Search Results (42)

Duckweed/algal bloom-type black–odorous waters (DAWs) exhibit composite optical properties of vegetation and pollution, posing intractable remote sensing identification challenges in complex environments. Current methods suffer from three critical limitations: a misclassification rate exceeding 25% due to spectral confusion with artificial green covers, an 18.7% false-negative rate for small patches (stemming from the imbalance between CNNs and Transformers), and insufficient feature dimensionality to characterize the dual properties of DAWs. To address these gaps, this study proposes a novel method that integrates the ASGICTVS feature set with a customized SwinTf-Unet model. The ASGICTVS feature set combines vegetation-sensitive metrics, optical water quality indicators, and visual features. The SwinTf-Unet model utilizes an optimized 4 × 4 window, an embedded feature fusion module, and an adaptive shifted window stride to balance global context capture and local detail reconstruction. Experiments on 21,104 GF-2 satellite samples demonstrate that the method achieves 87.50% precision, 88.41% recall, an 85.32% F1-score, and an 83.46% Intersection over Union (IoU), outperforming DeepLabV3+ by 14.56 percentage points in the IoU. With an inference time of 0.87 s per 512 × 512-pixel image and a stable performance across cross-regional datasets (IoU: 82.1–85.3%), it exhibits strong efficiency and generalization. This study resolves DAW spectral confusion, enables high-precision segmentation, and establishes a standardized feature threshold system, providing reliable technical support for large-scale automated DAW monitoring and regional water environment management. Full article

Management of maxillomandibular transverse discrepancy (MTD) is essential for achieving stable, functional, and esthetic occlusion. This study aimed to evaluate the maxillomandibular transverse dimensions and discrepancies in relation to vertical skeletal patterns using digital dental casts and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. A total of 180 untreated adult subjects were classified into three vertical groups based on the SN-MP angle: hypodivergent (<27°), normovergent (27–37°), and hyperdivergent (>37°), with 60 subjects in each group. Dental arch widths using casts (DAWs-Casts) were measured at the canine, first premolar, first molar, and second molar, while basal arch widths using casts (BAWs-Casts) were measured at the mucogingival junction apical to the corresponding cusp tips. CBCT images were used to measure basal arch widths (BAWs-CBCT) at the estimated centers of resistance (CRes). DAW-Cast, BAW-Cast, and BAW-CBCT measurements were affected by vertical skeletal patterns. Therefore, maxillomandibular dimensions and discrepancies vary according to vertical skeletal pattern, underscoring the need for careful evaluation when planning treatment protocols for patients with MTD. Full article

The landscape of oncologic therapies has undergone large changes since the introduction of monoclonal antibody (mAb) based immunotherapies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. MAb-based therapeutics, also called biologics or large molecules, have distinct pharmacological characteristics compared to chemotherapeutics and small molecules. Development of biologics requires thorough assessment of pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics to ensure safety and demonstration of efficacy. This review provides an overview of the clinical pharmacology packages of biologics for the treatment of oncologic malignancies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the past decade (January 2015 and August 2025). The conduct of population PK (PopPK) and exposure-eesponse (E-R) analyses, as well as assessments for drug–drug interactions (DDIs), immunogenicity, and QT prolongation risk are discussed. The aim of this review is to provide insight into the clinical pharmacology assessments for approval of antibody-based therapies in oncology as well as provide a longitudinal view of clinical pharmacology packages in this space. Full article

