Search Results (968)

The growing demand for accurate and efficient Chest X-Ray (CXR) interpretation has prompted the development of AI-driven systems to alleviate radiologist workload and reduce diagnostic variability. This paper introduces the Intelligent Humanized Radiology Analysis System (IHRAS), a modular framework that automates the end-to-end process of CXR analysis and report generation. IHRAS integrates four core components: (i) deep convolutional neural networks for multi-label classification of 14 thoracic conditions; (ii) Grad-CAM for spatial visualization of pathologies; (iii) SAR-Net for anatomical segmentation; and (iv) a large language model (DeepSeek-R1) guided by the CRISPE prompt engineering framework to generate structured diagnostic reports using SNOMED CT terminology. Evaluated on the NIH ChestX-ray dataset, IHRAS demonstrates consistent diagnostic performance across diverse demographic and clinical subgroups, and produces high-fidelity, clinically relevant radiological reports with strong faithfulness, relevancy, and alignment scores. The system offers a transparent and scalable solution to support radiological workflows while highlighting the importance of interpretability and standardization in clinical Artificial Intelligence applications. Full article

This research investigates topic-based sentiment classification in Greek educational-related data using transformer-based language models. A comparative evaluation is conducted on GreekBERT, XLM-r-Greek, mBERT, and Palobert using three original sentiment-annotated datasets representing parents of students with functional diversity, school directors, and teachers, each capturing diverse educational perspectives. The analysis examines both overall sentiment performance and topic-specific evaluations across four thematic classes: (i) Material and Technical Conditions, (ii) Educational Dimension, (iii) Psychological/Emotional Dimension, and (iv) Learning Difficulties and Emergency Remote Teaching. Results indicate that GreekBERT consistently outperforms other models, achieving the highest overall F1 score (0.91), particularly excelling in negative sentiment detection (F1 = 0.95) and showing robust performance for positive sentiment classification. The Psychological/Emotional Dimension emerged as the most reliably classified category, with GreekBERT and mBERT demonstrating notably high accuracy and F1 scores. Conversely, Learning Difficulties and Emergency Remote Teaching presented significant classification challenges, especially for Palobert. This study contributes significantly to the field of sentiment analysis with Greek-language data by introducing original annotated datasets, pioneering the application of topic-based sentiment analysis within the Greek educational context, and offering a comparative evaluation of transformer models. Additionally, it highlights the superior performance of Greek-pretrained models in capturing emotional detail, and provides empirical evidence of the negative emotional responses toward Emergency Remote Teaching. Full article

Most patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with advanced/metastatic disease at diagnosis, and molecular profiling is critical in guiding treatment decisions. This retrospective cohort study aimed to characterize EGFR mutations (EGFRm) in advanced/metastatic NSCLC patients, treatment patterns, and real-world outcomes. Adults diagnosed between 2018 and 2021 and treated at a Comprehensive Care Center were included. Time-to-event outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. A total of 110 patients were included, with a median age of 69.0 years (range, 37–93), 76.4% female, and 83.2% non-smokers. About 97.3% had adenocarcinomas, with 93.6% at stage IV, 40.9% with ≥ three metastatic sites (brain metastases in 24.5%), 33.6% ECOG 2–4, and 58.2% with an EGFR exon-19 deletion. A minority started supportive care or curative-intent treatment, and 81.8% underwent first-line palliative systemic therapy (TKIs, 91.1%; chemotherapy, 8.9%). Median real-world overall survival (rwOS) was 18.9 months (95% CI, 13.8–28.1). Worse rwOS was observed in patients with ECOG 2–4 versus ECOG 0–1 (10.3 vs. 22.8 months; HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.17–2.85; p = 0.008) and in patients with exon-21 L858R versus exon 19 deletions (15.8 vs. 24.2 months; HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00–2.54; p = 0.048). In patients treated with palliative systemic treatment, median progression-free survival was 10.9 months (95% CI, 8.8–13.6). This study provides important insights regarding real-world characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes from a cohort of EGFRm advanced/metastatic NSCLC patients. Full article

