Search Results (203)

This study presents a multidisciplinary investigation of the archeological site of Iuvanum (Abruzzo, central Italy), integrating geophysics, geomatics, architectural analysis and archeology with the purpose of exploring the relationship between surface remains and buried structures of archeological value. This research focuses on the area covering part of the forum and part of the basilica, where ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted to detect subsurface anomalies potentially associated with unexcavated architectural features. GPR line scans were acquired under complex topographic conditions, processed, and assembled into a three-dimensional representation, from which volumes of interest (VOIs) were extracted. These geophysical results were integrated into a comprehensive three-dimensional framework together with high-resolution UAV photogrammetry, digital elevation models, orthophotos and a virtual architectural model (VAM) of the site. The integrated visualization environment greatly facilitates the recognition of spatial relations between the detected anomalies and the hypothesized architectural elements. The observed GPR anomalies confirmed wall remains that were initially speculated or located along their geometrical continuation. Pavement levels, as well as some structures asymmetrical with respect to the purely geometric reconstruction, were also identified. This study demonstrates how integrating GPR with geomatic and archeological approaches improves the reliability and interpretative depth of non-invasive archeological prospecting. The proposed workflow provides a reproducible methodological framework propedeutical to excavation planning and suitable for the integration of information from multi-data sensors. Full article

Rolling-horizon energy management systems (EMSs) and model predictive control (MPC) for microgrids in smart cities face a fundamental trade-off: finer temporal discretization improves operational performance but rapidly increases the size of the optimization problem and execution time, jeopardizing real-time feasibility. Furthermore, in short-horizon operation, only the first control actions are implemented, while long-horizon decisions primarily guide feasibility and constraints. This paper proposes a computation-aware temporal mesh design layer that jointly selects a variable granularity of blocks and an optimization horizon, explicitly bounded by market-aligned settlement steps and per-cycle computation budgets. Candidate configurations are represented as pairs ⟨B, H⟩, where B is a constant-step block programme, and H is the optimization horizon, and they are uniquely tracked through an auditable mesh signature. The method first evaluates a predefined, market-consistent set of solutions ⟨B, H⟩ to establish reproducible cost and execution-time benchmarks, then applies a greedy value-of-information (Greedy-VoI) search that generates valid neighbouring meshes through local refinement, thickening, and resolution reallocation without violating the basic requirements that every solution must meet. All candidates are evaluated using the same microgrid use case and the same comparative KPIs, enabling the systematic identification of near-optimal mesh–horizon designs for practical EMS implementation. Full article

Space–Air–Ground–Sea Integrated Networks (SAGSINs) are emerging as a key enabling architecture for broadband maritime connectivity, where heterogeneous access tiers (shore, aerial, and satellite) jointly support delay-sensitive and mission-critical uplink traffic such as alarms, telemetry, and surveillance video. However, uplink resource scheduling in maritime SAGSINs remains challenging due to time-varying channels, locally bursty traffic, and intense contention, while centralized optimization is ill-suited, as global information collection is often delayed, incomplete, and inconsistent over long-haul maritime links. Therefore, this paper investigates distributed uplink scheduling in maritime SAGSINs, where maritime nodes jointly select the access tier, spectrum slice, and transmit power under interference, spectrum, deadline, and energy constraints. Specifically, we formulate the uplink resource scheduling as a cumulative value of information (VoI) maximization problem, and develop a game-theoretic distributed multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm, termed GTMARL. Therein, maritime nodes learn transmission policies from local observations, coordinated through congestion prices broadcast by access nodes. These prices are derived from Lagrangian relaxation and act as coordination signals that align individual decisions with global objectives. To ensure stable operation, a two-timescale mechanism is adopted, where maritime nodes make fast slot-level transmission decisions, while access nodes adapt and broadcast congestion prices on a slower timescale. Extensive experiments demonstrate that GTMARL achieves up to 90% of the idealized upper bound, significantly outperforming baselines in deadline satisfaction, throughput, delay, energy efficiency and fairness under varying traffic loads and network densities. Full article

