to 100 times.Avinit's vacuum plasma technologies have been successfully implemented in production in the aggregate and engine building, transport engineering, and power engineering industries.Positive experience in applying multicomponent coatings has been gained not only when applying hardening coatings to manufactured cutting tools, but also after regrinding to regrindable carbide cutting tools from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, is an exciting and versatile manufacturing technology that is gaining traction and interest in both academic and industrial settings. Polymeric materials are essential components in a majority of the “inks” used across the various 3D printing technologies. As the environmental ramifications of sole or primary reliance on petrochemicals as a resource for industrial polymers continue to manifest themselves at a global scale, a transition to more sustainable bioderived alternatives could offer solutions. In particular, cellulose is promising due to its global abundance, biodegradability, excellent thermal and mechanical properties, and ability to be chemically modified to suit various applications. Thus far, cellulose has typically been incorporated in additive manufacturing applications as a substrate, filler, or reinforcement for other materials. However, due to its versatility and desirable properties, the exploration of all-cellulose 3D printing materials and associated methodologies is increasing. This review will discuss the progress and status of all-cellulose 3D printing approaches, associated challenges, and their potential as a key player in a more sustainable industrial future.

Background: Complex bone defects are challenging to treat. Autografting is the gold standard for regenerating bone defects, however limitations include donor site morbidity and increased surgical complexity. Advancements in 3D bioprinting (3DBP) offer a promising alternative for viable bone grafts. Methods: Design of Experiments (DoE) was used to design 12 hydrogel bioinks of various Gelatin meth-acrylate/hydroxyapatite (GelMA/HA) concentrations. These bioinks were assessed for pipettability and equilibrium modulus. An optimal bioink was designed using the DoE data to produce the greatest stiffness while still being pipettable. Two bioinks, the DoE designed maximal stiff-ness and the experimentally defined maximal stiffness vs. a literature based control were then printed using a 3D bioprinter and assessed for print fidelity. The resulting hydrogels were combined with human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) and evaluated for cell viability. Results: DoE ANOVA analysis indicated that the augmented 3 level factorial design model used was a good fit (p < 0.0001). Using the model, DoE correctly predicted that a composite hydrogel consisting of 12.3% GelMA, 15.7% HA, and 2% Gelatin would produce the maximum equilibrium modulus while still being pipettable. The hydrogel with the most optimal print fidelity was 10% GelMA, 2% HA, and 5% Gelatin. There were no significant differences in cell viability within hydrogels from day 2 to day 7 (p > 0.05). There was however a significantly lower cell viability in the gel composed of 12.3% GelMA, 15.7% HA, and 2% gelatin compared to the other gels with lower HA concentration (p < 0.05), showing that higher HA or print pressure may be cytotoxic within hydrogels. Conclusions: Extrusion-based 3DBP offers significant advantages for bone-tissue implants due to its high customizability. This study demonstrates it is possible to create printable bone-like grafts from GelMA and HA with increased HA levels, favorable mechanical properties (145kPa) and >80% cell viability.

Characters are one of the most important elements in composing digital animation. The appear-ance and voice of a character should be designed to express the personality and values of the character. However, it is not easy for animation producers to harmoniously match the appear-ance and voice of a character. Advances in deep learning technology have made it possible to overcome this limitation. To achieve this, firstly, an audio-visual dataset of characters is required. In this study, we construct and verify a Korean audio-visual dataset consisting of frontal face im-ages of various characters and short voice clips. We developed an application that can automati-cally extract the frontal face image and a short voice clip of a character by collecting videos up-loaded to YouTube. Through this, a dataset consisting of a total of 1,522 face images and a total of 7,999 seconds of voice clips was built based on 490 characters. Furthermore, we automatically la-bel characters by gender and age to validate the dataset. The dataset built in this study is expected to be used in various deep learning fields, such as classification, generative adversarial networks, and speech synthesis.

Geotechnical investigation is an important site characterization process in engineering construction. Excavation pits and boreholes are popular geotechnical investigation methods for accessing subsurface soil and rock characteristics. Although they are accurate, they are limited to the discrete locations where tests are carried out. The demand for 3D representation has been increasing as an alternative for improved visualization of geotechnical investigations. This study developed a procedure for 3D modelling of geotechnical investigations using open-source software. It improves 3D visualization of geotechnical investigations and characterization of accuracy and uncertainty assessment. Presently, most geotechnical investigations do not regularly report uncertainty assessment despite its importance in risk analysis of the investigations. The procedure developed in this study was tested in a proposed site for construction of an Inland Container Depot where it depicted geotechnical soil properties with more than 80% accuracy on holdout samples. It was able to model both horizontal and vertical variations of the soil properties with quantification of uncertainty. More testing and wide applications are recommended.

The 3D reconstruction of vermiculite-based sealing material was carried out based on CT scanning experiments and Avizo software. The precision and representation of the reconstructed digital core were tested by calculating the pore structure parameters and comparing them with the experimental results of mercury compression. Avizo is a perfect interface with Fluent software to perform micro-scale seepage simulation to explore the distribution of pressure and velocity fields during fluid transport. In this paper, a new approach is proposed to study the penetration leakage of non-metallic gaskets by using equivalent pore networks.

Maxillofacial defects, arising from trauma, oncological disease or congenital differences, detrimentally affect everyday life. Prosthetic repair offers the aesthetic and functional reconstruction with the help of materials mimicking natural tissues, among which polymers take unprecedented role. The three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques based on the computer-aided design, where polymers are essential, provide a rapid and cost-effective workflow protocol to perfectly restore patient-specific anatomy for prosthetics. This review discusses the main 3D printing approaches to maxillofacial prostheses fabrication: extrusion and lithography, which are radically preferable to the traditional methods. The main assessment criteria, affording the polymer implementation in 3D printing of prostheses, as well as the characteristics of the key advanced polymers, are considered. The success of the prosthesis is shown to be largely dependent on the retention system, predominantly using polymers in the form of adhesives and osseointegrated implants as a support for the prosthesis. The approaches and technological prospects are also discussed in the context of specific aesthetic restoration on the example of the nasal, auricle and ocular prostheses. 3D printing techniques determine the development of personalized approaches to improve aesthetic and functional effect of prosthetics in patients with maxillofacial defects.