Background and Objectives: Uterine cancer is the most common gynaecologic malignancy in developed countries, yet the psychosocial sequelae of treatment are incompletely described. This prospective, single-centre study quantified six-month changes in the quality of life (QoL) and perceived stress in women with newly diagnosed uterine cancer and explored clinical moderators of change. Methods: Participants completed four validated self-report questionnaires: the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the 26-item World Health Organization Quality-of-Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), the 30-item EORTC QLQ-C30 and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) before therapy and again six months after surgery ± adjuvant chemoradiation. Subgroup analyses were performed for stage (FIGO I–II vs. III–IV). Results: Mean SF-36 Physical Functioning improved from 58.7 ± 12.1 to 63.1 ± 12.6 (Δ = +4.4 ± 7.3; p = 0.000, d = 0.36). PSS declined from 24.1 ± 5.6 to 20.8 ± 5.4 (Δ = −3.3 ± 5.0; p < 0.001, d = 0.66). The WHOQOL-BREF Physical and Psychological domains rose by 4.4 ± 6.9 and 3.5 ± 7.3 points, respectively (both p < 0.01). EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health increased 5.1 ± 7.6 points (p < 0.001) with parallel reductions in fatigue (−5.4 ± 9.0) and pain (−4.8 ± 8.6). Advanced-stage patients showed larger reductions in stress (ΔPSS −3.5 ± 2.5 vs. −2.3 ± 2.3; p = 0.036) but similar QoL gains. ΔPSS correlated inversely with ΔWHOQOL Psychological (r = −0.53) and ΔSF-36 Mental Health (r = −0.49) and positively with ΔEORTC Global Health (r = −0.42) (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Over six months, multimodal uterine cancer treatment was associated with clinically meaningful QoL improvements and moderate stress reduction. Greater stress relief paralleled superior gains in psychological and global health indices, highlighting the importance of integrative survivorship care. Full article

Background: Accuracy of optical impressions—defined by the intraoral scanner (IOS)’s trueness and precision per International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards—is influenced by both operator- and patient-related factors. Thus, this in vitro study aimed to (1) evaluate how scanning distance affects the accuracy of three different intraoral scanners (IOSs), and (2) identify the optimal scanning distance for each scanner. Methods: A maxillary arch model was obtained using polyvinyl siloxane impression material and poured with Type IV stone (Octa-rock royal^®, Kulzer, Germany). Using three different types of IOSs—the trios 3 shape (TRIOS ^® cart, 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark); the Helios 500 (Eighteeth ^®, Changzhou, China); and the Heron (3Disc ^®, Herndon, VA 20170, USA)—ten scans were performed with each of the IOSs with five predetermined distances: 0 mm, 2.5 mm, 5 mm, 7.5 mm, and 10 mm. Spacers of varying heights were designed using Meshmixer version 3.5 (Autodesk, Inc., Mill Valley, CA, USA) and three-dimensional printed with the Form 2 printer (Formlabs, Somerville, MA, USA). The scanned data was processed using Geomagic Control X (Version 16.0.2.16496, 3D Systems, Wilsonville, OR, USA). Statistical analyses were performed using R Statistical Software (version 4.2.2), with significance set at α = 0.05. Results: Scanning distance significantly influenced scan accuracy for all three scanners. The 3Disc scanner (3Disc, Herndon, VA, USA) demonstrated the highest accuracy at a 7.5 mm distance, while both the Helios 500 (Eighteeth, Changzhou, China) and Trios 3 (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark) scanners achieved their best accuracy at a 5 mm distance, as indicated by the lowest root mean square (RMS) values (p < 0.05). Conclusions: To conclude, each IOS has an optimal scanning distance for best accuracy. Trios 3 (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark) outperformed the others in both trueness and precision. Future studies should examine these effects under full-arch and clinical conditions. Full article