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) play a central role in marine observation, inspection, and monitoring missions, where effective trajectory planning is essential for ensuring safe operation, reliable sensing, and efficient data transfer. In realistic underwater environments, uneven seafloor geometry, limited acoustic communication, navigation uncertainty, and sensing visibility constraints significantly influence mission performance and challenge classical planar planning formulations. This survey reviews trajectory planning methods for AUVs operating in uneven environments, with a focus on two major classes of underwater sensing missions: underwater area coverage using onboard sensors and underwater sensor data collection within underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) supporting the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT). For area coverage, the survey examines the progression from classical planar coverage strategies to terrain-aware, occlusion-aware, multi-AUV, and online planning frameworks designed to address uneven terrain and sensing visibility. For underwater sensor data collection, it reviews mobile sink-based trajectory planning strategies, including energy-aware, channel-aware, and information-based formulations based on metrics such as Age of Information (AoI) and Value of Information (VoI), as well as cooperative architectures involving unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). By synthesizing these two bodies of literature, the survey clarifies current capabilities and limitations of trajectory planning methods for AUVs operating in uneven underwater environments. Full article

This study explored radiomic features that help identify non-contrast-enhancing tumors (nCET) by analyzing regions where contrast-enhancing tumors (CET) transformed into nCET after Bevacizumab (BEV) treatment. The BEV cohort included 24 recurrent GBM (rGBM) patients treated with BEV, showing reduced contrast-enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (T1Gd) imaging. The 11C-methionine positron emission tomography (Met-PET) cohort consisted of 24 newly diagnosed GBM (nGBM) patients with available Met-PET data. VOIs were created from T2WI, FLAIR, T1Gd, and Met-PET to analyze nCET and T2/FLAIR lesions. After significant radiomic features were identified, a prediction model for nCET was developed in the BEV cohort and subsequently evaluated in the Met-PET cohort. A total of 37 and 46 significant radiomic features were found in the BEV and Met-PET cohorts, respectively. The key feature, T2WI_whole_GLCMcorrelation_1, was selected for predictive modeling. The model demonstrated high accuracy (AUC = 0.93, p < 0.0001) in the BEV cohort, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.91, while the Met-PET cohort showed moderate accuracy (AUC = 0.74, p = 0.0053). Image reconstruction using these features also effectively visualized nCET in nGBM. These findings suggest that radiomic features in CET regions transforming to nCET after BEV treatment harbors valuable information for identifying nCET in GBM. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mueller–Weiss syndrome (MWS) is a rare condition characterized by spontaneous adult-onset osteonecrosis of the navicular bone. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of quantitative and semi-quantitative standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements on Tc-99m MDP SPECT/CT for differentiating MWS from other foot pathologies. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 21 MWS patients who underwent SPECT/CT and compared them with 10 feet from 5 non-MWS patients as controls. MWS severity was staged using the Maceira classification. Volumes of interest (VOIs) were defined in the lateral navicular and distal tibia. SUV_max values were measured for the navicular bone (N), tibial metaphysis (Tm), and diaphysis (Td). Uptake ratios (N/Tm and N/Td) were calculated for semi-quantitative comparison. Results: MWS patients showed significantly higher SUV_max in the navicular compared with controls (9.2 vs. 1.5, p < 0.001). Both N/Tm and N/Td ratios were also significantly elevated (p < 0.001). SUV_max and uptake ratios positively correlated with Maceira stage and visual navicular uptake intensity. Diagnostic thresholds of N SUV_max > 3.77 (AUC = 0.93), N/Tm > 1.139 (AUC = 0.95), and N/Td > 0.93 (AUC = 0.93) effectively distinguished MWS from non-MWS cases. Conclusions: Quantitative and semi-quantitative SUV analysis on SPECT/CT offers a reliable tool for diagnosing MWS and evaluating disease severity. Semi-quantitative ratios, by normalizing metabolic variability, provide a practical and reproducible alternative to absolute SUV measurements for early detection and treatment planning in MWS. Full article

