Search Results (600)

Accurate modelling of reflection, transmission, absorption, and emission at material interfaces is essential for infrared imaging, rendering, and the simulation of optical and sensing systems. This need is particularly pronounced across the short-wave to long-wave infrared (SWIR–LWIR) spectrum, where many materials exhibit dispersion- and wavelength-dependent attenuation described by complex refractive indices. In this work, we introduce a unified formulation of the full Fresnel equations that directly incorporates wavelength-dependent complex refractive-index data and provides physically consistent interface behaviour for both dielectrics and conductors. The approach reformulates the classical Fresnel expressions to eliminate sign ambiguities and numerical instabilities, resulting in a stable evaluation across incidence angles and for strongly absorbing materials. We demonstrate the model through spectral-rendering simulations that illustrate realistic reflectance and transmittance behaviour for materials with different infrared optical properties. To assess its suitability for thermal-infrared applications, we also compare the simulated long-wave emission of a heated glass sphere with measurements from a LWIR camera. The agreement between measured and simulated radiometric trends indicates that the proposed formulation offers a practical and physically grounded tool for wavelength-parametric interface modelling in infrared imaging, supporting applications in spectral rendering, synthetic data generation, and infrared system analysis. Full article

Background: Durvalumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor used as consolidation therapy after chemoradiation in unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), can induce immune-related adverse events, among which immune-mediated pneumonitis represents one of the most severe. Differentiating checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) from infectious pneumonia is challenging due to overlapping clinical and radiologic findings. Case presentation: We describe a 67-year-old woman with stage III lung adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and durvalumab, who presented with progressive dyspnea and extensive bilateral ground-glass opacities on CT imaging. Laboratory tests revealed leukopenia and elevated inflammatory markers. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic and antiviral therapy, her condition worsened, requiring high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. Multiplex molecular testing on sputum identified human metapneumovirus (HMPV), while blood cultures and urinary antigens for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila were negative. A pulmonology consultation raised suspicion for severe durvalumab-induced pneumonitis exacerbated by viral infection. High-dose methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) followed by a four-week taper led to gradual clinical and radiologic resolution. Durvalumab was permanently discontinued. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of HMPV-associated pneumonitis in a patient receiving durvalumab. This case highlights the potential synergistic interplay between viral infection and immune checkpoint blockade, resulting in severe lung injury. Comprehensive microbiologic evaluation, including molecular diagnostics, is essential to guide therapy and distinguish infectious from immune-mediated causes. Conclusions: Early recognition of mixed infectious and immune-mediated pneumonitis, and timely corticosteroid therapy are critical to achieving favorable outcomes and preventing irreversible pulmonary damage. Full article

The one-step hybrid forming process is a novel process to fabricate a metal fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) structure with reduced cycle time and cost compared to classical multi-step methods. It is realized by a combined forming tool for both sheet metal and FRP forming to create a hybrid part in only one step. During the forming process, sheet metal pre-coated with an adhesion promoter is joined with the FRP simultaneously. In this work, the crashworthiness and lightweight potential of a hybrid crash management system manufactured with a hybrid forming process were investigated. It includes the experimental behaviors and finite element analysis of glass mat thermoplastics (GMT), as well as aluminum–GMT hybrid structures, under dynamic axial crushing loadings. Beginning with the original geometry of a series aluminum crash management system, the design was optimized for a hybrid forming process, where an aluminum sheet metal part is reinforced by a GMT structure with a ground layer and additional ribs. The forming behavior and fiber filling of the GMT crash box were determined and analyzed as well. Finite element method optimization was used to obtain the optimal geometry of the hybrid crash box with the highest possible specific energy absorption and the utmost homogeneous force level over displacement. A hybrid bumper beam was also developed, along with other necessary connection parts, to join the beam with the crash box and the entire crash management system (CMS) to the vehicle body. The joining technique was determined to be a key factor restricting the lightweight potential of the hybrid CMS. Full article