Accurate estimation of erupted lava volumes is essential for understanding volcanic processes, interpreting eruptive cycles, and assessing volcanic hazards. Traditional methods based on Mid-Infrared (MIR) satellite imagery require clear-sky conditions during eruptions and are prone to sensor saturation, limiting data availability. Here, we present an alternative approach based on the post-eruptive Thermal InfraRed (TIR) signal, using the recently proposed VRP_TIR method to quantify radiative energy loss during lava flow cooling. We identify thermally anomalous pixels in VIIRS I5 scenes (11.45 µm, 375 m resolution) using the TIRVolcH algorithm, this allowing the detection of subtle thermal anomalies throughout the cooling phase, and retrieve lava flow area by fitting theoretical cooling curves to observed VRP_TIR time series. Collating a dataset of 191 mafic eruptions that occurred between 2010 and 2025 at (i) Etna and Stromboli (Italy); (ii) Piton de la Fournaise (France); (iii) Bárðarbunga, Fagradalsfjall, and Sundhnúkagígar (Iceland); (iv) Kīlauea and Mauna Loa (United States); (v) Wolf, Fernandina, and Sierra Negra (Ecuador); (vi) Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo (DRC); (vii) Fogo (Cape Verde); and (viii) La Palma (Spain), we derive a new power-law equation describing mafic lava flow thickening as a function of time across five orders of magnitude (from 0.02 Mm³ to 5.5 km³). Finally, from knowledge of areas and episode durations, we estimate erupted volumes. The method is validated against 68 eruptions with known volumes, yielding high agreement (R² = 0.947; ρ = 0.96; MAPE = 28.60%), a negligible bias (MPE = −0.85%), and uncertainties within ±50%. Application to the February-March 2025 Etna eruption further corroborates the robustness of our workflow, from which we estimate a bulk erupted volume of 4.23 ± 2.12 × 10⁶ m³, in close agreement with preliminary estimates from independent data. Beyond volume estimation, we show that VRP_TIR cooling curves follow a consistent decay pattern that aligns with established theoretical thermal models, indicating a stable conductive regime during the cooling stage. This scale-invariant pattern suggests that crustal insulation and heat transfer across a solidifying boundary govern the thermal evolution of cooling basaltic flows. Full article

Spectral features of photoionization of various levels of C III are reported. These include characteristics of Rydberg and Seaton resonances, low and high excited levels, lifetimes, and total and partial cross sections. Calculations are performed in the relativistic Breit–Pauli R-matrix method with close-coupling approximation, including damping effects on the resonance structure associated with the core-excited states produced by the electron excitation of C IV and photoionization of C III. For bound channel contribution, the close-coupling wavefunction expansion for photoionization includes ground and 14 excited states of the target ion CIV and 105 states configurations of C III. Extensive sets of atomic data for bound fine-structure levels, resulting in 762 dipole-allowed transitions, radiative probabilities, and photoionization cross sections out of J^π = 0^± − 4^± fine-structure levels are obtained. The ground-level photoionization cross section smoothly decreases with increasing energy, showing a very narrow, strong Rydberg resonance converging to the CIV 1s²2p threshold. The work shows that prominent Seaton resonances for 2sns states with n ≥ 5, caused by photoexcitation of the core electron below the 2p threshold, visibly contribute to photoabsorption from excited states of C III. The present results provide highly accurate parameters of various model applications in plasma spectroscopy. Full article

