Search Results (700)

Background: In computed tomography (CT), automatic exposure control (AEC) determines the tube current and thus the radiation dose based on scout images. We investigated CT dose modulation using two versions of CARE Dose 4D, Siemens AEC software. Methods: A cylindrical phantom and an anthropomorphic phantom with the upper extremities raised or down were imaged. The CT tube current was determined using two versions of CARE Dose 4D and different scout directions: the posteroanterior scout image alone (PA scout), the lateral scout image alone (Lat scout), and the combination of the PA and Lat scout images (PA + Lat scout). The new version is designed to utilize the Lat image solely for off-center correction when both PA and Lat images are available. Experiments were performed at various vertical positions and with various scout imaging parameters. Results: The influence of the scout direction on CT dose was demonstrated, with variations depending on the imaging object and software version. The CT dose determined with the PA scout varied according to vertical positioning, presumably due to changes in image magnification. Such effects were small with the Lat scout or PA + Lat scout. Decreasing the tube voltage or tube current in scout imaging affected CT dose modulation with the Lat scout but not with the PA scout. With the PA + Lat scout, the effects of scout parameters were evident using the previous version but minimal using the new version. Conclusions: Off-center correction in the new version functioned appropriately. Because the behavior of an AEC system is complicated, it is recommended to examine the characteristics of each AEC system under various imaging conditions. Full article

In this study, we propose a minimal reaction system for the Hippo–YAP/TAZ pathway that explicitly includes inactive LATS, active pLATS, cytoplasmic and nuclear YAP/TAZ, and phosphorylated YAP/TAZ. Local cell density is incorporated into the LATS activation term, and nuclear YAP/TAZ controls a threshold-type switch between proliferative and quiescent cell states. This five-variable system of ordinary differential equations is coupled to a three-dimensional molecular dynamics model that provides time-dependent cell positions and densities. We define normal-like and cancer-like conditions by varying only the LATS phosphorylation rate while keeping the initial distribution of YAP/TAZ identical. Under normal-like parameters, increasing cell density leads to rapid accumulation of pLATS and suppression of nuclear YAP/TAZ below the proliferative threshold, resulting in a contact-inhibited epithelium dominated by quiescent cells. In contrast, under cancer-like parameters with delayed LATS activation, nuclear YAP/TAZ in a subset of cells remains above the threshold, and proliferative clusters persist even in high-density regions. These simulations show that, even without any bias in initial concentrations, modest changes in the kinetics of LATS phosphorylation alone can induce a clear bifurcation between normal-like and cancer-like growth at the tissue scale. The results provide a mechanistic bridge linking molecular-level dysregulation of the Hippo pathway to macroscopic tumor expansion. Full article

Activation through the T cell receptor (TCR) initiates a signaling cascade in T cells that induces extensive molecular and cellular changes. The adaptor protein Linker for Activation of T cells (LAT) plays an essential role in transducing activation and regulatory signals downstream of the TCR. Phosphorylation of LAT tyrosine residues recruits multiple signaling proteins, leading to the assembly of the LAT signalosome, which is crucial for relaying signals that regulate T cell development and function. We previously showed that substitution of a negatively charged amino acid segment preceding the fifth tyrosine residue of LAT (Tyr127 in humans or Tyr132 in mouse LAT) enhances some early TCR signaling events, whereas downstream responses, such as Ca²⁺ influx and Erk phosphorylation, are partially inhibited. To investigate the physiological relevance of this segment in vivo, we generated a new LAT knock-in mouse strain (Lat^NIL) in which the negatively charged segment was replaced with a non-charged sequence. Unexpectedly, this mutation led to an alternative splicing event in the Lat gene that excluded exons 6 and 7, resulting in a frameshift, a premature stop codon at residue 145, and the loss of the six C-terminal tyrosine residues of LAT. Homozygous Lat^NIL/NIL mice showed a phenotype similar to that of LAT-knockout and Lat^4YF mice (in which the four C-terminal tyrosines had been mutated to phenylalanine). Interestingly, homozygous Lat^NIL/NIL mice exhibited a distinct population of γδ T cells in lymphoid organs, which has not been observed in LAT-KO or Lat^4YF mice. These γδ T cells expressed higher levels of CD27 compared to those in wild-type and LAT-KO mice, suggesting altered activation or differentiation states. Together, these data highlight how subtle alterations in LAT structure can profoundly impact T cell signaling and lineage composition. Full article