Embryoid bodies (EBs) are multicellular three-dimensional (3D) aggregates generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in suspension and serve as useful biological sources for many downstream applications. Imaging of live EBs has been hampered mainly due to the inherent limitations of the imaging techniques applied to date. This study aimed to image human iPSC (hiPSC) derived EBs to obtain their 3D volume, determining size, morphology, and cell viability from day 7 to 14 using Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM). Furthermore, chromosomal stability was assessed using Multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) from day 8 to 14. EB volume increased from day 7 to 13 which, decreased at day 14. From day 7 to 11, the EBs mainly appeared spherical and morphed into an ellipsoidal shape by day 13. All EBs showed varied external morphologies and larger cavities at day 14. The EB karyotype was diploid 46XY at day 8 and exhibited a low level of aneuploidy from day 10 to 14. This study shows that an increase in cell death affects the morphology and chromosomal stability in EBs derived from hiPSC. We demonstrate that the combination of LSFM and M-FISH helps characterize EBs that will assist future stem cell therapies.

Deterioration of concrete subjected to freezing and thawing climatic conditions is one of most important factors affecting the durability of concrete infrastructure in cold climates. The freeze-thaw resistance of cementitious materials like concrete and mortar can be determined by the CDF test (Capillary Suction of De-icing chemicals and Freeze-Thaw Test). Here, concrete specimens are subjected to repeated freeze-thaw cycles with simultaneous addition of de-icing salt and the amount of material weathered near the surface is determined. For concretes with adequate freeze-thaw resistance, this test method works very well. However, specimens with inadequate or unknown performance often experience increased edge weathering, which is caused by the detachment of the lateral isolation tape. The increasing edge influence thus leads to a falsification of the results and consequently to an underestimation of the actual freeze-thaw resistance of the material. In materials research in particular, however, concretes with high levels of weathering are studied in order to be able to investigate various factors of influence on the freeze-thaw resistance of concretes in a targeted manner. This paper presents a novel methodology that delivers new information regarding the weathering of CDF test samples and the associated distribution function of the height decrease using high resolution 3D scan data. The results indicate a correlation between the progression of the distribution function and the sample's maximum aggregate size. The change of the sample volume can be used to support the weathering results of the standard CDF methodology. The increase of the surface area is used to estimate the tortuosity of the sample surface. It indicates an asymptotic curve approaching a specific maximum value, which is dependent on the the weathering depth of the sample.

Precise binding affinity predictions are essential for structure-based drug discovery (SBDD). Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a member of the tyrosine kinase protein family and is overexpressed in a variety of human malignancies. Inhibition of FAK using small molecules is a promising therapeutic option for several types of cancer. Here, we conducted computational modeling of FAK targeting inhibitors using 3-dimensional structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR), molecular dynamics (MD), and hybrid topology-based free energy perturbation (FEP) methods. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies between the physicochemical descriptors and inhibitory activities of the chemical compounds were performed with reasonable statistical accuracy using CoMFA and CoMSIA. These are two well-known 3D-QSAR methods based on the principle of supervised machine learning (ML). Essential information regarding residue-specific binding interactions was determined using the MD and MM-PB/GBSA methods. Finally, physics-based relative binding free energy (〖∆∆G〗_RBFE^(A→B)) values of analogous ligands were estimated using the alchemical FEP simulation. An acceptable agreement was observed between the experimental and computed relative binding free energies. The overall results using ML and physics-based hybrid approaches could be useful for the rational optimization of accessible lead compounds with similar scaffolds targeting the FAK receptor.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are amongst the most pharmaceutically relevant and well-studied protein targets, yet unanswered questions in the field leave significant gaps in our understanding of their nuanced structure and function. 3D pharmacophore models are powerful computational tools in silico drug discovery, presenting myriad opportunities for the integration of GPCR structural biology and cheminformatics. This review highlights success stories in the application of 3D pharmacophore modeling to de novo drug design, discovery of biased and allosteric ligands, scaffold hopping, QSAR analysis, hit-to-lead optimization, GPCR de-orphanization, mechanistic understanding of GPCR pharmacology and elucidation of ligand-receptor interactions. Furthermore, advances in the incorporation of dynamics and machine learning will be highlighted. The review will analyze challenges in the field of GPCR drug discovery, detailing how 3D pharmacophore modeling can be used to address them. Finally, we will present opportunities afforded by 3D pharmacophore modeling in the advancement of our understanding and targeting of GPCRs.

Shell-like, double curved and thus above-average performance structures, are usually produced monolithically on site. For industrial advancement, however, they must be divided into transportable modules which can be assembled on the construction site (design for assembly). Models are lattice shells made of steel and glass, in which predominantly flat sub-surfaces (modules) are used. Therefore, the main question is: Which modularizations are suitable for flow production with mineral building materials? In this paper designed free-form surface is going to be discretized as PQ circular mesh system, suitable modules for 3D concrete printing. Moreover, the multi-criteria optimization is done with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in order to get optimal final shape. The goal is to start from the arbitrary shape, that can be generated from two curves, with possible two-way division into modules and compare it with the resulted discretized PQ circular mesh system, realized with new algorithm. The comparison can be defined through two main criteria: geometrical and structural.

Every (multimedia) service needs to be accessible. Accessibility for multimedia content is typically provided by means of access services, of which subtitling is likely the most widespread one. Up to date, many recommendations and solutions for subtitling classical 2D audiovisual services are available. Likewise, recent efforts have been devoted to devising adequate subtitling solutions for VR360 video content. This paper, for the first time, goes a step beyond, by exploring two key requirements to fulfill remaining challenges towards efficiently subtitling 3D Virtual Reality (VR) content: presentation modes, and guiding methods. By leveraging insights from earlier work on VR360 content, the paper proposes novel presentation modes and guiding methods to not only deal with the freedom to explore the omnidirectional scenes, but also with additional specificities of 3D VR compared to VR360 content: depth, 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF), and viewing perspectives. The obtained results prove that always-visible and a novel proposed comic-style presentation mode are far more appropriate than state-of-the-art fixed-positioned subtitles, mainly in terms of immersion, ease and comfort of reading, and identification of speakers, when applied to professional pieces of content with limited displacement of speakers and with limited 6DoF (i.e. users are not expected to largely navigate around the virtual environment). Likewise, even in such limited movement scenarios, the results show that the use of indicators (arrows), as guiding methods, is well received. Overall, the paper provides relevant insights and paves the way toward efficiently subtitling 3D VR content.

The capacity of 3D printing (3DP) technologies to initiate speedy polymerization of solvent free resins accounts for their utility in the manufacturing of medical devices. Nonetheless, independent biological evaluation of 3D printed materials is recommended due to the unique parameters of the manufacturing process, which can influence their physical, chemical, and biological properties. In this study, E-Shell 450 material indicated for 3DP of hearing aid shells and inner ear devices was examined for biological safety using zebrafish bioassays adapted to OECD fish embryo test. In addition, the proprietary material was characterized for composition using headspace gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To initiate test, newly fertilized zebrafish eggs were cultured on non-treated and ethanol-treated materials in glass petri dishes with ultrapure water, incubated at 28.5°C and assessed for developmental endpoints of toxicity at 24h interval until 96h. Data confirmed non-treated material was extremely toxic in bioassays within 24h whereas ethanol-treated material showed a relative lower toxicity possibly due to ethanoic-aqueous interactions as observed by GC-MS. With the current influx of 3D printing materials, users are urged to exercise caution. Operators must also take cognizance of the potential toxicity of the chemicals used in 3DP and implement safety measures to limit their exposure.