Background/Objetives: Sea lice (Caligus rogercresseyi) pose a major threat to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture by compromising fish health and reducing production efficiency. While genetic variation in parasite load has been reported, the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation remain unclear. Methods: two sea lice challenge trials were conducted, achieving high infestation rates (47.5% and 43.5%). A total of 85 fish, selected based on extreme phenotypes for lice burden (42 low, 43 high), were subjected to transcriptomic analysis. Differential gene expression was integrated with allele-specific expression (ASE) analysis to uncover cis-regulatory variation influencing host response. Results: Sixty genes showed significant ASE (p < 0.05), including 33 overexpressed and 27 underexpressed. Overexpressed ASE genes included Keratin 15, Collagen IV/V, TRIM16, and Angiopoietin-1-like, which are associated with epithelial integrity, immune response, and tissue remodeling. Underexpressed ASE genes such as SOCS3, CSF3R, and Neutrophil cytosolic factor suggest individual variation in cytokine signaling and oxidative stress pathways. Conclusions: several ASE genes co-localized with previously identified QTLs for sea lice resistance, indicating that cis-regulatory variants contribute to phenotypic differences in parasite susceptibility. These results highlight ASE analysis as a powerful tool to identify functional regulatory elements and provide valuable candidates for selective breeding and genomic improvement strategies in aquaculture. Full article

Background and Objectives: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the deadliest gynecologic malignancy, yet the psychosocial dynamics of early survivorship are inadequately described. We prospectively quantified six-month trajectories in the quality of life in a consecutive cohort of 88 women newly diagnosed with EOC and explored clinical moderators of change. Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive patients (mean age 59.1 ± 10.7 years) completed the SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, EORTC QLQ-C30, and 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) at baseline (pre-therapy) and six months after cytoreductive surgery ± platinum-based chemotherapy. Stage (FIGO I–II vs. III–IV) and treatment pathway (primary debulking surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus interval debulking, chemotherapy only) data were recorded. Results: Global QoL improved significantly (EORTC Global Health +5.9 ± 7.7 points; p < 0.001) while perceived stress declined (ΔPSS −3.6 ± 5.1; p < 0.001). SF-36 Physical Functioning rose 4.7 ± 7.9 points (p < 0.001) and Mental Health 4.4 ± 7.9 points (p = 0.004). The WHOQOL Physical and Psychological domains gained 4.7 ± 7.1 and 4.3 ± 7.4 points, respectively (both p < 0.01). Advanced-stage patients experienced larger stress reductions than early-stage patients (−4.1 ± 2.7 vs. −2.9 ± 2.2; p = 0.028) but comparable QoL gains. Greater stress relief correlated with greater mental-health improvement (r = −0.51) and global-health gains (r = −0.45) (all p < 0.001). Treatment pathway did not significantly influence trajectories. Conclusions: Early survivorship after first-line ovarian-cancer therapy was characterized by the clinically meaningful recovery of physical and emotional functioning together with the moderate alleviation of perceived stress. Improvements were observed irrespective of stage and treatment strategy, suggesting that contemporary multimodal regimens do not inevitably compromise patient-reported outcomes. Our estimates provide preliminary effect sizes that should be validated in multi-center cohorts with longer follow-up. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children with above-average cognitive functioning often present complex developmental profiles, combining high cognitive potential with heterogeneous socio-emotional and learning trajectories. Although the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of giftedness have been widely studied in Anglophone countries, evidence remains limited in Southern Europe. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive, academic, and emotional–behavioral profiles of Italian children and adolescents with above-average cognitive functioning, using an inclusive, dimensional approach (IQ > 114). Methods: We analyzed a cross-sectional sample of 331 children and adolescents (ages 2.11–16.5 years), referred for clinical cognitive or behavioral evaluations. Participants were assessed using the WPPSI-III or WISC-IV for cognitive functioning, the MT battery for academic achievement, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for emotional and behavioral symptoms. Comparative and correlational analyses were performed across age, gender, and functional domains. A correction for multiple testing was applied using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure. Results: Gifted participants showed strong verbal comprehension (mean VCI: preschoolers = 118; school-aged = 121) and relative weaknesses in working memory (WM = 106) and processing speed (PS = 109). Males outperformed females in perceptual reasoning (PR = 121 vs. 118; p = 0.032), while females scored higher in processing speed (112 vs. 106; p = 0.021). Difficulties in writing and arithmetic were observed in 47.3% and 41.8% of school-aged participants, respectively. Subclinical internalizing problems were common in preschool and school-aged groups (mean CBCL T = 56.2–56.7). Working memory negatively correlated with total behavioral problems (r = −0.13, p = 0.046). Conclusions: These findings confirm the heterogeneity of gifted profiles and underscore the need for personalized educational and psychological interventions to support both strengths and vulnerabilities in gifted children. Caution is warranted when interpreting these associations, given their modest effect sizes and the exploratory nature of the study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pelvic exenteration (PE) might be a curative option for patients with advanced pelvic malignancies. Due to its significant morbidity and mortality rates, PE necessitates meticulous patient selection, and a comprehensive understanding of disease spread. This study outlines the experience at a single tertiary referral center and investigates prognostic factors influencing survival post-PE, thereby guiding clinical decision-making processes. Methods: Patients undergoing PE for advanced pelvic gynecological malignancies between 01/2016 and 12/2023 were retrospectively analyzed using a prospectively managed database. Eligibility for PE was determined through individualized tumor board evaluations based on CT/MRI imaging, excluding patients with distant metastases. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, operative details, complication rates, and histopathological findings were assessed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Poor outcome prognostic factors were identified, outlining an optimal candidate profile for PE. Results: A total of 70 patients were included. The median age was 54.5 years. Forty-three patients (61.4%) presented with recurrent disease and the majority were diagnosed with cervical cancer (n = 48, 68.6%). Total PE was performed in 40 patients (57.1%), with complete tumor resection achieved in 68.6% of patients (n = 48). Sixteen patients (22.8%) experienced grade IV/V complications. Median DFS and OS were 8.2 and 16.4 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified R1 resection status and para-aortic lymph node involvement as independent negative prognostic factors. Conclusions: PE is a viable option for selected patients with advanced primary and recurrent pelvic gynecological malignancies. When complete tumor resection is feasible, patients may derive benefit from PE, although the risk of severe perioperative complications must be carefully evaluated. Full article