Leaf area index (LAI) is a pivotal biophysical parameter linking vegetation physiological processes and macro-ecological functions. Accurate large-scale LAI estimation is indispensable for agricultural management, climate change research, and ecosystem modeling. However, existing methods fail to efficiently extract integrated spatial-spectral-temporal features and lack targeted modeling of spatio-temporal dependencies, compromising the accuracy of LAI products. To address this gap, we propose STC-DeepLAINet, a Transformer-GCN hybrid deep learning architecture integrating spatio-temporal correlations via the following three synergistic modules: (1) a 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs)-based spectral-spatial embedding module capturing intrinsic correlations between multi-spectral bands and local spatial features; (2) a spatio-temporal correlation-aware module that models temporal dynamics (by “time periods”) and spatial heterogeneity (by “spatial slices”) simultaneously; (3) a spatio-temporal pattern memory attention module that retrieves historically similar spatio-temporal patterns via an attention-based mechanism to improve inversion accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that STC-DeepLAINet outperforms eight state-of-the-art methods (including traditional machine learning and deep learning networks) in a 500 m resolution LAI inversion task over China. Validated against ground-based measurements, it achieves a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.827 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.718, outperforming the GLASS LAI product. Furthermore, STC-DeepLAINet effectively captures LAI variability across typical vegetation types (e.g., forests and croplands). This work establishes an operational solution for generating large-scale high-precision LAI products, which can provide reliable data support for agricultural yield estimation and ecosystem carbon cycle simulation, while offering a new methodological reference for spatio-temporal correlation modeling in remote sensing inversion. Full article

Objective: This study aims to assess the accuracy of pulmonary nodule detection via MRI compared to the gold standard, CT, in patients with extrathoracic cancer. Materials and Methods: MRI of the chest was performed on oncological patients for staging extrathoracic cancer and subsequently compared to their CT. Only the largest nodule was considered in patients with multiple nodules. Nodule size and malignancy were recorded for each modality, as well as the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD), adenopathy, cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and vertebral fracture. All cases were read by two thoracic radiologists and any discrepancies were resolved by discussion. Results: A total of 154 patients with nodules were identified from 241 participants (mean age: 59 years [18–95]). Average nodule diameter was 11.5 mm (range: 3.9–29.1 mm; SD: 8.1 mm). MRI detected all nodules greater than 5 mm. Malignancy was detected in 37 nodules. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of MRI for all nodules were 93.51%, 100%, and 95.85%, respectively. For ground-glass nodules (n = 11), the values were 43.6%, 100%, and 65.0%, respectively. When compared to CT, long-axis diameter measured by MRI was underestimated by 9 ± 2.3% (p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between measurements of CT and MRI (κ = 0.70–1.00). Furthermore, MRI accurately detected the presence of adenopathy (97.1%), cardiomegaly (99.17%), pleural effusion (98.34%), pericardial effusion (100%), and vertebral fracture (99.6%). Conclusions: These findings suggest that lung MRI accurately detects pulmonary nodules and other thoracic pathologies commonly observed in oncological patients. Lung MRI may serve as a substitute to CT for oncological patients undergoing routine extrathoracic surveillance, thereby decreasing radiation exposure. Full article

Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease characterized by immune-mediated inflammation and variable degrees of fibrosis. Aims: To evaluate the clinical, radiological, and hematological features of patients diagnosed with HP. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: We included 100 patients diagnosed and followed for HP between 2020 and 2024. Demographic characteristics, pulmonary function test results, diffusing capacity, six-minute walk test findings, antigen exposure history, and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The mean age was 63 ± 14 years, with equal sex distribution. Sixty-five percent of patients had identifiable antigen exposure, predominantly related to birds or bird products (86.4%). Surgical lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in 29% of cases. The most common HRCT findings were reticulation (87%), ground-glass opacities (84.7%), and centrilobular nodules (75%); fibrotic features were present in 48% of patients. Glucocorticoids were the main treatment (77%), and antifibrotic therapy was used in 20% of cases. Neutrophil count showed a modest positive correlation with honeycombing (r = 0.27, p = 0.025). Basophil count demonstrated a mild association with bird-related antigen exposure (r = 0.26, p = 0.035). Conclusions: Peripheral neutrophil and basophil counts showed weak but statistically significant associations with fibrotic HRCT features and exposure patterns. These exploratory findings suggest that routinely available hematologic parameters may provide supportive information alongside radiologic and clinical data. Prospective studies are needed to validate their diagnostic and prognostic relevance in HP. Full article