Background and Objectives: The complications seen after lower impacted third molar surgery affect the quality of life of the patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of a single preoperative dose of deflazacort on pain, swelling and trismus following impacted lower third molar surgery. Materials and Methods: This randomised, prospective, double-blind, split-mouth clinical study included 30 healthy individuals with bilaterally impacted lower third molars that was removed for orthodontic purposes between September 2017 and September 2018. Group 1 was given a placebo (single dose vitamin C tablet) and group 2 was given a single 30 mg dose of deflazacort 1 hour prior to the surgery. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale for 1 week postoperatively. Edema (in mm) and trismus (in mm) were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied for group analysis. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: When postoperative pain scores were evaluated, a significant difference was found between the groups only at the 6th and 12th hours (p0.05). Even high trismus values were recorded on the 2nd day, it was observed that the trismus resolved on the 7th day. There were no significant differences in trismus between the groups at any time point (p>0.05). Evaluation of swelling showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the study and control groups at any time point (p>0.05). No side effect was detected in both the study and the control groups. Conclusions: This was the first split-mouth study evaluating the anti-inflammatory effect of deflazacort after lower impacted third molar surgery. A single dose of 30 mg deflazacort was shown to be effective in reducing pain at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively.

Kiribati is a Pacific Island nation with a widely dispersed population and one of the highest rates of leprosy worldwide. Single dose rifampicin post exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP) of leprosy contacts has reduced new case detection rates in controlled trials. In 2018, a SDR-PEP programme was introduced in Kiribati that included screening and chemoprophylaxis of household contacts of leprosy cases both retrospectively (2010-2017) and prospectively (2018 onwards). We conducted a retrospective audit to determine comprehensiveness, timeliness and feasibility of the SDR-PEP programme. Overall, 13,643 household contacts were identified (9,791 in the retrospective and 3,850 in the prospective cohort). In the retrospective cohort, 1,044 (11%) contacts were absent, 403 (4%) were ineligible for SDR and 42 new cases were detected (0.4%) Overall SDR coverage was 84.7%. In the prospective cohort, 164 (4%) contacts were absent, 251 (7%) were ineligible for SDR and 23 new cases were diagnosed (0.6%). Overall, SDR coverage was 88.1%. Across both cohorts, there were a total of 23 SDR refusals. The median time to SDR ad-ministration was 220 days (IQR 162-468) and 120 days (IQR 36-283) for the retrospective and prospective cohorts respectively. SDR was readily accepted in both cohorts. The new case detec-tion rate (0.5%) is consistent with that seen in other studies. Overall SDR coverage in both the retrospective and prospective phases met programmatic expectations.

Little is known about the long-term durability of the induced immune response in subjects af-fected by obesity, particularly in those with an abdominal distribution of adipose tissue. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody response after BNT162b2 vaccine booster dose, com-paring individuals with abdominal obesity (AO) with those without, discerning between indi-viduals previously infected or not. IgG-TrimericS were measured in 511 subjects at baseline, 21 days after vaccine dose-1 and at one, three, six and nine months after dose-2 and at one and three months after booster dose. Nucleocapsid antibodies were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection. To evaluate the three-months difference in absolute variation of IgG-TrmicericS levels from booster dose we used multivariable linear regression that showed interaction between AO and SARS-CoV-2 infection status (p=0.016). AO is associated with higher absolute IgG-TrimericS variation in prior infected individuals, regardless of possi-ble confounders and IgG-TrimericS levels at booster dose (p=0.0125). No interaction was evinced using BMI in the same regression model (p=0.418). The robust response in the development of antibodies after booster dose, observed in people with OA and previous infection, may support the recommendations to undergo the booster dose also in this population group.

Background: The UNHLM pledged to enroll 30 million in TB preventive treatment (TPT) by 2022, necessitating TPT expansion to all at TB risk. We assessed uptake and completion of a 12-dose, weekly isoniazid-rifapentine (3HP) TPT regimen. Methods: Between February 2018 - March 2019 in Dhaka, community-based TPT using 3HP targeted household contacts of 883 confirmed drug-sensitive pulmonary TB patients. Adhering to WHO guidelines, contacts underwent active TB screening before TPT initiation. Results: Of 3,193 contacts who advised health facility visits for screening, 67% (n=2,149) complied. Among these, 1,804 (84%) received chest X-rays. Active TB was diagnosed in 39 (2%) contacts; they commenced TB treatment. Over 97% of 1,216 contacts began 3HP TPT, with completion rates higher among females, those with more education and income, non-slum residents, and those without 3HP-related adverse events. Adverse events, mainly mild, occurred in 5% of participants. Conclusions: The 3HP weekly regimen, with its short duration, self-administered option, and minimal side effects, achieved satisfactory completion rates. A community-focused 3HP TPT approach is feasible, scalable nationally, and aligns with UNHLM targets.

The combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with non-opioid analgesics is common in clinical practice for the treatment of acute pain conditions like post-operative and post-traumatic pain. Besides that, and despite the very satisfactory results achieved by oral analgesics, parenteral analgesia is a key tool in the treatment of painful conditions when the enteral routes are not convenient. The parenteral ready-to-use fixed-dose combinations of NSAIDs with non-opioid analgesics like paracetamol or metamizole could play a central role in the treatment of painful conditions since they are able to gather into only one formulation the advantages of multimodal and parenteral analgesia. Surprisingly, only very recently a parenteral ready-to-use fixed-dose combination of Ibuprofen/Paracetamol was launched to the market. This review aims to review the current availability of NSAID-based Parenteral Fixed-dose combinations with paracetamol and metamizole in the European and American markets, and how the combination of such drugs could play a central role in a multimodal analgesia strategy. Also, it is explored how the parenteral formulations of NSAIDs, paracetamol, and metamizole could serve as starting elements for the development of new parenteral ready-to-use fixed-dose combinations. With this review, we concluded that, despite the well-recognized utility of combining NSAIDs with non-opioid analgesics, there are in the literature several randomized clinical trial studies unable to demonstrate clear advantages concerning their efficacy and safety. In the future, it is deemed necessary to perform clinical trials specifically designed to assess the efficacy and safety of these fixed-dose formulations to generate solid evidence of their clinical advantages.