Background: Iron-deficient anemia (IDA) in pregnant women is a significant health issue globally. Oral iron supplementation is the primary treatment for IDA during pregnancy. For women who do not respond to or cannot tolerate oral iron treatment, intravenous (IV) iron preparations may offer a viable therapeutic option in the third trimester of pregnancy. Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM; Ferinject^®) is an IV iron preparation that allows rapid administration of high single doses of iron with a favorable safety profile. This study evaluated the potential impact of FCM therapy on fetal well-being by recording cardiotocography (CTG) before, during, and after iron infusions. Materials and Methods: We examined 105 women with IDA in the third trimester of pregnancy. During the initial evaluation, each patient was assessed for complete blood count, iron metabolism, B12, folates, hemoglobinopathies, CRP, kidney and liver function, and glucose levels. Each subject received intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), 500 mg. The study focused on the maternal and fetal safety of FCM infusion. The primary endpoint for maternal safety was the observation of adverse effects of iron infusion. For fetal safety, the primary endpoint was the assessment of CTG. Results: We considered 105 women, comprising 101 singleton and 4 twin pregnancies. The median hemoglobin (Hb) at initial observation was 95 g/L and 117 g/L post-therapy. Regarding maternal safety, side effects were observed during or after FCM infusion in four subjects; three cases involved local symptoms, while one case included nausea and skin rash. Concerning fetal safety, 100% of the cardiotocography records were deemed “normal” using the Dawes–Redman criteria. Conclusions: In conclusion, FCM proved effective in treating anemia in this clinically complex population of pregnant women in the third trimester and appeared safe in this cohort, though larger prospective studies are warranted. Full article

This paper presents the design and implementation of a modular cloud-based architecture that enables generative music capabilities in Digital Audio Workstations through a MIDI microservices backend and a user-friendly VST plugin frontend. The system comprises a generative harmony engine deployed as a standalone service, a microservice layer that orchestrates communication and exposes an API, and a VST plugin that interacts with the backend to retrieve harmonic sequences and MIDI data. Among the microservices is a dedicated component that converts textual chord sequences into MIDI files. The VST plugin allows the user to drag and drop the generated chord progressions directly into a DAW’s MIDI track timeline. This architecture prioritizes modularity, cloud scalability, and seamless integration into existing music production workflows, while abstracting away technical complexity from end users. The proposed system demonstrates how microservice-based design and cross-platform plugin development can be effectively combined to support generative music workflows, offering both researchers and practitioners a replicable and extensible framework. Full article

The treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains challenging, largely due to high relapse rates following standard therapies. T-cell engagers (TCEs) offer a promising immunotherapeutic approach by redirecting T cells to recognize and kill AML cells. These therapeutic proteins bind CD3 to T cells and a tumor-associated antigen to AML cells, facilitating targeted immune activation. While CD33 and CD123 are the most commonly targeted AML antigens, others such as CD135, CD38, and CLEC12A/CLL-1 are being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. In parallel, various TCE formats—including BiTEs, DuoBodies, DARTs, and DARPin-based constructs—have been developed to optimize pharmacokinetics, stability, and immune engagement. Despite the growing number of TCEs entering clinical evaluation, none have advanced beyond early Phase (I/II) trials, primarily due to the lack of optimal target antigens and challenges in balancing antileukemic activity with the risks of immune-related toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). This review aims to summarize the current landscape of TCE development in AML, highlighting key targets, formats, and challenges. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Thoracic dorsal arachnoid web (DAW) is a rare intradural extramedullary condition characterized by a thin band of arachnoid tissue compressing the dorsal spinal cord. A hallmark imaging feature is the “scalpel sign”, which refers to anterior displacement of the thoracic spinal cord with dorsal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation, producing a sagittal profile resembling a surgical scalpel. Although highly specific for DAW, this sign may also appear in other intradural conditions such as idiopathic ventral spinal cord herniation and arachnoid cysts. The clinical presentation is typically progressive and nonspecific, including lower limb weakness, sensory changes, gait disturbances, and, less frequently, sphincter dysfunction. Diagnosis is often delayed due to the subtle nature of the lesion and limited resolution of conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). High-resolution Three-Dimensional Constructive Interference in Steady State (3D-CISS) sequences improve diagnostic accuracy by highlighting indirect signs such as spinal cord deformation and dorsal CSF flow obstruction. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 57-year-old woman presenting with chronic cervico-dorsalgia, bilateral lower limb weakness, paresthesia, and progressive gait instability. Neurological examination revealed spastic paraparesis and hyperreflexia. Conventional MRI was inconclusive. However, sagittal T2-weighted and 3D-CISS sequences demonstrated the scalpel sign at the T4–T5 level, with anterior cord displacement and dorsal subarachnoid space enlargement. Surgical exploration confirmed the presence of a dorsal arachnoid web, which was resected. Postoperative follow-up showed clear improvement in motor function and gait. Conclusions: DAW should be considered in cases of unexplained thoracic myelopathy or cervico-dorsalgia with neurological signs. Early recognition of the scalpel sign using advanced MRI sequences is critical for timely diagnosis and surgical planning, which may lead to significant clinical improvement. Full article

