Search Results (25)

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of inhomogeneity correction (IC) of dose distribution on the dosimetric and radiobiological efficacy of radiation treatment for heterotopic ossification (HO). Methods: This study involved a retrospective analysis of 21 patients treated using a homogeneous dose distribution plan for hip prophylactic HO. These IC-off plans were evaluated against an IC-on dose distribution plan. Dosimetric and corresponding radiobiological parameters (gEUD, LQ-EUD, LQ, EQD2 for α/β = 3 and 10 Gy) were calculated. These parameters were compared for both treatment plans. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulations were performed using mean and standard deviation values from baseline data to generate 10,000 synthetic datasets, allowing for robust statistical modeling of variability in dose distributions and biological outcomes. Results: The homogeneous (IC-off) plans demonstrated overestimation of dose conformity and uniformity, reflected in lower HI values (0.10 ± 0.05 vs. 0.18 ± 0.05) and higher D_90%–D_98% coverage. Radiobiologically, these plans yielded higher gEUD (7.02 Gy vs. 6.80 Gy) and EQD2 values across all α/β scenarios (e.g., EQD2_{[α/β=3]_gEUD} = 14.07 Gy vs. 13.35 Gy), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). Although IC-on plans demonstrated steeper dose gradients (higher GIs), this came at the expense of internal dose variability and potentially compromised biological effectiveness. Conclusions: Our results suggest that plans without IC deliver suboptimal biological effectiveness if continued preferentially in routine HO prophylaxis. With advanced radiation dose calculation algorithms available in all centers, inhomogeneity-corrected doses warrant prospective validation. Full article

Background: Parvovirus B19 (B19V) can cause severe relapsing episodes of pure red cell aplasia in immunocompromised individuals, which are commonly treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs). Few data are available on B19V intra-host evolution and the role of humoral immune selection. Here, we report the dynamics of genomic mutations and subsequent protein changes during relapsing infection. Methods: Longitudinal plasma samples from immunocompromised patients with relapsing B19V infection in the period 2011–2019 were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing to evaluate intra-host evolution. The impact of mutations on the 3D viral protein structure was predicted by deep neural network modeling. Results: Of the three immunocompromised patients with relapsing infections for 3 to 9 months, one patient developed two consecutive nonsynonymous mutations in the VP1/2 region: T372S/T145S and Q422L/Q195L. The first mutation was detected in multiple B19V IgG-seropositive follow-up samples and resolved after IgG seroreversion. Computational prediction of the VP1 3D structure of this mutant showed a conformational change in the proximity of the antibody binding domain. No conformational changes were predicted for the other mutations detected. Discussion: Analysis of relapsing B19V infections showed mutational changes occurring over time. Resulting amino acid changes were predicted to lead to a conformational capsid protein change in an IgG-seropositive patient. The impact of humoral response and IVIG treatment on B19V infections should be further investigated to understand viral evolution and potential immune escape. Full article

This paper proposes a novel approach to assessing the quality of 3D Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) images. Such images are typically represented as irregular graphs. Thus, image quality metrics typically used with raster images do not straightforwardly apply to them. However, given the recent advancements in Graph Convolutional Neural Networks (GCNs) for improving ECT image reconstruction, reliable Quality Assessment methods are essential for comparing the performance of different GCN models. To address this need, this paper applied some existing image quality and similarity assessment methods designed for raster images to the graph-based representation of 3D ECT images. Specifically, attention was paid to the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), the Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM), and measures based on image histograms. The proposed adaptations resulted in the development of tailored Graph Quality Assessment (GQA) techniques specifically designed for the graph-based nature of ECT images. The proposed GQA techniques were validated on 1042 phantoms and their corresponding Low-Quality (LQ) and High-Quality (HQ) reconstructions through a robust GQA benchmarking system, enabling a systematic comparison of various GQA methods. The evaluation of the proposed methods’ performances across this diverse dataset, by analyzing overall trends and specific case studies, is presented and discussed. Finally, we present our conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the proposed GQA methods, and we identify the most promising approach for assessing the quality of graph-based ECT images. Full article