The rural communities are affected by gaseous emissions from intensive livestock production. Practical mitigation technologies are needed to minimize emissions from stored manure and improve air quality inside barns. In our previous research, the one-time surficial application of biochar to swine manure significantly reduced emissions of NH3 and phenol. We observed that the mitigation effect decreased with time during the 30-day trials. In this research, we hypothe-sized that bi-weekly reapplication of biochar could improve the mitigation effect on a wider range of odorous compounds using larger scale and longer trials. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar dose and reapplication on mitigation of targeted gases (NH3, odor-ous VOCs, odor, GHGs) from stored swine manure on a pilot-scale setup over 8-weeks. The bi-weekly reapplication of the lower biochar dose (2 kg/m2) showed much higher significant percent reductions of emissions for NH3 (33% without & 53% with reapplication) and skatole (42% without & 80% with reapplication), respectively. In addition, the reapplication resulted in the emergence of statistical significance to the mitigation effect for all other targeted VOCs. Spe-cifically, for indole, the % reduction improved from 38% (p=0.47, without reapplication) to 78% (p=0.018, with reapplication). For phenol, the % reduction improved from 28% (p=0.71, without reapplication) to 89% (p=0.005, with reapplication). For p-cresol, the % reduction improved from 31% (p=0.86, without reapplication) to 74% (p=0.028, with reapplication). For 4-ethyl phenol, the percent emissions reduction improved from 66% (p=0.44, without reapplication) to 87% (p=0.007, with reapplication). The one-time 2 kg/m2 and 4 kg/m2 treatments showed similar effectiveness in mitigating all targeted gases, and no statistical difference was found between the dosages. The one-time treatments showed significant % reductions of 33% & 42% and 25% & 48% for NH3 and skatole, respectively. The practical significance is that the higher (one-time) biochar dose may not necessarily result in improved performance over the 8-week manure storage, but the bi-weekly reapplication showed significant improvement in mitigating NH3 and odorous VOCs. The lower dosages and the frequency of reapplication on the larger-scale should be explored to optimize biochar treatment and bring it closer to on-farm trials.

Nicotine exposure may affect NSCLC is associated with lung cancer in humans. Whether nicotine exhibits carcinogenesis promoted activities in tumor growth still unknown. Nicotine is known to have dichotomous effects on cancer biology, acting like a pro- or anti-carcinogenesis agent. There are different functions between adenocarcinoma and squamous NSCLC cancer cells. Excess generation of nicotine may inhibit mitochondrial metabolism, protein modification, and DNA cleavage. Materials and Methods: We used the H520 NSCLC line obtained from human lung epithelial cells to detected nicotine growth and toxicity using MTT assay and western blotting. The concentration of nicotine stimulated cell growth to correspond to low concentration, while high concentration was cytotoxic. Results: According to MTT assay results, at 1.0 μM nicotine has significantly enhanced the H520 cell viability (%). Nicotine induced lung cancer carcinogenesis through mechanisms of α7nAchR, EGFR, HDAC2/4/5, Cyclin D/Cyclin E, Bcl-2, p-Akt, and inflammatory proteins of NF-KappaB and COX2 increases at 1.0 μM. Apoptosis proteins were decreases at 1.0 μM nicotine by p21, p27, c-jun, and p38α using western blotting. Nicotine stimulates tumor growth is mediated through α7nicotinic-acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR), possibly involving inflammation. On the other hand, at high nicotine concentrations (> 1.0 μM) with consistent cytotoxic effects and appeared to be due to direct cell kill. Nicotine can prevent apoptosis induced by NSCLC. Conclusion: Therefore, the effects on chemotherapeutics by NSCLC malignant cell lines, nicotine in concentrations as low as 1.0 μM decreased. These mechanisms are responsible for the genotoxic effects caused by nicotine. This leads to downstream effects on decreased apoptosis, increased cell proliferation and transformation. The malignant NSCLC cells respond to the treatment with nicotine in lung cancer, the nicotine-mediated induction of growth may provide one of its links to α7nAchR or EGFR.

This study aims to evaluate the patient’s dose exposure from Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) examination and to estimates the cancer risk induced from the examinations based on the patient’s size. One hundred patients were recruited, and data information was collected retrospectively. A multi-detector (MDCT) (Philips Brilliance 128, USA) scanner were utilized for the CTPA examination, and dose data were obtained from the system. The effective diameter of each subjects’ image was measured for the Size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs). All subjects divided into Group 1 (19 – 25 cm), Group 2 (25-28 cm) and Group 3 (28-38 cm), where the association between gender were analysed. Effective dose (E), SSDE, organ dose and cancer risk of each group were evaluated and compared statistically using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. The range of mean CTDI_vol, DLP and E values were (6.44 – 17.42 mGy), (239 – 631 mGy), (5.19 – 13.90 mSv), respectively. In respective with the patient’s effective diameter, the mean SSDE value for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were 9.93 ± 3.89 mGy, 13.70 ± 9.04 mGy and 22.29 ± 7.35 mGy. The organ dose and cancer risk attained for breast, lung and liver were 17.05 ± 10.40 mGy (194 per one million procedure), 17.55 ± 10.86 mGy (192 per one million procedure) and 15.04 ± 9.75 mGy (53 per one million procedure), respectively. Lung and breast with more massive patient’s effective diameter received the highest dose exposure which increases the probability of the cancer risk. CTDI_vol was found to be underestimated, and SSDE provides more accurate in describing the radiation dose and cancer risk. Body effective diameter found to be significant on the estimation except for gender. Therefore, it is essential to apply optimised protocols in order to reduce patient’s exposure during CTPA examination.

Background: Approximately 75% of all head and neck cancer patients are treated with radiotherapy (RT). RT to the oral cavity results in acute and late adverse events which can be severe and detrimental to a patient’s quality of life and function. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between RT dose to a defined oral cavity organ at risk (OAR) avoidance structure, provider and patient reported outcomes (PROs), opioid use, and hospitalization. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively obtained outcomes using multivariable modeling. The study included 196 patients treated with RT involving the oral cavity for a head and neck tumor. A defined oral cavity OAR avoidance structure was used in all patients for RT treatment planning. Validated PROs were collected prospectively. Opioid use and hospitalization were abstracted electronically from medical records. Results: Multivariable modeling revealed the mean dose to the oral cavity OAR was significantly associated with opioid use (p=0.0082) and hospitalization (p=0.0356) during and within 30 days of completing RT. Conclusion: The findings of this study may be valuable in RT treatment planning for patients with tumors of the head and neck region to reduce the need for opioid use and hospitalization during treatment.