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin is a well-characterized microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) that forms the outer membrane of both pathogenic and commensal Gram-negative bacteria. It plays a crucial role in triggering inflammatory disorders such as mastitis, acidosis, and septicemia. In heifers, an LPS challenge induces a dynamic stress response, marked by elevated cortisol levels, increased body temperature, and altered immune function. Research indicates that LPS administration leads to a significant rise in cortisol post-challenge. Building on this understanding, the present study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for serum cortisol response to LPS challenge in Holstein heifers and its linear associations with production, health, reproduction, and conformation traits. Additionally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify genetic regions associated with cortisol response. A total of 252 animals were evaluated for cortisol response, with correlations estimated between cortisol levels and 55 genomic breeding values for key traits. Genetic parameters and heritability for cortisol response were estimated using Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) in the Blupf90+ v 2.57 software. Single-Step GWAS (ssGWAS) employing a 10-SNP window approach and 42,123 SNP markers was performed to identify genomic regions that explained at least 0.5% of additive genetic variance. Finally, candidate genes and QTLs located 50 kb up and downstream of those windows were identified. The cortisol response showed significant but weak linear associations with cystic ovaries, body maintenance requirements, lactation persistency, milk yield, and protein yield (p-value ≤ 0.05) and showed suggestive weak linear associations with udder texture, clinical ketosis, heel horn erosion, and milking speed (p-value ≤ 0.15). Cortisol response showed significant additive genetic variance, along with moderate heritability of 0.26 (±0.19). A total of 34 windows explained at least 0.5% of additive genetic variance, and 75 QTLs and 11 candidate genes, comprising the genes CCL20, DAW1, CSMD2, HMGB4, B3GAT2, PARD3, bta-mir-2285aw, CFH, CDH2, ENSBTAG00000052242, and ENSBTAG00000050498, were identified. The functional enrichment analysis allowed us to infer two instances where these gene products could interfere with cortisol production: the first instance is related to the complement system, and the second one is related to the EMT (Epithelium–Mesenchymal Transition) and pituitary gland formation. Among the QTLs, 13 were enriched in the dataset, corresponding to traits related to milk (potassium content), the exterior (udder traits, teat placement, foot angle, rear leg placement, and feet and leg conformation), production (length of productive life, net merit, and type), and reproduction (stillbirth and calving ease). In summary, the cortisol response to LPS challenge in Holstein heifers seems to be moderately heritable and has weak but significant linear associations with important production and health traits. Several candidate genes identified could perform important roles, in at least two ways, for cortisol production, and QTLs were identified close to regions of the genome that explained a significant amount of additive genetic variance for cortisol response. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to validate these findings with a larger dataset. Full article

Modern audio production workflows often require significant manual effort during the initial session preparation phase, including track labeling, format standardization, and gain staging. This paper presents a rule-based and Machine Learning-assisted automation system designed to minimize the time required for these tasks in Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). The system automatically detects and labels audio tracks, identifies and eliminates redundant fake stereo channels, merges double-tracked instruments into stereo pairs, standardizes sample rate and bit rate across all tracks, and applies initial gain staging using target loudness values derived from a Genetic Algorithm (GA)-based system, which optimizes gain levels for individual track types based on engineer preferences and instrument characteristics. By replacing manual setup processes with automated decision-making methods informed by Machine Learning (ML) and rule-based heuristics, the system reduces session preparation time by up to 70% in typical multitrack audio projects. The proposed approach highlights how practical automation, combined with lightweight Neural Network (NN) models, can optimize workflow efficiency in real-world music production environments. Full article