Globally, cognitive impairment (CI) is the leading cause of disability and dependency among the elderly, presenting a significant public health concern. However, there is currently a deficiency in pharmacological interventions that can effectively cure or significantly reverse the progression of cognitive impairment. Methyl donor nutrients (MDNs), including folic acid, choline, and vitamin B12, have been identified as potential enhancers of cognitive function. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of comprehensive research investigating the connection between the dietary intake of MDNs and CI. In our study, we comprehensively assessed the relationship between MDNs’ dietary intake and CI in older adults, utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms. The results showed an obvious difference in the methyl-donor nutritional quality index (MNQI) between the dementia (D) group and the dementia-free (DF) group. Specifically, there was a lower MNQI in the D group than that in the DF group. For the gut microbiome, the beta diversity of gut flora exhibited higher levels in the high methyl-donor nutritional quality (HQ) group as opposed to the low methyl-donor nutritional quality (LQ) group, and lower levels in the D group in comparison to the DF group. Subsequently, we performed a correlation analysis to examine the relationship between the relative abundance of microbiota, the intake of MDNs, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, ultimately identifying ten genera with potential regulatory functions. Additionally, KEGG pathway analyses suggested that the one-carbon metabolism, chronic inflammation, and DNA synthesis potentially serve as pathways through which MDNs may be promising for influencing cognitive function. These results implied that MDNs might have the potential to enhance cognitive function through the regulation of microbiota homeostasis. This study offers dietary recommendations for the prevention and management of CI in the elderly. Full article

The objective of this study was to conduct a detailed analysis of the available flow series in the Chiriquí Viejo River basin in Panama. This paper examines the patterns of variation within these series and calculates various hydrological indexes indicative of the region’s hydrology. Utilizing advanced hydrological indexes within the Chiriquí Viejo River basin in Panama, which spans an area of 1376 km² and supports an estimated population of 100,000 inhabitants, analytical methods were employed to compute indexes such as the Daily Flow Variation Index (QVAR), the Slope of the Flow Duration Curve (R2FDC), the Hydrological Regulation Index (IRH), and the average duration of low (DLQ75) and high (DHQ25) flow pulses. The results indicate moderate flow variability (QVAR of 0.72) and a Hydrological Regulation Index (IRH) of 2.32, signifying a moderate capacity for flow regulation. Notably, low flow events (DLQ75) lasted approximately 3.73 days, while high flow events (DHQ25) lasted around 4.08 days. The study highlights a significant capacity to respond to extreme events, with maximum annual flows reaching 80.25 m³/s and minimum flows dropping to 3.01 m³/s. Despite the significant contribution of the basin to hydroelectric power generation and other economic activities, there is an observed need for sustainable management that accommodates hydrological fluctuations and promotes resource conservation. The conclusions indicate that these findings are critical for future planning and conservation strategies in the region, emphasizing the importance of integrating multidisciplinary approaches for Hydro-Social Sustainability. This novel and holistic approach underscores the interdependence between hydrological dynamics, socio-economic activities, and environmental sustainability, aiming to ensure the long-term resilience of the Chiriquí Viejo basin and its communities. Full article

Six previously unknown triterpene glycosides, pacificusosides L–Q (1–6), and two previously known triterpene glycosides, cucumariosides B₁ (7) and A₅ (8), were isolated from an alcoholic extract of Pacific sun star, Solaster pacificus. The structures of 1–6 were determined using 1D and 2D NMR, ESIMS, and chemical modifications. Compound 1 is a rare type of triterpene glycoside with non-holostane aglycon, having a linear trisaccharide carbohydrate chain. Pacificusosides M–P (2–5) have new structures containing a Δ⁸⁽⁹⁾-3,16,18-trihydroxy tetracyclic triterpene moiety. This tetracyclic fragment in sea star or sea cucumber triterpene glycosides was described for the first time. All the compounds under study exhibit low or moderate cytotoxic activity against colorectal carcinoma HCT 116 cells, and breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were assessed by MTS assay. Compound 2 effectively suppresses the colony formation of cancer cells at a non-toxic concentration, using the soft-agar assay. A scratch assay has shown a significant anti-invasive potential of compound 2 against HCT 116 cells, but not against MDA-MB-231 cells. Full article