This study aims to evaluate the factors influencing the adherence to the 2nd and 3rd doses during each cycle of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Overall, 3,132 people were interviewed during surveys between 2019 and 2020 in 15 health districts. The median age was 30 years. In Burkina , Mali, and Niger, the proportions of non-adherence were 4.15% , 5.60%, and 13.30%, respectively (95% CI (-3.27% -0.37 %, p = 0.114 ) for the 2nd dose and 3.98%, 5.60% and 14.39% for the 3rd dose. The main cause of non-adherence to the 2nd and 3rd doses was other illnesses in 28.5% and 29.78% respectively in Burkina, 5.35% and 5.35% in Mali and 1.6% and 0.75% in Niger. It was followed by vomiting in 12.24% and 10.63% for Burkina and 2.45% and 3.78% in Niger. The last causes were refusal in 6.12% and 4.25% in Burkina , 33.9% and 15.25% in Mali and 0.8% and 1.51% in Niger. Non-adherence of doses related to parents was primary due to their absence in 28.5% and 27.65% in Burkina , 16.07% and 16.07% in Mali and 7.37 % and 6.06% in Niger. Travelling was the second cause in 12.24 % and 12.76% in Burkina , 19.64% and 19.64% in Mali and 0.81% and 0.75% in Niger. Non-adherence related to community distributors was mainly due to missing of the doses in 4.08% and 4.25% in Burkina , 23.21% and 23.21% in Mali, 77.04% and 76.51% in Niger. Our study reported very small proportions of non-adherence to 2nd and 3rd doses of SMC and identified the main causes of non-adherence.

Dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging has broadened the potential of CT imaging by offering multiple postprocessing datasets with a single acquisition at more than one energy level. DECT shows profound capabilities to improve diagnosis based on its superior material differentiation and its quantitative value. However, the potential of dual energy imaging remains relatively untapped, possibly due to its intricate workflow and intrinsic technical limitations of DECT. Knowing the clinical advantages of dual-energy imaging and recognizing its limitations and pitfalls is neces-sary for an appropriate clinical use. The aims of this paper are to review physical and technical basis of DECT acquisition and analysis, to discuss advantages and limitations of DECT in dif-ferent clinical scenarios, to review technical constraints in material labeling and quantification, and to evaluate cutting-edge applications of DECT imaging, including artificial intelligence, qualitative and quantitative imaging biomarkers, and DECT-derived radiomics and radioge-nomics

Background: With its impressive natural language processing and comprehension skills, ChatGPT-4 (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) is a technology that shows great promise for use in a number of medical fields. This article provides a thorough description of the possible uses of OpenAI's state-of-the-art language model, ChatGPT-4, in musculoskeletal imaging. Purpose for review: MSK Radiologists need to evolve about their knowledge and understanding of the roles of ChatGPT and its implications in daily practice. We aim to emphasize the advantages of ChatGPT-4 on the musculoskeletal imaging field and its potential to enhance radiologist working checklist review items, and the overall productivity of radiology reports. Recent findings: The fact of that specialists in radiology, rheumatology, orthopedic surgery, and other fields are conversant with ChatGPT. Furthermore, opinions are generally well, despite the fact that many people have reservations about the new technology, which is still developing ^[1]. Compared to GPT-4V based ChatGPT, GPT-4 based ChatGPT showed noticeably better diagnostic accuracy. Although ChatGPT, which is based on GPT-4, performed diagnostically on par with radiology residents, however, it demonstrated lower performance than a musculoskeletal radiologist ^[2].

Intra Voxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) imaging provides non-invasive perfusion measurements, eliminating the need for contrast agents. The aim of this work was to explore the feasibility of IVIM in whole brain perfusion studies, where isotropic 1mm voxel is widely accepted as a standard. This study treats on validity of time limited, precise, segmentation ready Whole Brain IVIM imaging protocol suitable for clinical reality. To assess the influence of SNR on the estimation of S0, f, D* and D IVIM parameters a series of measurements and simulations under MATLAB environment were performed for three estimation techniques, utilizing known “ground truth” and noised data. Scanner specific SNR was estimated based on healthy subject IVIM MRI study in 3T scanner. Measurements were conducted for 25,6x25,6x14,4 cm FOV with 256x256 in plane resolution and 72 slices resulting in 1x1x2 mm voxel size. Simulations were performed for 36 SNR levels around measured SNR value. Single voxel grid search estimation method mean relative error for S0 f D* D estimates at measured SNR level were: 5.00%,81.91%, 76.31%, 18.34% respectively. Analysis has shown that high resolution IVIM is possible, although there is significant variation in estimation accuracy and precision depending on SNR level and chosen estimation method.

This study introduces an innovative optimization method to identify the optimal configuration of a sparse symmetric 2D array for applications in security, particularly multistatic imaging. Utilizing Genetic Algorithms (GA) in a sophisticated optimization process, the research focuses on achieving the most favorable antenna distribution while mitigating the common issue of secondary lobes in sparse arrays. The main objective is to determine the ideal configuration from specific design parameters, including hardware specifications such as number of radiating elements, minimum spacing, operating frequency range, and image separation distance. The study employs a cost function based on the the point spread function (PSF), the system response to a point source, with the goal of minimizing the secondary lobe levels and maximizing their separation from the main lobe. Advanced simulation algorithms based on Physical Optics (PO) are used to validate the presented methodology and results.

Live cell imaging is a powerful technique to study the dynamics and mechanics of various biological molecules like proteins, organelles, DNA, and RNA. With the rapid evolution of optical microscopy, our understanding of how these molecules is implicated in the cells’ most critical physiological roles deepens. Here in this review, we focus on how spatiotemporal nanoscale live cell imaging on a single molecule level allows for profound contributions towards new discoveries in life science. This review will start by summarizing how single molecule tracking has been used to analyze membrane dynamics, receptor ligand interactions, protein-protein interactions, inner- and extracellular transport, gene expression/transcription, and whole organelle tracking. We then move on to how current authors are trying to improve single molecule tracking and overcome current limitations by offering new ways in labeling protein of interests, multi-channel/color detection, improvements in time laps imaging, and new methods and programs to analyze colocalization and movement of targets. We later discuss how single molecule tracking can be a beneficial tool used for medical diagnosis. Finally wrapping up with limitation and future perspective of single molecule tracking and total internal refection microscopy.