In clinical applications of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) immunosensors, accurately determining analyte biomarker concentrations is essential. This study presents a non-invasive approach for quantifying various breast cancer biomarkers—including human epidermal growth factor receptor II (HER-II) (2+, 3+ (I), 3+ (II), 3+ (III), and positive IV) and CA 15-3—using a directional, plasmonically active, label-free SERS sensor. Each stage of sensor functionalization, conjugation, and biomarker interaction was verified by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterized the morphology of gold nanourchin (GNU)-immobilized printed circuit board (PCB) substrates. An enhancement factor of ≈ 0.5 × 10⁵ was achieved using Rhodamine 6G as the probe molecule. Calibration curves were initially established using standard HER-II solutions at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ng/mL and CA 15-3 at concentrations from 10 to 100 U/mL. The SERS signal intensities in the 620–720 nm region were plotted against concentration, yielding linear sensitivity with R² values of 0.942 and 0.800 for HER-II and CA15-3, respectively. The same procedure was applied to breast cancer serum (BCS) samples, allowing unknown biomarker concentrations to be determined based on the corresponding calibration curves. SERS data were processed using the filtfilt filter from scipy.signal for smoothing and then baseline-corrected with the Improved Asymmetric Least Squares (IASLS) algorithm from the pybaselines.Whittaker library. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively distinguished the sample groups and revealed spectral differences before and after biomarker interactions. Key Raman peaks were attributed to functional groups including N–H (primary and secondary amines), C–H antisymmetric stretching, C–N (amines), C=O antisymmetric stretching, NH₃⁺ (amines), carbohydrates, glycine, alanine, amides III, C=N stretches, and NH₂ in primary amides. Full article

