Search Results (14)

This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the biomechanical behaviors of three types of dental implant restorations: a screw-and-cement-retained prosthetic system (SCRP); a cementless screw-retained prosthetic system (SRP); and a novel screwless hook-retained prosthetic system (HRP). Three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) was used to evaluate biomechanical behavior. A comparative study of three dental implant prostheses was performed under two loading conditions: a vertical load of 100 N and an oblique load of 100 N at an angle of 30°. Under both loading conditions, the maximum von Mises stress values in the dental implant using the HRP system were lower (21.33 MPa) than those of the SCRP system (32.91 MPa), and the stress distribution of the implant prosthetic components tended to be more favorable than that of the SCRP system. Thus, the results show that the performance of the HRP system was comparable to that of a conventional SRP system under the same conditions. Regarding stress distribution, the novel screwless HRP system presents a viable alternative implant prosthodontic system to the conventional SCRP system. Full article

Human pose estimation (HPE) is an integral component of numerous applications ranging from healthcare monitoring to human-computer interaction, traditionally relying on vision-based systems. These systems, however, face challenges such as privacy concerns and dependency on lighting conditions. As an alternative, short-range radar technology offers a non-invasive, lighting-insensitive solution that preserves user privacy. This paper presents a novel radar-based framework for HPE, SCRP-Radar (space-aware coordinate representation for human pose estimation using single-input single-output (SISO) ultra-wideband (UWB) radar). The methodology begins with clutter suppression and denoising techniques to enhance the quality of radar echo signals, followed by the construction of a micro-Doppler (MD) matrix from these refined signals. This matrix is segmented into bins to extract distinctive features that are critical for pose estimation. The SCRP-Radar leverages the Hrnet and LiteHrnet networks, incorporating space-aware coordinate representation to reconstruct 2D human poses with high precision. Our method redefines HPE as dual classification tasks for vertical and horizontal coordinates, which is a significant departure from existing methods such as RF-Pose, RF-Pose 3D, UWB-Pose, and RadarFormer. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate that SCRP-Radar significantly surpasses these methods in accuracy and robustness, consistently exhibiting lower average error rates, achieving less than 40 mm across 17 skeletal key-points. This innovative approach not only enhances the precision of radar-based HPE but also sets a new benchmark for future research and application, particularly in sectors that benefit from accurate and privacy-preserving monitoring technologies. Full article

Background and Objectives: It is well known that alterations in microvascular structure and function contribute to the development of ocular, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. Accordingly, the presence of fundus vascular changes in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) may provide information of prognostic value regarding the progression of renal disease. This study aimed to examine the associations between clinical characteristics and retinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in patients with BEN and compare them with those in CKD. Materials and Methods: This pilot study, conducted from March 2021 to April 2022, included 63 patients who were divided into two groups: the first group consisted of 29 patients suffering from BEN, and the second was a control group of 34 patients with CKD. Demographic, laboratory, clinical, and medication data were noted for all the patients included in this study. Each eye underwent OCT angiography, and the results were interpreted in accordance with the practical guide for the interpretation of OCTA findings. Results: Statistically significantly higher levels of total serum protein and triglycerides were recorded in the BEN group than in the CKD group, while the level of HDL cholesterol was lower. Based on the performed urinalysis, statistically significantly higher values of total protein and creatinine were detected in patients with CKD compared to the BEN group. It was demonstrated that the OCTA vascular plexus density of certain parts of the retina was in significant association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine clearance, urinary creatinine, total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus type 2, age, body mass index, total serum and urinary protein, sCRP, and diuretic and antihypertensive treatment. Conclusions: In comparison with CKD, BEN leads to more significant disturbances in retinal vasculature density. Full article