Background and objectivesː Physical examination is the predominant method for evaluating pelvic floor defects. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a radiological technique useful to identify the underlying defects of pelvic floor structures that require surgery. The primary aim was to find correspondence between the clinical and radiological staging of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) before and after vaginal surgery. A secondary endpoint was to investigate, through clinical and MRI findings if surgery influences continence mechanisms. Finally, we reported changes in the quality of life in women who underwent surgery for prolapse. Materials and methodsː Twenty-five women with prolapse stage ≥ 2 POP-Q were recruited in this prospective study. They underwent preoperative clinical examination, MRI at rest and under the Valsalva maneuver, and quality of life questionnaires. Three months after vaginal surgery they repeated clinical and radiological evaluation. Resultsː Twenty women completed the study. Both clinical and MRI evaluations showed an improvement in prolapse and symptoms after surgery. There were some discrepancies between clinical and radiological staging. MRI parameters did not show differences between pre and postoperative at rest; under the Valsalva maneuver instead, the measurements changed after surgery. Continence was not worsening by the widening of the vesicourethral angle. Patients reported improvement in quality of life. Conclusionsː MRI is an accurate and objective method to define the stage of prolapse but the clinical evaluation alone is sufficient to stage prolapse before surgery and evaluate the result at follow-up. It is an accurate method to visualize some pelvic structures that can be compromised because of pelvic organ prolapse. MRI showed that vaginal surgery doesn’t affect continence mechanisms.

Retroaortic left renal veins are an often overlooked, but no so rare anatomic anomaly that might cause a few aspecific symptoms and signs, especially flank or inguinal pain, microscopic or even gross hematuria; in the vast majority of cases it is, thought, totally asymptomatic. The nutcracker syndrome that might arise in the case of RLRV is mainly due to the re- duced space between aorta and the vertebral body and the consequent compression on the venal rein; this might in turn cause upstream hypertension, hematuria, varicocele, pain. The compression of RLRV leads to hematuria because of renal venous hypertension, consequent left renal congestion. This upstream venous congestion might result, in some cases, in left-sided varicocele in men and pelvic congestion syndrome in women. From a radiologic point of view, the presence of RLRV and the precise reporting its subtypes is mandatory.

Amyloid-beta plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Aberrant amyloid-beta and tau accumulation induce neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular alterations, synaptic deficits, functional deficits, and neurodegeneration, leading to cognitive impairment. Animal models recapitulating the amyloid-beta pathology such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models have facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms and development of therapeutics targeting at amyloid-beta. There is a rapid advance in high-field MR in small animals. Versatile high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences such as diffusion tensor imaging, arterial spin labelling, resting-state functional MRI, anatomical MRI, MR spectroscopy as well as contrast agents have been developed for the applications in animal models. These tools have enabled high-resolution in vivo structural, functional, and molecular readouts with a whole brain field-of-view. MRI have been utilized to visualize non-invasively the amyloid-beta deposits, synaptic deficits, regional brain atrophy, impairment in white matter integrity, functional connectivity, cerebrovascular and glymphatic system in animal models of amyloidosis. Many of the readouts are translational in clinical MRI in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In this review, we summarize the recent advance of using MRI for visualizing the pathophysiology in amyloidosis animal model. We discuss the outstanding challenges in brain imaging using MRI in small animal and propose future outlook in visualizing amyloid-beta-related alterations in brain of animal models.

This paper focuses on processing low oversampling echo data of staggered synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In staggered mode, the non-uniformly sampling and irregular loss of echo data cause azimuth ambiguity which severely degrades the imaging quality. To solve this problem, we propose a compressed sensing (CS) method in which the non-uniform fast Fourier transform (NUFFT) technique is adopted to obtain uniform azimuth spectrum, and the fast iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm (FISTA) is utilized to efficiently reconstruct the ambiguity-free image from in-complete echo data. Simulation results demonstrate the proposed method can effectively suppress the azimuth ambiguity in the vicinity of targets.

Pediatric rhinosinusitis are common encountered disorders caused by different pathogenic factors or predisposing conditions with a proportion of them progressing to chronicity with a meaningful impact on quality of life and related adverse effects. A deep understanding of pathophysiology, disease course and prognosis are the fundamental building block to an appropriate management of rhinosinusitis in order to avoid risks related to complications. This review gives concise answers to clinicians who want to know "when do we need imaging?" "what do we aspect from imaging?" and "what are the appropriate imaging modalities in different settings?” in pediatric patients in order to increase the appropriateness of imaging examinations.

The identification of bloodstain is one of the most important approaches in obtaining evidence in criminalistics. A threshold method based on spectral co-efficient and interclass variance is proposed in this paper, it is a non-contact, non-destructive method for quickly identifying bloodstains. The spectra of bloodstains and other suspected substances were all extracted from their hyper-spectral image. Then calculate the correlation coefficients of these spectral and interclass variances, analyze the differences between substances. The best blood recognition threshold was determined as 0.9. After preprocessing for eliminating systematic errors, experiments with the threshold 0.9 are carried out to identify bloodstains on the calico and red T-shirt. The method can remarkably identify the bloodstain from other non-blood substances both quickly and efficiently. The blood extraction rate can reach to 93.35% and 89.19%, respectively. It is an important step toward the implementation of bloodstain non-contact and non-destructive identification in forensic casework.

Chloroquine was among the first of several effective drug treatments against malaria until the onset of chloroquine resistance. In light of diminished clinical efficacy of chloroquine as an antimalarial therapeutic, there is potential in efforts to adapt chloroquine for other clinical applications, such as in combination therapies and in diagnostics. In this context, we designed and synthesized a novel asymmetrical squaraine dye coupled with chloroquine (SQR1-CQ). In this study, SQR1-CQ was used to label live Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) parasite cultures of varying sensitivities towards chloroquine. SQR1-CQ positively stained ring, mature trophozoite and schizont stages of both chloroquine–sensitive and chloroquine–resistant P. falciparum strains. In addition, SQR1-CQ exhibited significantly higher fluorescence, when compared to a chloroquine-BODIPY (borondipyrromethene) conjugate. We also achieved successful SQR1-CQ labelling of P. falciparum directly on thin blood smear preparations. Drug efficacy experiments measuring half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed lower concentration of effective inhibition against resistant strain K1 by SQR1-CQ compared to conventional chloroquine. Taken together, the versatile and highly fluorescent labelling capability of SQR1-CQ and promising preliminary IC50 findings potentiates it to be further developed as a promising diagnostic bioimaging tool with drug efficacy against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic remitting and relapsing inflammation of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The etiology underlying IBD remains unknown but is thought to involve a hypersensitive immune response to environmental antigen, including the microbiota. Diagnosis and monitoring of disease is heavily reliant on endoscopy, which is invasive and does not provide information regarding specific mediators. This review describes recent developments in imaging of IBD with a focus on PET and SPECT imaging of inflammatory mediators, and how this may be applied to the microbiota.