Opioid use induces neurobiological adaptations throughout mesolimbic brain regions, such as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), which mediates decision-making and emotional–cognitive regulation. Previously, we showed that a circular RNA (circRNA) species, rno_circGrin2b_011731 (circGrin2b), is upregulated in the OFC of rats following chronic self-administration (SA) of the opioid heroin. circGrin2b is derived from Grin2b, which encodes the regulatory subunit of the glutamate ionotropic NMDA receptor, GluN2B. However, the upstream regulatory mechanisms of circGrin2b biogenesis and the downstream consequences of circGrin2b dysregulation remain unknown. We hypothesized that opioid-induced elevation of circGrin2b is accompanied by regulation of circRNA biogenesis enzymes, and that circGrin2b may sponge microRNAs (miRNAs), as miRNA sponging is a well-described characteristic of circRNAs. To test these hypotheses, we established an in vitro primary cortical cell culture model to examine alterations in circGrin2b expression following exposure to the opioid morphine. We measured mRNA expression of known circRNA splicing factors and observed significant downregulation of Fused in Sarcoma (Fus), a negative regulator of circRNA biogenesis, following 90 min or 24 h of morphine exposure. Downregulation of Fus at 24 h post-morphine was accompanied by upregulation of circGrin2b and downregulation of miR-26b-3p, a predicted miRNA target of circGrin2b. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed interaction of miR-26b-3p with circGrin2b. Finally, we report a significant negative relationship between circGrin2b and miR-26b-3p expression in the OFC of rats following heroin SA. We conclude that regulation of circGrin2b is an opioid-induced neuroadaptation that may impact downstream signaling of miRNA pathways in the frontal cortex. Full article

Antepartum Cardiotocography (CTG) is a biomedical sensing technology widely used for fetal health monitoring. While the visual interpretation of CTG traces is highly subjective, with the inter-observer agreement as low as 29% and a false positive rate of approximately 60%, the Dawes–Redman system provides an automated approach to fetal well-being assessments. However, it is primarily designed to rule out adverse outcomes rather than detect them, resulting in a high specificity (90.7%) but low sensitivity (18.2%) in identifying fetal distress. This paper introduces PatchCTG, an AI-enabled biomedical time series transformer for CTG analysis. It employs patch-based tokenisation, instance normalisation, and channel-independent processing to capture essential local and global temporal dependencies within CTG signals. PatchCTG was evaluated on the Oxford Maternity (OXMAT) dataset, which comprises over 20,000 high-quality CTG traces from diverse clinical outcomes, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. With extensive hyperparameter optimisation, PatchCTG achieved an AUC of 0.77, with a specificity of 88% and sensitivity of 57% at Youden’s index threshold, demonstrating its adaptability to various clinical needs. Its robust performance across varying temporal thresholds highlights its potential for both real-time and retrospective analysis in sensor-driven fetal monitoring. Testing across varying temporal thresholds showcased it robust predictive performance, particularly with finetuning on data closer to delivery, achieving a sensitivity of 52% and specificity of 88% for near-delivery cases. These findings suggest the potential of PatchCTG to enhance clinical decision-making in antepartum care by providing a sensor-based, AI-driven, objective tool for reliable fetal health assessment. Full article

Despite impressive advances in the broad field of innate immunity, our understanding of the molecules and signaling pathways that control the host immune response to nematode infection remains incomplete. We have shown recently that Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is activated by nematode infection and certain TGF-β superfamily members regulate the D. melanogaster anti-nematode immune response. Here, we investigate the effect of an entomopathogenic nematode infection factor on host TGF-β pathway regulation and immune function. We find that Heterorhabditis bacteriophora serine carboxypeptidase activates the Activin branch in D. melanogaster adults and the immune deficiency pathway in Activin-deficient flies, it affects hemocyte numbers and survival in flies deficient for Activin signaling, and causes increased intestinal steatosis in Activin-deficient flies. Thus, insights into the D. melanogaster signaling pathways and metabolic processes interacting with H. bacteriophora pathogenicity factors will be applicable to entomopathogenic nematode infection of important agricultural insect pests and vectors of disease. Full article