This study emphasizes the role of magnetic separation as a novel pretreatment strategy for the recovery of indium from ITO coatings in LCD screen glass. Previous studies have primarily focused on the magnetic separation of leaching residues. In this work, a reverse approach is proposed, and for the first time, magnetic separation was systematically applied prior to leaching. Our results demonstrate that indium accumulates in the ferromagnetic fraction, indicating its association with Fe-rich phases. In addition to Fe, the behavior of Sr and Si was also evaluated, providing a broader understanding of elemental distribution within LCD glass. This finding offers new insights into the distribution and mobility of indium during hydrometallurgical processing and highlights magnetic separation as a valuable step for improving recovery efficiency. To establish optimal leaching conditions, preliminary experiments were performed on ground LCD glass using sulfuric acid at three concentrations (0.1, 1, and 5 M) and two temperatures (21 °C and 65 °C) for both coarse (>1 mm) and fine (<1 mm) particle fractions. All residues and solid-state analyses were performed using the XRF method. Acid molarity was found to be the dominant factor controlling indium dissolution, with 5 M H₂SO₄ selected as the most effective leaching medium. Statistical evaluation further clarified the dissolution trends of these elements and confirmed the significance of magnetic separation in enhancing the efficiency of indium recovery. Full article

This study examines the feasibility of incorporating cathode-ray tube (CRT) panel glass as a partial replacement of natural aggregate in concrete, aiming to promote sustainable material utilization without compromising structural performance. Nine mixtures were prepared using three cement types—Normal 42.5 N, PC 50M(S-V-L) 42.5 N; Profi 42.5 R, PC 20M(S-L) 42.5 R; and Cement without additions, CEM I 42.5 R—and three CRT contents (0%, 5%, and 10%). A comprehensive experimental program was conducted, including tests on natural aggregates, mortars, and concrete in both fresh and hardened states, as well as flexural testing of reinforced concrete beams, supported by ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and digital image correlation (DIC) measurements. The results revealed that replacing up to 5% of natural aggregate with CRT glass had negligible effects on workability and density while slightly improving compressive and flexural strength. At 10% replacement, a minor reduction in strength and ductility was observed. Durability-related parameters, such as water absorption and carbonation depth, increased slightly but remained within acceptable limits. Flexural tests confirmed that beams with 5% CRT content exhibited comparable load capacity and crack propagation to reference beams. This study represents the first combined application of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) in evaluating reinforced concrete beams with CRT-modified concrete across different cement types. The results showed that incorporating 5% CRT glass increased flexural tensile strength by up to 15% compared with the control mix, confirming both the structural feasibility and sustainability of such composites. Overall, the findings indicate that CRT panel glass can be effectively utilized up to a 5% replacement level, offering both environmental and structural advantages for sustainable concrete production. Based on the experimental results, a replacement level of up to 5% CRT glass is recommended for structural concrete applications under the tested conditions, where CRT particles replaced the 4–8 mm medium aggregate fraction, as it ensures a balance between strength, ductility, and durability. Full article

Background: Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20, has revolutionized the management of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and some immune conditions, significantly improving disease control and patient survival. Beyond its indisputable therapeutic benefits, rituximab can cause serious pulmonary adverse events, particularly interstitial lung disease (R-ILD). Diagnosing R-ILD is challenging due to nonspecific clinical and imagistic features, and its true incidence is possibly underestimated. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to synthesize current evidence on R-ILD, focusing on its incidence, diagnostic approaches, management strategies and clinical outcomes. A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE was performed using the term “rituximab induced interstitial lung disease” through August 2025. Relevant abstracts were screened, and full-text articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Results: A total of 40 studies were retained after the search and screening, including case reports, case series and cohort studies of R-ILD. This condition was identified in both malignant and autoimmune disorders receiving rituximab, more frequently for combination regimens. Radiological manifestations were heterogeneous, and ground-glass opacities were the dominant pattern. Most R-ILD cases were reversible, but progression to chronic interstitial disease and fatal outcomes are possible. Cohort studies demonstrated variability in incidence, reported instances of successful rituximab reintroduction and suggested a protective effect of prophylactic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against opportunistic pneumonitis. Conclusions: Although rare, R-ILD is a clinically significant complication of rituximab therapy. Early recognition and multidisciplinary management are essential, as most patients respond to corticosteroids, while severe cases may progress to respiratory failure or fatal outcomes. Full article