Congenital umbilicobiliary fistula is a rare disease reported in humans and dogs. A 2-month-old, intact, male French Bulldog presented with a greenish-yellow discharge dripping from the umbilicus since birth. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry were within normal limits, but serum alkaline phosphatase activity was mildly elevated. A positive contrast cystogram was performed to rule out a patent urachus and confirmed the presence of a vesicourachal diverticula, a type of urachal anomalies. An abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography fistulogram demonstrated a communication between the umbilicus and common bile duct, which suggested an umbilicobiliary fistula. Surgical correction of the umbilicobiliary fistula and vesicourachal diverticula was successfully performed with an uneventful recovery. Histological analysis of the fistulous tract demonstrated a cuboidal/columnar lining epithelium that transitioned to squamous epithelium near the umbilicus. Agenesis of the gallbladder was noted. The application of multiple imaging techniques in the diagnosis and surgical correction of these congenital abnormalities (umbilicobiliary fistula, gallbladder agenesis, and vesicourachal diverticula) was beneficial for treatment planning and outcome. Full article

Background: Milk fat metabolism is a complex process regulated by non-coding RNAs. circRNAs (circRNAs) can act as miRNA sponges to regulate target gene expression. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of the circRNA_01754/miR-302c/LATS2 axis in regulating milk fat metabolism in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Methods: mRNA sequencing was performed on bovine mammary gland tissues from different lactation stages to analyze the expression profiles. The interactions between circRNA_01754, miR-302c, and LATS2 were verified using dual-luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. The functional effects on triglyceride (TAG) and cholesterol synthesis were assessed. Results: CircRNA_01754 was identified as a direct sponge for miR-302c. Overexpression of circRNA_01754 increased LATS2 expression by sequestering miR-302c. Functional experiments showed that circRNA_01754 and LATS2 promoted TAG synthesis, whereas miR-302c inhibited it. Furthermore, miR-302c was found to regulate the expression of YAP1, a key effector of the Hippo pathway, through LATS2. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that circRNA_01754 promotes milk fat synthesis by acting as a ceRNA for miR-302c to upregulate LATS2. This study lays the groundwork for producing high-quality milk and opens up new avenues for enhancing public dietary health. Full article

Effective biopreservation strategies are essential to maintain product quality and extend shelf life. However, the low storage temperature (4 °C) of low-temperature meat products limits the growth and activity of most protective cultures, highlighting the need for psychrotrophic strains. This study evaluated the impact of various bioprotective cultures on the bacterial counts, physicochemical quality, flavor profile, and sensory characteristics of the Harbin red sausage under vacuum packaging for 28 days. In comparison with the control (uninoculated) and B2 (commercial Latilactobacillus sakei B2) groups, individual and mixed (1:1) inoculations with psychrotrophic Pediococcus acidilactici L1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HG1-1 significantly inhibited the growth of Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus (p < 0.05), providing the sausage with superior color and texture and delaying lipid oxidation, thereby improving the sausage’s overall acceptability on day 28. The electronic nose analyses indicated that Harbin red sausages inoculated with individual and mixed cultures of Pe. acidilactici L1 and Lac. plantarum HG1-1 exhibited less development of odor compounds during storage. Overall, both individual and mixed inoculations with Pe. acidilactici L1 and Lac. plantarum HG1-1 showed superior bioprotective effects on Harbin red sausages under vacuum packaging compared with commercial Lat. sakei B2, with the mixed inoculation treatment being the most effective. Full article