Mutations in the CFTR gene, which cause the autosomal recessive disease cystic fibrosis, can also affect male fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum and carrier frequency of common pathogenic CFTR variants among men from the general population, analyze ethnic differences, and assess associations with male fertility indicators. Male volunteers (n = 1895) from six cities in Russia and Belarus were analyzed for the carrier frequencies of 17 pathogenic CFTR variants and two polymorphisms, as well as semen quality and reproductive hormone levels. Heterozygous carriers of six pathogenic CFTR mutations, F508del, G542X, N1303K, 3849+10kbC>T, CFTRdele2,3, and R117C, and two polymorphisms, IVS9-5T and 5T-(12-13) TG, were identified, with cumulative frequencies of 2.06% and 6.65%, respectively. Significant ethnic differences were revealed in the spectrum and carrier frequencies of pathogenic CFTR variants among Slavs, Buryats, and Yakuts. Slavs exhibited a high proportion of heterozygous carriers of CFTR mutations (2.70%), whereas none were detected among Buryats and Yakuts. The highest carrier frequency for the CFTR polymorphism was observed among Slavs (8.35%), followed by Buryats (5.83%) and Yakuts (1.36%). No association was found between the carriers of identified CFTR variants and male fertility indicators. Thus, the spectrum and carrier frequency of genetic CFTR variants are determined by the ethnic composition of the population, providing a basis for ethnicity-specific screening of pathogenic CFTR variants. Full article

Implementing efficient strategies for the circular recovery and reuse of nutrients from wastewaters is mandatory to meet the Green Deal objectives and Sustainable Development Goals. In this context we investigated the use of zeolitic tuff (containing chabazite and phillipsite) in the selective recovery and reuse of N from various anaerobic liquid digestates in view of their implementation in farm-scale treatment plants. We tested the method on three livestock digestates and two municipal organic solid waste digestates. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were assessed on each digestate, and a large set of parameters, including (i) contact time, (ii) initial NH₄⁺ concentration, (iii) presence of competing ions, (iv) total solids content, and (vi) separation methods (microfiltration and clarification), were considered in the experimental design. Our results showed that the adsorption mechanism can be explained by the Freundlich model (R² up to 0.97), indicating a multilayer and heterogeneous adsorption, while the kinetic of adsorption can be explained by the pseudo-second-order model, indicating chemical adsorption and ion exchange. The efficiency in the removal of NH₄⁺ was indirectly related to the K⁺ and total solids content of the digestate. Maximum NH₄⁺ removal exceeded 90% in MSW-derived digestates and 80% within 60 min in livestock-derived digestates at a 5% solid/liquid ratio. Thermodynamic parameters confirmed favorable and spontaneous adsorption (ΔG up to −7 kJ⋅mol⁻¹). Farm-scale projections estimate a nitrogen recovery potential of 1.2 to 16 kg N⋅day⁻¹, depending on digestate type and process conditions. These findings support the application of natural zeolitic tuffs as a low-cost, chemical-free solution for ammonium recovery, contributing to sustainable agriculture and circular economy objectives. Full article

Background/Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the branching pattern images of the Hepatis Portae Vena (HPV), which is one of the vascular structures of the liver, with Computed Tomography (CT), and to uncover the surgical and radiological importance of the variations. Methods: The HPV branching patterns on CT images of healthy liver of 996 individuals (47.8% male, 52.2% female) between the ages of 20 and 59 were evaluated according to previously determined definitions. The division of the main branch of the HPV into ramus (r.), dexter, and r. sinister and the later division of r. dexter into r. anterior and r. posterior branches were called Type I-a, other main branch variations were called Type II-a, Type III-a, and Type IV-a, and the r. dexter variations were called Type V-b, Type VI-b, Type VII-b, and Type VIII-b. Also, all individuals in the present study were examined under four age groups as 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and the data were analyzed in the SPSS 21 software. Results: Type I-a (73.1%) was detected most frequently in all individuals, but Type VI-b (0.1%) and Type VII-b (0.1%) were detected least frequently. Following Type I-a, Type II-a (10.6%), Type III-a (8.2%), and Type V-b (5.5%) were detected, respectively. No statistically significant differences were detected between gender and age groups in terms of the frequency of HPV types (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We believe that accurate knowledge and definition of HPV anatomy will guide liver surgeries and interventional radiology, which are the cornerstones of the treatment of liver diseases. Full article