Ultraviolet imaging has been applied in volcanology over the last ten years or so. This provides considerably higher temporal and spatial resolution volcanic gas emission rate data than available previously, enabling the volcanology community to investigate a range of far faster plume degassing processes, than achievable hitherto. To date this has covered rapid oscillations in passive degassing through conduits and lava lakes, as well as puffing and explosions, facilitating exciting connections to be made for the first time between previously rather separate sub disciplines of volcanology. Firstly, there has been corroboration between geophysical and degassing datasets at ≈ 1 Hz expediting more holistic investigations of volcanic source-process behaviour. Secondly, there has been the combination of surface observations of gas release, with fluid dynamic models (numerical, mathematical and laboratory) for gas flow in conduits, in attempts to link subterranean driving flow processes to surface activity types. There has also been considerable research and development concerning the technique itself, covering error analysis and most recently adaptation of smartphone sensors for this application, to deliver gas fluxes at a significantly lower instrumental price point than possible previously. At this decadal juncture in the application of UV imaging in volcanology, this article provides an overview of what has been achieved to date as well as a forward look to potential future research directions, in particular covering the first use of UV cameras to generate volcanic gas composition ratio imagery.

In the last decade, three-dimensional (3D) printing has allowed the field of complex microfluidic channels to expand rapidly towards channels with variable cross-sections (i.e., beyond simple rounded media with a constant diameter) and channels. Whose trajectory can be outside a single plane and has gained numerous macro- and nanoscale manufacturing advances. Three-dimensional printing is being explored for various biomedical applications and the fabrication of nanomedicines using additive manufacturing techniques. Employing 3D-printed templates for macro-to-micro interfacing, a passively operated microfluidic device was designed. The research seeks to fabricate a biodevice that enables insulin microdosing, creating a subsystem like a microvalve and a microchannel matrix using additive manufacturing techniques. Our systems feature designs that enhance fluid dynamics without affecting the stability of the insulin. We propose using Humalog insulin in tropical climates (up to 30°C) without refrigeration for 28 days. The microvalve has a spiral trajectory with four outlet channels distributed along it. These channels align with the microchannels organized in a 10 mm x 15 mm matrix with 25 microchannels, each with a 770 µm internal diameter. The system delivers a dose of 2,3 mL in 6 minutes. We designed these systems for insulin micro-dosing, but they can also serve similar devices for other drugs.

We explore 3D printing modules for self-assembling spacecraft and robots – structure, actuators, electrics. Self-assembly has long been viewed as a highly desirable capability for autonomous construction of large space structures. We review self-assembly in space which focusses on the self-assembly of modules that demonstrate the range of applications. However, self-assembly may be synergised with 3D printing to offer an automated capability from raw material to modules for assembling new spacecraft or habitats. One application of 3D printing is using space debris on-orbit as an in-situ resource - defunct spacecraft may be salvaged as raw material for in-situ construction on demand. The common features of all self-assembling modules are that the modules constitute a structure housing a computer-controlled actuator internally and a reversible latching mechanism externally. We have demonstrated a 3D printed DC electric motor in which the only components that were not 3D printed are the wire coils. We have married our 3D printed motor prototype as an actuated joint between two 3D printed trigon-type panels developed as part of a trigon self-assembling system concept. The trigon concept underlies a modular approach to self-assembling and self-deploying structures. The 3D printed motorised panel system demonstrates that the motor aspect and structural aspects of robotic self-assembling machines are amenable to 3D printing. This has implications for self-assembling systems into modular satellites as a solution to space debris.

Bismaleimide (BMI) is a high-performance thermosetting resin widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and mechanical and electronics industries due to its chemical and mechanical stability. It also has the capability of being used as an ink in polyjets used for 3D printing evident from thinner mellamide FTIR bands and faster curing rates as observed from TGA-DSC studies.

Printed oral splints are a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of functional disorders. Their mechanical properties are crucial to their clinical success and their performance can vary depending on cleaning, post-polymerization, or build orientation. This in vitro study aimed to compare the biaxial flexural strength of the chosen materials depending on the aforementioned parameters. 720 discs (n = 15 per group, 16 mm x 2 mm) were printed from splint materials. Printing was performed under 90°, 45°, or 0° orientation to the building platform with supporting structures. Specimens were either automatically or manually cleaned with isopropanol. Post-polymerization was performed with LED- or Xenon-light. Biaxial flexural strength (BFS) was determined with a piston-on-3-ball test after 24 hours or 60 days water storage (37°C). Test specimens were preloaded with 0.5 N and the load was applied by a piston of 1.6 mm in diameter at 1 mm/min crosshead speed. Statistics were performed by using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Levene-tests. Mean BFS after 24 hours of storage varied between 79 MPa and 157 MPa. After 60 hours the BFS significantly decreased and revealed values ranging from 72-127 MPa (mean24 113 MPa, mean60 97 MPa; p&lt;0.001). No significant differences could be determined between the materials (p=0.103) or between the different cleaning procedures (p=0.321). Post-polymerization yielded higher means with LED- (P1: 115 MPa) than with Xenon-light (P2: 95 MPa; p&lt;0.001). Regarding position, the mean values ranged from 101 MPa for 0°, 102 MPa for 45°, and 115 MPa for 90°, which was significantly different (p&lt;0.001). Build orientation of 90° and post-polymerization with LED-light provided significantly higher biaxial flexural strength and should be used to guarantee optimal strength of splint materials. Aging decreased the biaxial flexural strength of the tested specimens.

Development of bioresponsive extrudable hydrogels for 3D bioprinting is imperative to address the growing demand for scaffold design and efficient and reliable methods of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This study proposed genipin-crosslinked gelatin-hyaluronic acid hydrogel bioink with different amounts of gelatin tailored for 3D bioprinting, focusing on high cell density loading and less artificial extra-cellular matrix (ECM) effect, as well as exploring their potential applications in tissue engineering. The bioresponsiveness of these hydrogel scaffolds was successfully evaluated in different physiological conditions. 3D and four-axis printing of complex structures such as shapes of hollow tube, star, pyramid, and four-axis tubular scaffolds prove the hydrogel’s high extrusion ability and post-printing shape fidelity. Cytocompatibility and high cell density 3D bioprinting using this moderately stable hydrogel exhibit high potential for precise cell-delivery modes in tissue engineering as well as regenerative medicine.

This work proposes a systematic topology optimization approach to simultaneously design the morphing functionality and actuation in three-dimensional wing structures. The actuation is assumed to be a linear strain-based expansion in the actuation material and a three-phase material model is employed to represent structural and actuating materials, and void. To ensure both structural stiffness with respect to aerodynamic loading and morphing capabilities, the optimization problem is formulated to minimize structural compliance while morphing functionality is enforced by constraining a morphing error between actual and target wing shape. Moreover, a feature mapping approach is utilized to constrain and simplify actuator geometries. A trailing edge wing section is designed to validate the proposed optimization approach. Numerical results demonstrate that three-dimensional optimized wing sections utilize a more advanced structural layout to enhance structural performance while keeping morphing functionality than two-dimensional wing ribs. The work presents the first step towards systematic design of three-dimensional morphing wing sections.