This paper proposes a simplified adaptive filtering approach using a Hammerstein function and the spline interpolation based on a Fair cost function for denoising electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The use of linear filters in real-world applications has many limitations. Adaptive nonlinear filtering is a key development in tackling the challenge of discovering the specific characteristics of biomimetic systems for each person in order to eliminate unwanted signals. A biomimetic system refers to a system that mimics certain biological processes or characteristics of the human body, in this case, the individual features of a person’s cardiac signals (ECG). Here, the adaptive nonlinear filter is designed to cope with ECG variations and remove unwanted noise more effectively. The objective of this paper is to explore an individual biomedical filter based on adaptive nonlinear filtering for denoising the corrupted ECG signal. The Hammerstein spline adaptive filter (HSAF) architecture consists of two structural blocks: a nonlinear block connected to a linear one. In order to make a smooth convergence, the Fair cost function is introduced for convergence enhancement. The affine projection algorithm (APA) based on the Fair cost function is used to denoise the contaminated ECG signals, and also provides fast convergence. The MIT-BIH 12-lead database is used as the source of ECG biomedical signals contaminated by random noises modelled by Cauchy distribution. Experimental results show that the estimation error of the proposed HSAF–APA–Fair algorithm, based on the Fair cost function, can be reduced when compared with the conventional least mean square-based algorithm for denoising ECG signals. Full article

This study presents the development and experimental validation of a novel wind turbine emulator (WTE) based on a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). The proposed architecture employs an induction motor (IM) driven by a variable frequency drive (VFD) to emulate wind turbine dynamics, offering a cost-effective and low-maintenance alternative to traditional DC motor-based systems. The contribution of this work lies, therefore, not in the hardware topology itself, but in the complete real-time software implementation of the control system using C language and RTLib, which enables higher sampling rates, faster PWM updates, and improved execution reliability compared with standard Simulink/RTI approaches. The proposed control structure integrates tip–speed ratio (TSR)-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) with flux-oriented vector control of the DFIG, fully coded in C to provide optimized real-time performance. Experimental results confirm the emulator’s ability to accurately replicate real wind turbine behavior under varying wind conditions. The test bench demonstrates fast dynamic response, with rotor currents settling in 11–18 ms, and active/reactive powers stabilizing within 25–30 ms. Overshoots remain below 10%, and steady-state errors are limited to ±1 A for currents and ±100 W/±50 VAR for powers, ensuring precise power regulation. The speed tracking error is approximately 0.61 rad/s, validating the system’s ability to follow dynamic references with high accuracy. Additionally, effective decoupling between active and reactive loops is achieved, with minimal cross-coupling during step changes. Full article

Background: The Hippo signaling pathway, a highly conserved regulatory cascade, regulates tissue homeostasis, organ size, and tumor suppression. Dysregulation of this pathway contributes to oncogenesis in various human malignancies; however, its clinicopathologic relevance in cervical cancer has not been completely elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of key Hippo pathway proteins and analyze their associations with tumor behavior and clinicopathologic features in cervical carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine cervical cancer specimens obtained from hysterectomies performed at Gyeongsang National University Hospital (2012–2019) were retrospectively analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining for Yes-associated protein (YAP), phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP), mammalian sterile-20-like kinase-1 (MST1), and large tumor suppressor kinase-1 (LATS1) was performed on tissue microarrays. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests and logistic regression were employed for assessing associations between marker expression and clinicopathologic variables. Functional validation was conducted via small interfering RNA-mediated YAP knockdown in Caski cervical cancer cells, with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and wound-healing assays assessing YAP suppression and cell migration. Results: YAP and p-YAP were expressed in 71.8% and 62.6% of tumors, respectively; MST1 in 82.8%; and LATS1 in 22.2%. YAP and p-YAP overexpression was correlated with larger tumor size (p = 0.013 and p = 0.011) and higher International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001). YAP and p-YAP expression was positively correlated (odds ratio, 4.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.70–11.61). MST1 or LATS1 expression demonstrated no significant associations. In vitro, YAP silencing decreased mRNA and protein expression levels and significantly impaired cell migration, supporting its role in tumor aggressiveness. Conclusions: YAP and p-YAP overexpression are associated with advanced stage and larger tumor size in cervical cancer, indicating Hippo pathway dysregulation. YAP functional suppression attenuated migratory capacity, highlighting YAP as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Full article