Visual impairment (VI) affects over two billion people globally, with prevalence increasing due to preventable conditions. To address mobility and navigation challenges, this study presents a multi-platform, multi-sensor Electronic Travel Aid (ETA) integrating a combination of ultrasonic, LiDAR, and vision-based sensing across head-, torso-, and cane-mounted nodes. Grounded in orientation and mobility (OM) principles, the system delivers context-aware haptic and auditory feedback to enhance perception and independence for users with VI. The ETA employs a hardware–software co-design approach guided by proxemic theory, comprising three autonomous components—Glasses, Belt, and Cane nodes—each optimized for a distinct spatial zone while maintaining overlap for redundancy. Embedded ESP32 microcontrollers enable low-latency sensor fusion providing real-time multi-modal user feedback. Static and dynamic experiments using a custom-built motion rig evaluated detection accuracy and feedback latency under repeatable laboratory conditions. Results demonstrate millimetre-level accuracy and sub-30 ms proximity-to-feedback latency across all nodes. The Cane node’s dual LiDAR achieved a coefficient of variation at most 0.04%, while the Belt and Glasses nodes maintained mean detection errors below 1%. The validated tri-modal ETA architecture establishes a scalable, resilient framework for safe, real-time navigation—advancing sensory augmentation for individuals with VI. Full article

Coronavirus disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has caused a global health crisis. While RT-PCR remains the gold standard for diagnosis, its limited sensitivity, especially in the early stages, has highlighted the need for complementary diagnostic tools. Among these, [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT has gained attention for its potential role in detecting inflammation and metabolic activity associated with COVID-19. This review aims to provide an overview of current diagnostic techniques for COVID-19 and to explore the application of [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT imaging in the detection and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A comprehensive literature review was conducted on molecular, serological, and imaging-based diagnostic techniques for COVID-19, with a focus on the biological mechanism, clinical applications, and diagnostic performance of [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT in COVID-19 patients. [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT has demonstrated the ability to detect increased metabolic activity in COVID-19 associated pulmonary lesions, particularly ground-glass opacities, often preceding detectable morphological changes on CT. The imaging also revealed uptake in lymph nodes, bone marrow, and extrapulmonary tissues, reflecting systemic inflammation. [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT represents a promising additional tool for the evaluation of inflammation and disease progression in COVID-19. However, further studies are required to define its role, optimize protocols, and assess its risk–benefit profile in the clinical setting. Full article

Diagnosis and treatment of acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (AE-ILD) continue to be challenging. The annual incidence of AE in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is 5% to 15%, with an in-hospital mortality exceeding 50%. Similar annual incidence and mortality rates have been documented in other ILDs. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying AE are not entirely clear, although they could involve an acute injury or inflammatory process in previously affected lung tissue, with histological features of diffuse alveolar damage, similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome. AE-ILD is defined based on the following criteria: acute respiratory worsening within 30 days in a patient with a previous or concurrent diagnosis of ILD accompanied by new bilateral ground-glass abnormalities and/or consolidation on high-resolution computed tomography after ruling out heart failure or fluid overload. Pharmacologic treatments such as corticosteroids, antibiotics, and immunosuppressants have been and continue to be used despite scarce evidence from randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials. Oxygen therapy and ventilatory support are key elements of treatment of AE-ILD. The aim of our article is to provide an updated review on the diagnosis and treatment of AE-ILD and to propose practical algorithms for management. Full article

A promising strategy to mitigate Carbon dioxide emissions involves the addition of finely ground alkaline minerals to activated sludge systems. However, the release of bioactive substances from these minerals alters the microenvironment of the sludge, with the potential to induce shifts in the bacterial community. In this study, the responses of the bacterial communities in an aerobic activated sludge system to two alkaline minerals (olivine and steel slag) were investigated. This study demonstrated that the addition of olivine and steel slag to activated sludge could selectively shape the microbial community structure. The results indicated a higher diversity of the attached bacterial community in the olivine and steel slag group compared to the glass group. Olivine significantly enriched the bacterial genera that were involved in organic matter degradation and denitrification, such as SC-I-84 and Candidatus Competibacter, thereby potentially enhancing the system’s efficiency in removing carbon and nitrogen pollutants, while the steel slag promoted the growth of iron-dependent denitrifying phosphorus-accumulating bacteria including Thermomonas and Arenimonas, thus establishing a microbial consortium with the potential for nitrogen and phosphorus removal in activated sludge systems. These findings provide crucial evidence for developing mineral–microbe synergistic strategies toward carbon capture and low-carbon sewage treatment. Full article