Nutritional and inflammatory disorders are factors that increase the risk of adverse clinical outcomes and mortality in elderly hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to examine nutritional and inflammation status as well as body composition in older adults on HD compared to matched controls. A case–control study was conducted on 168 older participants (84 HD patients (cases) and 84 controls) age- and sex-matched. Demographic, clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters were collected from medical records. The primary outcome was nutritional status assessment using a combination of nutritional and inflammatory markers along with the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Sarcopenic obesity (SO) was studied by the combined application of anthropometric measures. Body composition and hydration status were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify nutritional and inflammatory independent risk indicators in elderly HD patients and controls. A significantly high prevalence of nutritional risk measured by the GNRI was found in HD patients (32.1%) compared to controls (6.0%) (p < 0.001). Elderly HD patients were overweight and had lower percent arm muscle circumference, phase angle (PA), serum albumin (s-albumin), as well as higher percent extracellular body water (ECW%) and serum C-reactive protein (s-CRP) than controls (all at least, p < 0.01). SO was higher in HD patients (15.50%) than in controls (14.30%). By multi-regression analyses, age < 75 years (OR: 0.119; 95%CI: 0.036 to 0.388), ECW% (OR: 1.162; 95%CI: 1.061 to 1.273), PA (OR: 0.099; 95%CI: 0.036 to 0.271), as well as BMI, s-albumin ≥ 3.8 g/dL, and lower s-CRP were independently related between cases and controls (all at least, p < 0.05). Elderly HD patients had increased nutritional risk, SO, inflammation, overhydration, and metabolic derangements compared to controls. This study highlights the importance of identifying nutritional risk along with inflammation profile and associated body composition disorders in the nutritional care of elderly HD patients. Further studies are needed to prevent nutritional disorders in elderly HD patients. Full article

This study examines boundary layer control and pressure recovery in low Reynolds number supersonic flow with chemical reactions in a chemical laser system. Our work prescribes a novel boundary layer control method for the optical cavity of a chemical laser system, and a design of a supersonic diffuser is compared and proposed to make a stable flow for the system. The flow characteristics of a low Reynolds number and internal reaction heat release were analyzed. Three types of experimental pieces were designed to passively control the boundary layer in the optical cavity. An active booster-type supersonic diffuser is proposed to study the pressure recovery problem of a low Reynolds number and chemical reaction supersonic flow generated by an optical cavity. A supersonic chemical reaction platform (SCRP) was established to conduct experimental research on boundary layer control and docking the active booster supersonic diffuser with the SCRP. The experimental results indicate that increasing the boundary layer pumping capacity within a certain range can reduce both the boundary layer thickness and the pressure on the optical cavity while simultaneously enhancing the SCRP energy power. The supersonic diffuser based on active gas pressurization can create the necessary conditions for the normal chemical reaction and improve the ability of the SCRP to resist high back pressure and airflow disturbance. Moreover, the chemical reaction energy release was full and stable with the docking of supersonic diffuser test pieces, resulting in energy power increases, which could be a significant improvement for the design of chemical laser systems. Full article

This short review reports the surprising phenomenon of nuclear hyperpolarization occurring in chemical reactions, which is called CIDNP (chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization) or photo-CIDNP if the chemical reaction is light-driven. The phenomenon occurs in both liquid and solid-state, and electron transfer systems, often carrying flavins as electron acceptors, are involved. Here, we explain the physical and chemical properties of flavins, their occurrence in spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRP) and the possible involvement of flavin-carrying SCRPs in animal magneto-reception at earth’s magnetic field. Full article

Six angucyclines including three unreported compounds (1–3) were isolated from Streptomyces sp. XS-16 by overexpressing the native global regulator of SCrp (cyclic AMP receptor). The structures were characterized based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and spectrometry analysis and assisted by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All compounds were tested for their antitumor and antimicrobial activities, and compound 1 showed different inhibitory activities against various tumor cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.32 to 5.33 μM. Full article

The biological factors of dental implants have a significant impact on long-term prognosis. In the cement-retained type or screw cement-retained type prosthesis (SCRP) implants, dental luting cement is used between the abutment and the implant fixture. Residual excess cement remaining around the implant and gingiva is one of the major causes of peri-implantitis, which is the most common cause of late implant failure. The TDP implant prosthetic system is a new cementless screw-retained type prosthetic system, which overcomes the limitations of the conventional implant prosthetic systems. Using this system, not only serves to prevent peri-implantitis caused by residual excess cement, but also the risk of screw loosening and fracture is reduced due to the stress distribution through the substructure (link), which is connected to the zirconia crown via frictional force. In this case report, two patients with tooth defects visited our dental hospital for implant treatment. Both patients were treated using the TDP implant prosthetic system. As a result, functional and esthetically excellent implant prostheses were fabricated and delivered to the patients. On the 3-year follow-up examination, both patients showed successful results, respectively. Full article