In this 8-week feeding trial, we systematically investigated the effects of replacing fishmeal with enzymatically hydrolyzed pork bone meal (EHPBM) at graded inclusion levels (EHPBM0, EHPBM20, EHPBM50, and EHPBM100) in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The results showed that the EHPBM50 group maintained growth performance comparable to the fishmeal-based control, whereas higher replacement levels led to significant metabolic disturbances. Specifically, the EHPBM100 group exhibited marked reductions in final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR), along with an elevated feed conversion ratio (FCR). Serum biochemical markers—alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)—were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner under EHPBM50 and EHPBM100 substitution. Regarding whole-body composition, ash content was significantly lower in the EHPBM50 group, while no significant differences were observed in other metrics compared to the control. Furthermore, dietary EHPBM inclusion enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity. All EHPBM substitution groups showed significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, along with significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In key metabolic pathways, compared with the EHPBM0 group, the expression of mtor and rps6k genes was significantly up-regulated in the EHPBM50 group, while that of g6pase, fbp1, and cpt1 genes was significantly down-regulated. Intestinal integrity markers (occludin, zo-1) and nutrient transporters (pept1, lat1) remained largely unaffected except in the EHPBM100 group, indicating the species’ tolerance to partial fishmeal replacement. In summary, these findings demonstrate that EHPBM can effectively replace up to 50% of fishmeal in largemouth bass feed without compromising growth performance or nutrient utilization, while significantly enhancing antioxidant capacity. Full article

Introduction: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy influenced by diverse molecular profiles. The L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), encoded by the SLC7A5 gene, plays a key role in tumor metabolism, growth, and angiogenesis. Through its role in amino acid transport and activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway, LAT1 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Objective: To evaluate SLC7A5/LAT1 expression and its association with clinicopathological parameters and molecular subtypes of invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST) in a Pakistani cohort. Methods: Eighty-three patients who underwent mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy for histologically confirmed primary invasive carcinoma of no special type were included. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess SLC7A5/LAT1 expression. Associations with clinicopathological features and molecular groups were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of SLC7A5-positive patients were 48.4 ± 10.8 years. Overall, 24.1% of patients demonstrated SLC7A5 positivity. Although SLC7A5 expression was more frequent in cases categorized as having moderate or poor prognosis based on the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), this trend was not statistically significant. Similarly, no significant associations were observed between SLC7A5 expression and other clinicopathological or molecular variables. Conclusions:SLC7A5/LAT1 expression was identified in approximately one-quarter of invasive breast carcinoma cases. Its expression appeared more common in tumors with poorer NPI categories, but without statistically verified associations. These findings suggest that SLC7A5 may act independently of conventional clinicopathological parameters. Larger, longitudinal studies with survival follow-up are required to clarify its prognostic and therapeutic significance. Full article

The rise in trusted machine learning has prompted concerns about the security, reliability and controllability of deep learning, especially when it is applied to sensitive areas involving life and health safety. To thoroughly analyze potential attacks and promote innovation in security technologies for DNNs, this paper conducts research on adversarial attacks against medical images and proposes a medical image attack method that focuses on lesion areas and has good transferability, named LatAtk. First, based on the image segmentation algorithm, LatAtk divides the target image into an attackable area (lesion area) and a non-attackable area and injects perturbations into the attackable area to disrupt the attention of the DNNs. Second, a class activation loss function based on gradient-weighted class activation mapping is proposed. By obtaining the importance of features in images, the features that play a positive role in model decision-making are further disturbed, making LatAtk highly transferable. Third, a texture feature loss function based on local binary patterns is proposed as a constraint to reduce the damage to non-semantic features, effectively preserving texture features of target images and improving the concealment of adversarial samples. Experimental results show that LatAtk has superior aggressiveness, transferability and concealment compared to advanced baselines. Full article

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality, with therapeutic resistance posing the primary barrier to durable outcomes. Beyond genetic and epigenetic alterations, amino acid transporter-driven metabolic reprogramming—mediated by LAT1 (SLC7A5), ASCT2 (SLC1A5), and xCT (SLC7A11)—supports tumor proliferation, redox homeostasis, and immune escape. Their preferential expression in NSCLC highlights their potential as therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers. In parallel, α-particle therapy has gained attention for its capacity to eradicate resistant clones through densely clustered, irreparable DNA double-strand breaks. Astatine-211 (²¹¹At) combines a clinically relevant half-life, high linear energy transfer, and predictable decay scheme, positioning it as a unique candidate among α-emitters. Preclinical studies of ²¹¹At-labeled transporter ligands, particularly LAT1-targeted conjugates, demonstrate potent tumor suppression and synergy with targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and ferroptosis inducers. Advances in radiochemistry, delivery systems (antibodies, peptides, and nanocarriers), and PET tracers such as [¹⁸F]FAMT and [¹⁸F]FSPG collectively support a theranostic framework for patient stratification and adaptive dosing. By linking transporter biology with α-particle delivery, ²¹¹At-based theranostics offer a mechanistically orthogonal strategy to overcome resistance and heterogeneity in NSCLC. Successful translation will depend on precise dosimetry, scaffold stabilization, and biomarker-guided trial design, enabling progression toward first-in-human studies and future integration into multimodal NSCLC therapy. Full article