Breastfeeding is a renewable biological system that simultaneously advances human, environmental, and societal health. Human milk provides unparalleled nutrition and immunological protection, improving infant survival, neurodevelopment, and long-term metabolic outcomes, while reducing maternal risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, and despite decades of evidence, only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed worldwide, and breastfeeding remains absent from most sustainability and One Health strategies. This narrative review synthesizes evidence demonstrating that breastfeeding functions as a low-carbon, zero-waste food system that avoids greenhouse gas emissions, land conversion, water consumption, and biodiversity loss linked to commercial milk formula production. At the societal level, breastfeeding reduces health-system costs, strengthens emergency resilience when supply chains fail, and generates long-term economic returns. By integrating evidence across human health, environmental impact and social determinants, this review positions breastfeeding as a strategic One Health intervention and a high-value investment for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Strengthening policy support—including protection against formula marketing, workplace accommodations, and expansion of baby-friendly systems—is essential to unlock breastfeeding’s potential for planetary and public health. Full article

SARS-CoV-2 evolution in persistent infection, which may induce long COVID-19, is predominantly manifested in immunocompromised hosts, who act as the viral reservoirs for future outbreaks. Therefore, understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of novel variants that can evade preexisting immune responses is critical to guide public health measures and develop vaccines tailored for vulnerable populations. We used next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic methods to delineate the evolutionary and mutational profiles of SARS-CoV-2 variants using serial oropharyngeal swab samples from 5 individuals with persistent infections. Our results revealed that the intra-host evolutionary patterns of different variants varied significantly, and the evolutionary rate in 3 immunocompromised hosts was 20 times higher than in 2 other patients. These variations likely stem from differences in immune suppression status, the strength of preexisting immune responses, and the extent of error-generating mutations. There were 15 intra-host single-nucleotide variants (iSNVs) in the spike gene among at least two variants, suggesting convergent evolution. Although most new iSNVs do not reach fixation, some of them belong to lineage-defined mutations in variants of concern (VOCs) and recent variants of interest (VOIs). The observations indicate that persistent infections serve as sources for novel, potentially harmful variants, whereas the viral evolutionary dynamics are impacted by virological, immunological, and genetic factors. Thus, there is an urgent need for individualized monitoring and management of immunocompromised hosts to prevent outbreaks caused by the viral seeds generated from them and to study viral factors associated with post-acute COVID-19 sequelae. Full article

Canine otitis externa (OE) presents a significant challenge in veterinary medicine due to its complex, multifactorial nature and the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with conventional antibiotic use. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a novel, antibiotic-free topical ear solution (Therapy A) containing antimicrobial peptides and encapsulated plant extracts (chamomile, calendula, rosemary, and hops) against a standard conventional treatment (Therapy B) composed of gentamicin, betamethasone valerate, and clotrimazole. A longitudinal, randomized study was conducted over four weeks with 40 domestic dogs diagnosed with OE. The dogs were divided into two groups, each receiving one of the therapies. Evaluations were performed weekly, assessing clinical signs using the Otitis Index Scoring System (OTIS-3) and a pruritus visual analog scale (pVAS), as well as ear canal pH and cytology. The results showed that Therapy A provided similar clinical efficacy in OTIS-3 and pVAS scores that were comparable to Therapy B. Cytological analysis also revealed a significant reduction in microbial presence for both groups. Notably, Therapy A was clinically effective in two of the three dogs presenting multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. The novel formulation also demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with no adverse drug reactions reported, in contrast to one dog in the conventional treatment group that experienced an adverse reaction. These findings suggest that the plant-based formulation is a safe and effective alternative for managing canine OE, offering a promising solution to reduce the reliance on antibiotics and corticosteroids. Full article