Functional capacity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is compromised by their nutrition-inflammation status. We evaluated the functional capacity of advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) patients and the influence of the nutrition-inflammation status. In a cross-sectional study, which included ACKD patients from the nephrology department of the Hospital Universitario de la Princesa in Madrid, Spain, we assessed: functional capacity with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test, interpreting a result <7 in the test as low functionality; body composition with monofrequency bioimpedance; muscular strength with hand grip strength; nutritional and inflammatory status using biochemical parameters and the Malnutrition Inflammation Scale (MIS). A total of 255 patients with ACKD were evaluated, 65.8% were men, their mean age was 70.65 ± 11.97 years and 70.2% of the patients had an age >65 years. The mean score of SPPB was 8.50 ± 2.81 and 76.4% of the patients presented a score ≥7, with a higher percentage in the group of men. The percentage of patients with limitations increased with age. The patients with SPPB values higher than 7 showed high values of albumin and low soluble C-reactive protein (s-CRP) and MIS. We found better functionality in well-nourished patients. A multivariate logistic regression model established an association of high albumin values with a better functional capacity (OR: 0.245 CI: 0.084–0.714 p < 0.010), while another model showed an association between CRP values and decreased functionality (OR: 1.267 CI: 1.007–1.594 p = 0.044). Conclusion: nutritional status and body composition influence on the functional capacity of patients with ACKD. Full article

Nutritional monitoring in advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) units provides personalized care and improves clinical outcomes. This study aimed to identify mortality risk factors in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on nutritional follow-up in the multidisciplinary ACKD unit. A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 307 CKD patients’ stage 3b, 4–5 followed-up for 10 years. Clinical and nutritional monitoring was performed by malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS), biochemical parameters (s-albumin, s-prealbumin, and serum C-reactive protein (s-CRP), body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), anthropometry, and handgrip strength measurements. The sample was classified into non-survivors, survivors, and censored groups. Of the 307 CKD patients, the prevalence of protein-energy wasting (PEW) was 27.0% using MIS > 5 points, s-CRP > 1 mg/dL was 19.20%, and 27.18% died. Survivors had higher significant body cell mass (BCM%) and phase angle (PA). Survival analyses significantly showed that age > 72 years, MIS > 5 points, s-prealbumin ≤ 30 mg/dL, PA ≤ 4°, and gender-adjusted handgrip strength (HGS) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. By univariate and multivariate Cox regression, time on follow-up (HR:0.97), s-prealbumin (HR:0.94), and right handgrip strength (HR:0.96) were independent predictors of mortality risk at 10 years of follow-up in the ACKD unit. Nutritional monitoring in patients with stage 3b, 4–5 CKD helps to identify and treat nutritional risk early and improve adverse mortality prognosis. Full article

Nutritional status is a predictor of adverse outcomes and mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD). This study aimed to explore and evaluate risk factors related to nutritional status, body composition, and inflammatory profile in patients with ACKD compared with age- and sex-matched controls in a Mediterranean cohort of the Spanish population. Out of 200 volunteers recruited, 150 participants (64%) were included, and a case-control study was conducted on 75 ACKD patients (stages 4–5), matched individually with controls at a ratio of 1:1 for both age and sex. At enrolment, demographic, clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory parameters were measured. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was used to assess both body composition and hydration status. ACKD patients had lower body cell mass (BCM%), muscle mass (MM%) phase angle (PA), s-albumin, and higher C-reactive protein (s-CRP) than controls (at least, p < 0.05). PA correlated positively with BCM% (cases: r = 0.84; controls: r = 0.53, p < 0.001), MM% (cases: r = 0.65; controls: r = 0.31, p < 0.001), and inversely with s-CRP (cases: r = −0.30, p < 0.001; controls: r = −0.31, p = 0.40). By univariate and multivariate conditional regression analysis, total body water (OR: 1.186), extracellular mass (OR: 1.346), s-CRP (OR: 2.050), MM% (OR: 0.847), PA (OR: 0.058), and s-albumin (OR: 0.475) were significantly associated among cases to controls. Nutritional parameters and BIA-derived measures appear as prognostic entities in patients with stage 4–5 ACKD compared to matched controls in this Mediterranean cohort. Full article