The MoonRay project is carrying out a concept study of a permanent lunar cosmic-ray (CR) and gamma-ray observatory, in view of the implementation of habitats on our satellite. The idea is to build a modular telescope that will be able to overcome the limitations, in available power and weight, of the present generation of CR instruments in Low Earth Orbit, while carrying out high-energy gamma-ray observations from a vantage point at the South Pole of the Moon. An array of fully independent modules (towers), with limited individual size and mass, can provide an acceptance more than one order of magnitude larger than instruments in flight at present. The modular telescope is designed to be deployed progressively, during a series of lunar missions, while collecting meaningful scientific data at the intermediate stages of its implementation. The operational power will be made available by the facilities maintaining the lunar habitats. With a geometric factor close to 15 m²sr and about 8 times larger sensitive area than FERMI-LAT, MoonRay will be able to carry out a very rich observational program over a time span of a few decades with an energy reach of 10 PeV allowing the exploration of the CR “knee” and the observation of the Southern Sky with gamma rays well into the TeV scale. Each tower (of approximate size 20 cm × 20 cm ×100 cm) is equipped with three instruments. A combined Charge and Time-of-Flight detector (CD-ToF) can identify individual cosmic elements, leveraging on an innovative two-layered array of pixelated Low-Gain Avalanche Diode (LGAD) sensors, with sub-ns time resolution. The latter can achieve an unprecedented rejection power against backscattered radiation from the calorimeter. It is followed by a tracker, providing also photon conversion, and by a thick crystal calorimeter (55 radiation lengths, 3 proton interaction lengths at normal incidence) with an energy resolution of 30–40% (1–2%) for protons (electrons) and a proton/electron rejection in excess of 10⁵. A time resolution close to 100 ps has been obtained, with prototypal arrays of 3 mm × 3 mm LGAD pixels, in a recent test campaign carried out at CERN with Pb beam fragments. Full article

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in dogs causes persistent left-to-right shunting, leading to pulmonary overcirculation, left heart volume overload, and potential congestive heart failure. Accurate assessment of fluid imbalance is essential but challenging with conventional echocardiography or biomarkers. Phase angle (PhA), derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), may serve as a non-invasive marker of extracellular fluid distribution and cellular integrity. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate PhA as an indicator of thoracic fluid imbalance in dogs with PDAby analyzing its correlation with pulmonary velocity (PV) and end-diastolic volume (eV), as well as its responsiveness to surgical correction. In addition, we assessed the relationships between PhA and echocardiographic structural indices (LA/Ao, TDI Sep E/Em, TDI Lat E/Em) and examined the influence of the measurement region. Methods: PhA was measured at 5, 50, and 250 kHz in 30 PDA-affected and 15 healthy dogs, with electrode placement across thorax, trunk, and abdomen. Echocardiography evaluated PV, eV, and PDA-specific structural parameters. Results: Thoracic PhA at 5 kHz was significantly reduced in PDAdogs, strongly correlated with PV and moderately with eV. Postoperative measurements showed progressive PhA recovery. Only TDI Lat E/Em correlated with mid-frequency PhA, while other structural indices showed minimal association. Thoracic PhA was lower than trunk or abdominal values, indicating that thoracic measurements may better capture localized extracellular fluid changes in PDAcompared with other regions. Conclusion: Thoracic PhA at 5 kHz effectively reflects extracellular fluid changes in PDA, complements structural echocardiography, and tracks postoperative fluid normalization. Its non-invasive nature supports clinical utility for monitoring hemodynamic burden and therapeutic response. Full article