(1) Background: The STRIDeR (Support Tool for Re-Irradiation Decisions guided by Radiobiology) planning pathway aims to facilitate anatomically appropriate and radiobiologically meaningful re-irradiation (reRT). This work evaluated the STRIDeR pathway for robustness compared to a more conservative manual pathway. (2) Methods: For ten high-grade glioma reRT patient cases, uncertainties were applied and cumulative doses re-summed. Geometric uncertainties of 3, 6 and 9 mm were applied to the background dose, and LQ model robustness was tested using α/β variations (values 1, 2 and 5 Gy) and the linear quadratic linear (LQL) model δ variations (values 0.1 and 0.2). STRIDeR robust optimised plans, incorporating the geometric and α/β uncertainties during optimisation, were also generated. (3) Results: The STRIDeR and manual pathways both achieved clinically acceptable plans in 8/10 cases but with statistically significant improvements in the PTV D98% (p < 0.01) for STRIDeR. Geometric and LQ robustness tests showed comparable robustness within both pathways. STRIDeR plans generated to incorporate uncertainties during optimisation resulted in a superior plan robustness with a minimal impact on PTV dose benefits. (4) Conclusions: Our results indicate that STRIDeR pathway plans achieved a similar robustness to manual pathways with improved PTV doses. Geometric and LQ model uncertainties can be incorporated into the STRIDeR pathway to facilitate robust optimisation. Full article

Military heavy vehicle drivers experience low-frequency vibrations that are associated with fatigue, drowsiness, and other adverse health effects. The existing research papers focus on performing different types of analysis, but few use advance signal processing tools based on recurrence plot representation; therefore, the main goal of this paper is to assess the whole-body vibration (WBV) and hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure of a driver, comparing armoured personnel carriers and cargo destined vehicles. For this purpose, the power of a signal distributed over its frequency was analysed using power spectral density (PSD) and diagonal line quantification (DLQ) analysis. According to the results, in the case of the cargo vehicle, the driver experienced vibration dose values of frequency weighted acceleration above the limits during all three experimental tests, with a maximum value of 26.802 m/s², whereas the results in the case of the armoured personnel carrier are below the 5 m/s² limit imposed by the ISO 5349-2 standard. From the developed tests it was observed that, to protect the driver against the fatigue induced by the vibrations of the vehicle body, it is necessary to provide an elastic and also damping linkage between the vehicle and the driver’s seat. This is the only way to ensure the needed protection and it is, by far, the least expensive. Full article

Some major problems in the motor drive are the overshoot or undershoot of transient response characteristics and a parameter mismatch due to magnetic saturation. This study proposed a 3D inductance map combined with a maximum-torque-per-ampere (MTPA) map based on a finite-element (FE) motor model considering a cross-coupling magnetic saturation impact to overcome this problem. The proposed FE motor model has a high accuracy of no-load back electromotive force (e.m.f.) around 98.3% compared to the measurement results. Then, nine scenarios of vector control combinations of inductance maps and current supply variations of β 0°, 45°, and MTPA were investigated. As a result, the transient response improvement for β 0°, 45°, and MTPA without the map and with L_d and L_q maps is 63%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. Moreover, for the steady-state response, the average torque improvement between MTPA and I_dref 0 A control is 9.21%, 8.97%, and 8.98% for the no-map, ave-map, and 3D-inductance-map conditions, respectively. The MTPA trajectory characteristic was also updated to illustrate the actual MTPA condition compared to the conventional MTPA control. In detail, the proposed method has reduced the parameter mismatch for the current control loop in the transient state and improved the MTPA control trajectory for the steady-state response. Finally, the improvement of vector control characteristics of the proposed method was verified by an FE simulation and experimental measurement results. Full article