Sporisorium scitamineum is a biotrophic fungus responsible for sugarcane smut disease. To investigate the key genes involved in S. scitamineum infection, we conducted RNA sequencing of sugarcane sprouts inoculated with S. scitamineum teliospores. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that two co-expressed gene modules, MEdarkturquoise and MEpurple—containing 66 and 208 genes, respectively—were associated with S. scitamineum infection. The genes in these two modules were further studied using Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, pathogen-host interaction (PHI) database BLASTp, and small secreted cysteine-rich proteins (SCRPs) prediction. The top ten hub genes in each module were identified using the Cytohubba plugin. The GO enrichment analysis found that endoplasmic reticulum-related and catabolism-related genes were expressed during S. scitamineum infection. A total of 83 genes had homologs in the PHI database, 62 of which correlated with pathogen virulence. A total of 21 proteins had the characteristics of small secreted cysteine-rich proteins (SCRPs), a common source of fungal effectors. The top ten hub genes in each module were identified, and seven were annotated as Mig1-Mig1 protein, glycosyl hydrolase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, secreted chorismate mutase, collagen, mRNA export factor, and pleckstrin homology domain protein, while the remaining three were unknown. Two SCRPs—SPSC_06609 and SPSC_04676—and three proteins—SPSC_01958, SPSC_02155, and SPSC_00940—identified in the PHI database were also among the top ten hub genes in the MEdarkturquoise and MEpurple modules, suggesting that they may play important roles in S. scitamineum infection. A S. scitamineum infection model was postulated based on current findings. These findings help to deepen the current understanding of early events in S. scitamineum infection. Full article

The extracellular mass/body cell mass ratio (ECM/BCM ratio) is a novel indicator of nutritional and hydration status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to explore the ECM/BCM ratio as a predictor of mortality risk with nutritional-inflammatory markers in HD patients. A prospective observational study was conducted in 90 HD patients (male: 52.2%; DM: 25.60%). Clinical and biochemical parameters [serum albumin, serum C-reactive protein (s-CRP), interleukine-6 (IL-6)] were analysed and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was performed. Protein-energy wasting syndrome (PEW) was diagnosed using malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS). Based on BIA-derived measurements, the ECM/BCM ratio with a cut-off point of 1.20 was used as a PEW-fluid overload indicator. Comorbidity by Charlson index and hospital admissions were measured. Out of 90 HD patients followed up for 36 months, 20 patients (22.22%) died. PEW was observed in 24 survivors (34.28%) and all non-survivors. The ECM/BCM ratio was directly correlated with MIS, s-CRP, Charlson index and hospital admissions but was negatively correlated with phase angle and s-albumin (all, p < 0.001). Values of the ECM/BCM ratio ≥ 1.20 were associated with higher probability of all-cause mortality (p = 0.002). The ECM/BCM ratio ≥ 1.20, IL-6 ≥ 3.1 pg/mL, s-CRP and s-albumin ≥ 3.8 g/dL and Charlson index were significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk in multivariate adjusted analysis. This study demonstrates that the ECM/BCM ratio ≥ 1.20 as a nutritional marker and/or fluid overload indicator had a significant prognostic value of death risk in HD patients. Full article

A specially correlated radially polarized (SCRP) beam with unusual physical properties on propagation in the paraxial regime was introduced and generated recently. In this paper, we extend the paraxial propagation of an SCRP beam to the nonparaxial regime. The closed-form 3 × 3 cross-spectral density matrix of a nonparaxial SCRP beam propagating in free space is derived with the aid of the generalized Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integral. The statistical properties, such as average intensity, degree of polarization, and spectral degree of coherence, are studied comparatively for the nonparaxial SCRP beam and the partially coherent radially polarized (PCRP) beam with a conventional Gaussian–Schell-model correlation function. It is found that the nonparaxial properties of an SCRP beam are strikingly different from those of a PCRP beam. These nonparaxial properties are closely related to the correlation functions and the beam waist width. Our results may find potential applications in beam shaping and optical trapping in nonparaxial systems. Full article