This study examines Phase B of the GREENERGY project focusing on the seismic performance and structural health monitoring of a renovated single-story RC frame with brick masonry infills that received significant strategic structural interventions. The columns were confined with basalt fiber ropes (FR, 4 mm thickness, two layers) in critical regions, the vertical interfaces between infill and concrete were filled with polyurethane PM forming PUFJ (PolyUrethane Flexible Joints), and glass fiber mesh embedded in polyurethane PS was applied as FRPU (Fiber Reinforced PolyUrethane) jacket on the infills. Further, greenery renovations included the attachment of five double-stack concrete planters (each weighing 153 kg) with different support-anchoring configurations and of eight steel frame constructions (40 kg/m²) simulating vertical living walls (VLW) with eight different connection methods. The specimen was subjected to progressively increasing earthquake excitation based on the Thessaloniki 1978 earthquake record with peak ground acceleration ranging from EQ0.07 g to EQ1.40 g. Comprehensive instrumentation included twelve accelerometers, eight draw wire sensors, twenty-two strain gauges, and a network of sixty-one PZTs utilizing the EMI (Electromechanical Impedance) technique. Results demonstrated that the structure sustained extremely high displacement drift levels of 2.62% at EQ1.40 g while maintaining structural integrity and avoiding collapse. The PUFJ and FRPU systems maintained their integrity throughout all excitations, with limited FRPU fracture only locally at extreme crushing zones of two opposite bottom bricks. Columns’ longitudinal reinforcement entered yielding and strain hardening at top and bottom critical regions provided the FR confinement. VLW frames exhibited equally remarkably resilient performance, avoiding collapse despite local anchor degradation in some investigated cases. The planter performance varied significantly, yet avoiding overturning in all cases. Steel rod anchored planter demonstrated superior performance while simply supported configurations on polyurethane pads exhibited significant rocking and base sliding displacement of ±4 cm at maximum intensity. PZT structural health monitoring (SHM) sensors successfully tracked damage progression. RMSD indices of PZT recordings provided quantifiable damage assessment. Elevated RMSD values corresponded well to visually observed local damages while lower RMSD values in columns 1 and 2 compared with columns 3 and 4 suggested that basalt rope wrapping together with PUFJ and FRPU jacketed infills in two directions could restrict concrete core disintegration more effectively. The experiments validate the advanced structural interventions and vertical forest renovations, ensuring human life protection during successive extreme EQ excitations of deficient existing building stock. Full article

We briefly review the early development of the mean-field dynamics for cooperatively interacting quantum many-body systems, mapped to pseudo-spin (Ising-like) systems. We start with (Anderson, 1958) pseudo-spin mapping the BCS (1957) Hamiltonian of superconductivity, reducing it to a mean-field Hamiltonian of the XY (or effectively Ising) model in a transverse field. Then, we obtain the mean-field estimate for the equilibrium gap in the ground-state energy at different temperatures (gap disappearing at the transition temperature), which fits Landau’s (1949) phenomenological theory of superfluidity. We then present in detail a general dynamical extension (for non-equilibrium cases) of the mean-field theory of quantum Ising systems (in a transverse field), following de Gennes’ (1963) decomposition of the mean field into the orthogonal classical cooperative (longitudinal) component and the quantum (transverse) component, with each of the component following Suzuki–Kubo (1968) mean-field dynamics. Next, we discuss its applications to quantum hysteresis in Ising magnets (in the presence of an oscillating transverse field), to quantum heat engines (employing the transverse Ising model as a working fluid), and to the quantum annealing of the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick (1975) spin glass by tuning down (to zero) the transverse field, which provides us with a very fast computational algorithm, leading to ground-state energy values converging to the best-known analytic estimate for the model. Finally, we summarize the main results obtained and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the de Gennes–Suzuki–Kubo mean-field equations for the study of various dynamical aspects of quantum condensed matter systems. Full article