The demand for bee products has been growing, especially regarding their application in complementary medicine. Apis mellifera bees using Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C. (Asteraceae) as substrate produce green propolis. Among the examples of bioactivity of this matrix are antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral actions. This work aimed to verify the impact of the experimental conditions applied in low- and high-pressure extractions of green propolis, using sonication (60 kHz) as pretreatment to determine the antioxidant profile in the extracts. Total flavonoid content (18.82 ± 1.15–50.47 ± 0.77 mgQE·g⁻¹), total phenolic compounds (194.12 ± 3.40–439.05 ± 0.90 mgGAE·g⁻¹) and antioxidant capacity by DPPH (33.86 ± 1.99–201.29 ± 0.31 µg·mL⁻¹) of the twelve green propolis extracts were determined. By means of HPLC-DAD, it was possible to quantify nine of the fifteen compounds analyzed. The results highlighted formononetin (4.76 ± 0.16–14.80 ± 0.02 mg·g⁻¹) and p-coumaric acid (<LQ—14.33 ± 0.01 mg·g⁻¹) as majority compounds in the extracts. Based on the principal component analysis, it was possible to conclude that higher temperatures favored the release of antioxidant compounds; in contrast, they decreased the flavonoid content. Thus, the obtained results showed that samples pretreated with 50 °C associated with ultrasound displayed a better performance, which may support the elucidation of the use of these conditions. Full article

The use of location quotients for the estimation of regional input–output tables has been found to be a useful and efficient tool to estimate intraregional production coefficients and multipliers. This paper considers some regionalisation methodologies based on location quotients for the estimation of input–output tables—some of which have hitherto not been analysed at the regional level—and studies which one provides the best estimation (best goodness of fit). We focus the analysis mainly on the accuracy of Flegg’s location quotient (FLQ) and two-dimensional location quotient (2D-LQ). The analysis makes use of the multiregional input–output table for Korea for the year 2015 to evaluate the accuracy of the 2D-LQ method against FLQ. A novel proposal for the determination of the parameters corresponding to the 2D-LQ method is presented. This proposal is evaluated in Korean regions and is also applied to Spanish regions. The results obtained from the research conclude the general superiority of the 2D-LQ method, thus corroborating the results of other studies at the national level as well as the validity of our proposal. Full article

Metastatic lesions of the spine occur in up to 40% of cancer patients and are a frequent source of pain and neurologic deficit due to cord compression. Palliative radiotherapy is the main first-intent local treatment in the form of single-fraction radiotherapy or fractionated courses. Reirradiation is a viable option for inoperable patients where spinal decompression is needed but with an increased risk of radiation-induced myelopathy (RM) and subsequent neurologic damage. This review summarizes reported data on local treatment options after initial irradiation in patients with relapsed spine metastasis and key dosimetric correlations between the risk of spinal cord injury and reirradiation technique, total dose, and time between treatments. The Linear Quadratic (LQ) model was used to convert all the published doses into biologically effective doses and normalize them to EQD2. For 3D radiotherapy, authors used cumulative doses from 55.2 Gy2/2 to 65.5 Gy2/2 EQD2 with no cases of RM mentioned. We found little evidence of RM after SBRT in the papers that met our criteria of inclusion, usually at the median reported dose to critical neural tissue around 93.5 Gy2/2. There is a lack of consistency in reporting the spinal cord dose, which leads to difficulty in pooling data. Full article