The mainstream basin of the Tarim River serves as a vital ecological security barrier that prevents the merging and expansion of deserts and an important strategic corridor directly linking Qinghai and Xinjiang. With society’s development and climate change, ecological issues such as river interruption, vegetation degradation, and land desertification in the basin have notably intensified, and the ecological security is facing a critical test. Exploring the characteristics of landscape changes and their driving factors within the basin is crucial in improving the ecological environment system’s management. Based on land use data from 1980 to 2020, this study analyzed the characteristics of the spatiotemporal changes and pattern evolution of the landscape through a landscape transfer matrix and landscape pattern indices. It further revealed the impact factors of the landscape pattern through canonical correspondence analysis. The results showed that (1) in 1980–2020, the areas of desert, forest, farmland, and settlement landscapes increased, while the area of grassland landscape decreased, and the water landscape showed an “increasing–decreasing–recovery” pattern. The landscape transition types mainly included the transition from grassland to desert; mutual transitions among farmland, grassland, and forests; mutual transitions between water and grassland; and the transition from farmland to settlements. (2) The overall landscape pattern demonstrated increased fragmentation, shape complexity, and evenness with decreased aggregation. Furthermore, different landscapes exhibited distinct characteristics of landscape pattern changes; for instance, grassland landscape showed severe fragmentation, while desert landscape displayed the strongest dominance. (3) The landscape pattern was a result of the combined impact of natural and human factors, with the soil thickness (SOT), road density (ROD), annual actual evapotranspiration (AAE), population density (POD), and mean annual temperature (MAT) exhibiting significant influences. Specifically, the settlement and farmland landscapes were mainly influenced by the mean annual relative humidity (MAH), POD, GDP density (GDP), and distance to artificial water (DAW); the forest, grassland, and water landscapes were mainly influenced by the SOT, soil organic matter content (SOM), AAE, ROD, elevation (ELE), MAT, slope (SLP), and distance to natural water (DNW); and the desert landscape was mainly influenced by the DAW, DNW, SLP, AAE, SOT, SOM, and ROD. These findings can provide a scientific reference for landscape management and restoration, as well as sustainable social and economic development, in the mainstream basin of the Tarim River. Full article

Rice is a major staple food, and, hence, doubling its productivity is critical to sustain future food security. Improving photosynthesis, source–sink relationships and grain-filling mechanisms are promising traits for improvement in grain yield. To understand the source–sink relationship and grain yield, a set of contrasting rice genotypes differing in yield and biomass were studied for physiological, biochemical and gene-expression differences. The physiological and yield component traits of selected rice genotypes were analyzed in 2016 and 2017 under field conditions. This led to the categorization of genotypes as high yielding (HY) and high biomass, viz., Dular, Gontra Bidhan 3, Way Rarem, Patchai Perumal, Sahbhagi Dhan, Indira Barani Dhan-1, MTU1010, and Maudamani; while, low yielding (LY) and low biomass, viz. Anjali, Ghanteswari, Parijat, Khao Daw Tai, RKVY-104, Ghati Kamma Nangarhar, BAM4510 and BAM5850. The HY genotypes in general had relatively better values of yield component traits, higher photosynthetic rate (Pn) and chlorophyll (Chl) content. The study revealed that leaf area per plant and whole plant photosynthesis are the key traits contributing to high biomass production. We selected two good-performing (Sahbhagi Dhan and Maudamani) and two poor-performing (Ghanteswari and Parijat) rice genotypes for a detailed expression analysis of selected genes involved in photosynthesis, sucrose synthesis, transport, and starch synthesis in the leaf and starch metabolism in grain. Some of the HY genotypes had a relatively high level of expression of key photosynthesis genes, such as RbcS, RCA, FBPase, and ZEP over LY genotypes. This study suggests that traits, such as leaf area, photosynthesis and grain number, contribute to high grain yield in rice. These good-performing genotypes can be used as a donor in a breeding program aimed at high yields in rice. Full article

Composition is one of the facets of musical activity that allows a more effective way to interrelate theoretical and practical contents in a real context to enhance the development of creativity and collaborative work in the music classroom. Through a qualitative methodology based on participant observation, the results of several projects aimed at implementing collaborative composition in the training of music teachers at the University of Salamanca through audio production tools (DAW) as a pedagogical strategy to address basic knowledge and specific skills of the curriculum of the music subject in secondary education, are synthesized. From this perspective, this work proposes a structured and sequential model for the collaborative composition of musical productions in the field of popular urban music (with special attention to the rock style), addressing and exemplifying in a practical way issues such as the layered structure in the prototypical song of rock bands, the fundamental rhythmic bases, the harmonic function and the development of chord progressions or the creation and development of melodic lines for the voice. Full article