Background/Objectives: Methionine (MET) positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) imaging provide complementary glioma assessment. This study compared MET and CBV across glioma subtypes defined by the 2021 World Health Organization Classification. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 106 patients (mean age 41.9 ± 12.4 years; 57 males) with MRI non-contrast-enhanced gliomas: 21 glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype (G); 50 astrocytoma, IDH-mutant (A); and 35 oligodendrogliomas, IDH-mutant, and 1p/19q-codeleted (O). Relative CBVs (rCBVs) were measured in VOI-T2 and VOI-MET, and the MET tumor-to-normal (T/N) ratio was calculated. Results: MET and rCBV were significantly correlated (r = 0.5, p < 0.001); rCBV was higher in MET-positive tumors and predicted MET accumulation (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72, cutoff = 2.99). In VOI-T2, rCBV and MET T/N ratio were the highest in G and lowest in A (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed no overall significant difference between MET and rCBV for differentiating G/A/O, but rCBV trended toward higher AUC values in key distinctions, such as G (0.736 vs. 0.612) or grade 4 (0.718 vs. 0.617). The increase in rCBV within the MET-positive region (VOI-MET/VOI-T2 rCBV ratio) was significantly higher in A (119.8%, p = 0.002) than in the other groups (p = 0.01). Conclusions: rCBV differentiated glioma subtype with accuracy comparable to MET and could predict MET accumulation. However, its reliability for identifying MET-positive regions varied by subtype, being useful in A but limited in O. Recognizing these subtype-specific differences, rCBV can serve as a practical tool for evaluating non-contrast-enhanced gliomas. Full article

This paper explores the application of the Value of Information, (VoI), based on the Claude Shannon/Ruslan Stratonovich framework within economic contexts. Unlike previous studies that examine circular settings and strategic interactions, we focus on a non-strategic linear setting. We employ standard economically motivated utility functions, including linear, quadratic, constant absolute risk aversion (CARA), and constant relative risk aversion (CRRA), across various priors of the stochastic environment, and analyse the resulting specific VoI forms. The curvature of these VoI functions play a decisive role in determining whether acquiring additional costly information enhances the efficiency of the decision making process. We also outline potential implications for broader decision-making frameworks. Full article

COVID-19 has triggered the rapid adoption of human organoid-based tissue culture models to overcome the limitations of the commonly used Vero cell line that did not fully recapitulate SARS-CoV-2 infection of human tissues. As the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the human nasal epithelium (HNE) cultivated in vitro and differentiated at air–liquid interface (ALI) is an ideal model to study infection processes and for testing anti-viral antibodies and drugs. However, the need for primary basal cells to establish the ALI-HNE limits the scalability of this model system. To try and bypass this bottleneck, we devised an ALI-differentiated form of the human adenocarcinoma cell line Calu-3, reported to model most aspects of authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection, including viral entry. The ALI-Calu-3 were tested for infection by a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including ancestral (VIC01) and early pandemic lineages (VIC2089, Beta, Delta), and Omicron subvariants (BA2.75, BA4, BA5, XBB1.5). All tested lineages infected the ALI-HNE. In stark contrast, infection of the ALI-Calu-3 by Omicron subvariants BA4 and XBB1.5 was reduced. These data support the use of ALI-Calu-3 as a complementary, intermediary model for most but not all SARS-CoV-2 lineages, and places the ALI-HNE as the benchmark culture model for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Full article

Accurate forest biomass estimation is essential for quantifying carbon stocks, guiding sustainable forest management, and informing climate change mitigation strategies. Kenya’s forests are diverse, ranging from Afromontane and mangrove ecosystems to dryland woodlands and plantations, each presenting unique challenges for biomass measurement. This review synthesizes literature on field-based, remote sensing, and machine learning approaches applied in Kenya, highlighting their effectiveness, limitations, and integration potential. A systematic search across multiple databases identified peer-reviewed studies published in the last decade, screened against defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The main findings are (1) Field-based techniques (e.g., allometric equations, quadrat sampling) provide reliable and site-specific estimates but are labor-intensive and limited in scalability. (2) Remote sensing methods (LiDAR, UAVs, multispectral and radar imagery) enable large-scale and repeat assessments, though they require extensive calibration and investment. (3) Machine learning and hybrid approaches enhance prediction accuracy by integrating multi-source data, but their success depends on data availability and methodological harmonization. This review identifies opportunities for integrating field and remote sensing data with machine learning to strengthen biomass monitoring. Establishing a national biomass inventory, supported by robust policy frameworks, is critical to align Kenya’s forest management with global climate and biodiversity goals. Full article