Due to environmental sensibility and fragility, the water chemistry revolution and heavy metals accumulation influenced by natural and anthropogenic processes in the rivers on the Tibetan Plateau have recently become a global concern. However, targeted studies in small watersheds on the Tibetan Plateau are relatively limited. A study of surface waters in Duilong Qu (DLQ), a small watershed located on the Tibetan Plateau, have been conducted to assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic activities on the water environment of the DLQ by analyzing the major ions and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and As) in the river waters. The results of the analysis of major ions showed that ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}$ and ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$ were the dominant anions and Ca²⁺ was the dominant cation, indicating that the water chemistry of the river waters was mainly of the HCO₃-Ca type. The results of Piper diagram and Gibbs diagram analysis indicate that the water solute is mainly controlled by the weathering of carbonate rocks, followed by the influence of geothermal water confluence. Compared to the world river average, the concentrations of Cr, Pb, and As in the studied rivers were relatively high. The heavy metal concentrations satisfy the standards of WHO and GB (Chinese national standard) guidelines. The PCA-APCS-MLR model has been employed and evidenced as a reliable tool to identify the sources of the heavy metals in this study. The results revealed that the heavy metals in the DLQ are caused by natural sources, geothermal water, and mining operations. The primary sources of As (93.63%), Cr (93.07%), Mn (73.53%), Fe (59.54%), and Pb (58.28%) in the DLQ were geothermal water, while Zn (91.41%), Mn (20.67%), Fe (40.46%), and Pb (26.15%) originated mainly from natural sources. Additionally, Cu (91.41%) was primarily influenced by mining operations, and Ni originated from mining (53.61%) and geothermal water sources (46.39%), while Cd (97.88%) originated from unknown sources. In the high-flow season periods from 1992 to 2017, the As concentrations in the DLQ decreased significantly, which might result from increasing precipitation and runoff. Overall, the results of this study suggest that both natural and anthropogenic activities have jointly affected the solutes in small rivers on the Tibetan Plateau, and heavy metal pollution should be emphasized in the future. Full article

This study aimed to capture subjective daily functional cognitive decline among patients with Parkinson’s disease. Participants (40–79 y; 78 with Parkinson’s disease and 41 healthy matched controls) completed the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Parkinson’s Disease Cognitive Functional Rating Scale (CFRS), Daily Living Questionnaire (DLQ), and Time Organisation and Participation Scale (TOPS) questionnaires. Patients with Parkinson’s disease were divided into groups with or without suspected mild cognitive decline according to their scores on the Cognitive Functional (CF) feature, which is based on certain items of the MDS-UPDRS. Significant between-group differences were found in the DLQ and TOPS scores. Significant correlations were found among the questionnaire results, with specific DLQ and TOPS items accounting for 35% of the variance in the CF feature, which correlated with daily cognitive functional states. This study’s results are relevant for detecting subtle deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients suspected of mild cognitive decline, which can affect health and quality of life and relates to risk for later dementia. Full article

Identifying early egg-quality predictors is a major challenge in finfish hatcheries, and relevant research is now focused on the development of molecular markers. In our study, we examined whether fertilization rates and early morphological abnormalities in sea bream egg batches of high (HQ) and low quality (LQ) are associated with mRNA levels of cathepsin D, cathepsin Z, cyclin-A2, and glucocorticoid receptor. Additionally, we examined whether these early quality descriptors were associated with the development of skeletal abnormalities during the larval period. HQ egg batches were characterized by significantly higher rates of normal embryos (95.8 ± 2.3%) and lower rates of unfertilized (2.8 ± 1.0%) and abnormal eggs (1.3 ± 1.4%), compared to LQ (84.2 ± 0.8% normal embryos, 12.3 ± 12.3 unfertilized eggs, and 3.5 ± 1.4% abnormal eggs) (p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Relative expression of cyclin-A2 and glucocorticoid receptor was found to be significantly higher in HQ embryos compared to those of LQ (respectively, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). No statistically significant differences were observed in the mRNA transcripts of cathepsin D and cathepsin Z (p > 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Differences in the rate of skeletal abnormalities between the two quality groups of larvae were not significant (p > 0.05, G-test), indicating that cyclin-A2 and glucocorticoid receptor may serve as reliable molecular markers for early prediction of fish egg quality but not for later larval stages. Full article