A method of direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation for FMCW radars is presented. In addition to MUSIC and ESPRIT, which are well-known high-resolution DoA estimation algorithms, deep learning has recently emerged as a very promising alternative. It is proposed in this paper to use a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) for DoA estimation. The 3D-CNN extracts from the radar data cube spectrum features of the region of interest (RoI) centered on the potential positions of the targets, thereby capturing the spectrum phase shift information, which corresponds to DoA, along the antenna axis. Finally, the results of simulations and field experiments are provided to demonstrate the superior performance, as well as the limitations, of the proposed 3D-CNN.

The maker movement has reached the optics labs, empowering researchers to actively create and modify microscope designs and imaging accessories. 3D printing has especially had a disruptive impact on the field, as it entails an accessible new approach in fabrication technologies, namely additive manufacturing, making prototyping in the lab available at low cost. Examples of this trend are taking advantage of the easy availability of 3D printing technology. For example, inexpensive microscopes for education have been designed, such as the FlyPi. Also, the highly complex robotic microscope OpenFlexure represents a clear desire for the democratisation of this technology. 3D printing facilitates new and powerful approaches to science and promotes collaboration between researchers, as 3D designs are easily shared. This holds the unique possibility to extend the open-access concept from knowledge to technology, allowing researchers from everywhere to use and extend model structures. Here we present a review of additive manufacturing applications in microscopy, guiding the user through this new and exciting technology and providing a starting point to anyone willing to employ this versatile and powerful new tool.

The urgent need to improve performance in the construction industry has led to the adoption of many innovative technologies. 3D laser scanners are amongst the leading technologies being used to capture and process assets or construction project data for use in various applications. Due to its nascent nature, many questions are still unanswered about 3D laser scanning, which in turn contribute to the slow adaptation of the technology. Some of these include the role of 3D laser scanners in capturing and processing raw construction project data. How accurate is the 3D laser scanner or point cloud data? How does laser scanning fit with other wider emerging technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM)? This study adopts a proof-of-concept approach, which in addition to answering the afore-mentioned questions, illustrates the application of the technology in practice. The study finds that the quality of the data, commonly referred to as point cloud data is still a major issue as it depends on the distance between the target object and 3D laser scanner’s station. Additionally, the quality of the data is still very dependent on data file sizes and the computational power of the processing machine. Lastly, the connection between laser scanning and BIM approaches is still weak as what can be done with a point cloud data model in a BIM environment is still very limited. The aforementioned findings reinforce existing views on the use of 3D laser scanners in capturing and processing construction project data.

Fast 3D reconstruction with semantic information on road scenes is of great requirements for autonomous navigation. It involves issues of geometry and appearance in the field of computer vision. In this work, we propose a method of fast 3D semantic mapping based on the monocular vision. At present, due to the inexpensive price and easy installation, monocular cameras are widely equipped on recent vehicles for the advanced driver assistance and it is possible to acquire semantic information and 3D map. The monocular visual sequence is used to estimate the camera pose, calculate the depth, predict the semantic segmentation, and finally realize the 3D semantic mapping by combination of the techniques of localization, mapping and scene parsing. Our method recovers the 3D semantic mapping by incrementally transferring 2D semantic information to 3D point cloud. And a global optimization is explored to improve the accuracy of the semantic mapping in light of the spatial consistency. In our framework, there is no need to make semantic inference on each frame of the sequence, since the mesh data with semantic information is corresponding to sparse reference frames. It saves amounts of the computational cost and allows our mapping system to perform online. We evaluate the system on naturalistic road scenes, e.g., KITTI and observe a significant speed-up in the inference stage by labeling on the mesh.

Direct laser writing three-dimensional nano-lithography is an established technique for manufacturing functional 3D micro- and nano-objects via non-linear absorption induced polymerization process. In this Chapter an underlying physical mechanisms taking place during nano-confined polymerization reaction, induced by tightly focused ultra-short laser pulses, are reviewed and discussed. The special attention is paid on the effects that directly impact structuring resolution and minimum achievable feature size. Analysis of possible photo-initiation mechanisms as contributing multi-photon absorption and avalanche ionization in pre-polymers under diverse exposure conditions (wavelength, pulse duration) is presented. Feasible structuring of pure (non-photosensitized) and functional nanoparticles doped polymer precursors is justified and benefits of such materials/structures for microoptics, photonics and cell scaffolds are highlighted. The influence of temperature effects (induced by writing process itself or determined by ambient conditions) on polymerization process, observed in different pre-polymers under diverse exposure regimes is outlined. The further adjustment of the structuring resolution is possible via precise control of light polarization and diffusion assisted radical quenching. The work is concluded with a brief outlook on future challenges and perspectives related to refinement of 3D ultra-fast laser lithography fabrication process in the means of application of diverse post-processing methods and research into novel photo-curable materials including inorganic ones.

Abstract: The broad clinical use of synthetic vascular grafts for vascular diseases is limited by their thrombogenicity and low patency rate, especially for vessels with a diameter inferior to 6 mm. Alternatives such as tissue-engineered blood grafts (TEBGs) have gained increasing interest. Among the different manufacturing approaches, 3D bioprinting presents numerous advantages and enables the fabrication of multi-scale, multi-material, and multicellular tissues with heterogeneous and functional intrinsic structures. Extrusion-, inkjet- and light-based 3D printing techniques have been used for the fabrication of TEBG out of hydrogels, cells, and/or solid polymers. This review discusses the state-of-the-art research on the use of 3D printing for TEBG with a focus on the biomaterials and deposition methods.

Several depth image based rendering (DIBR) watermarking methods have been proposed, but they have various drawbacks, such as non-blindness, low imperceptibility, and vulnerability to signal or geometric distortion. This paper proposes a template based DIBR watermarking method that overcomes the drawbacks of previous methods. The proposed method exploits two properties to resist DIBR attacks: the pixel is only moved horizontally by DIBR, and the smaller block is not distorted by DIBR. The one dimensional (1D) discrete cosine transform (DCT) and curvelet domains are adopted to utilize these two properties. A template is inserted in the curvelet domain to restore the synchronization error caused by geometric distortion. A watermark is inserted in the 1D DCT domain to insert and detect a message from the DIBR image. Experimental results of the proposed method show high imperceptibility and robustness to various attacks, such as signal and geometric distortions. The proposed method is also robust to DIBR distortion and DIBR configuration adjustment, such as depth image preprocessing and baseline distance adjustment.

3D printing facilitates the straightforward construction of microchannels with complex three-dimensional architectures. Here, we demonstrate 3D-printed modular mixing components that operate on the basis of splitting and recombining fluid streams to decrease interstream diffusion length. These are compared to helical mixers that operate on the principle of chaotic advection.