The lithium–pilocarpine rat model of status epilepticus (SE) is a well-established paradigm for studying epileptogenesis. Astrocyte reactivity has been implicated in modulating seizure susceptibility and neuroinflammation, yet its functional role in early epileptogenesis remains unclear. Herein, we evaluated the effects of Mdivi-1, a pharmacological inhibitor of mitochondrial fission protein Drp1, for its ability to modulate astrocytic mitochondrial dynamics and for its reported preventive neuroprotective properties. Mdivi-1 was administered shortly after SE onset, and we assessed brain glucose metabolism using [¹⁸F]FDG PET, alongside histological markers of neurodegeneration, astrocyte reactivity, and microglial activation, at 3 days post-SE. As expected, SE induced widespread brain hypometabolism measured by a VOI analysis, hippocampal neurodegeneration, and glial activation. Post-SE Mdivi-1 administration reduced hippocampal astrogliosis but neither conferred neuroprotection nor rescued glucose metabolism. On the contrary, Mdivi-1 exacerbated limbic–cortical hypometabolism when evaluated by SPM and normalized to whole brain tracer uptake and microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. These findings challenge the assumption that early astrocyte inhibition confers neuroprotection. Furthermore, early suppression of astrocyte reactivity after the damage has occurred may shift the neuroinflammatory response toward maladaptive microglial activation. Thus, while Mdivi-1 holds promise as a preventive neuroprotective agent, its use post-SE may have unintended adverse effects on the brain’s response to SE. Full article

Background: The normal pattern of nipple enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is defined based on healthy individuals, as it correlates with the structural anatomy of the nipple–areola complex (NAC). Understanding the normal range of nipple morphology and enhancement on MRI allows radiologists to better identify abnormalities. Some authors have previously detailed the morphology and characteristics of nipple–areola complex enhancement, both in normal and pathologically infiltrating conditions. Our aim is to present a case series involving a population of women with breast cancer infiltrating the NAC, retrospectively evaluated at our institution. Furthermore, based on previously published literature and our own experience, we intend to propose potential standardized language to describe tumor-infiltrating NAC enhancement on MRI and compare it with CT and PET findings. Methods: Our study included 110 breast cancer patients with NAC infiltration, who were referred to our hospital from August 2023 to July 2024. All patients were candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and therefore underwent MRI and CT; 33 of them also underwent PET/CT. We distinguished the MRI enhancement pattern based on morphology and intensity. There were three types of morphology: SLE (superficial linear enhancement) at the skin level, NEZ (non-enhancing area immediately below the SLE), and INE (nipple enhancement below the NEZ but above the nipple base). In INE, the pattern could be linear or patchy. Depending on the intensity, the enhancement could be minimal, mild, moderate, or marked. The enhancement on CT depended on the distribution of pathological tissue in the infiltrated NAC and could be present or absent; it could involve the nipple base, the nipple body, or both. For quantitative analysis, we used the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) measured in early-stage PET/CT images, obtained by delineating a three-dimensional volume of interest (VOI) on the NAC. Results: In our population, the most represented enhancement pattern was INE (110), while slightly less than half of the patients showed invasion of the NEZ (49). Approximately one quarter of the patients presented linear ductal INE (36), while the majority presented patchy INE (74). On CT and PET/CT, NAC enhancement was detectable in almost all patients (102), mainly involving the base and the body together. Correlation analysis in the following pairs of variables showed a high association, with a Kendall’s tau value greater than 0.7 (p < 0.001): (1) involvement of the NEZ on ce-MR and pattern of nipple involvement on ce-CT (CT score); (2) morphological pattern of INE on ce-MR (INE score) and intensity of INE enhancement on MR; and (3) pattern of nipple involvement on ce-CT (CT score) and intensity of INE enhancement on MR. The calculated mean SUV of pathological NACs on PET/CT for early-stage images was 3.59, while the mean SUV of contralateral normal NACs was 2.12. The calculated mean NAC-SUV ratio was 1.7. Conclusions: Although pathological involvement of the NAC cannot always be assessed in the final surgical specimen due to the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, so the “gold standard” of histological reference is missing, MRI and CT with morphology and enhancement descriptors, and additionally PET/CT with SUV measurement can, in our opinion, provide valuable information on the infiltrated nipple. Standardized language for describing breast tumors infiltrating the NAC is desirable to ensure consistent interpretation across different radiologists. Full article