Search Results (5,344)

In this study, we present and analyze a fully optically transparent four-port ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna intended for MIMO applications. The antenna’s design is thoroughly described and extensively analyzed, focusing on current distributions across its structure, with all behavioral parameters explained. The proposed antenna design has been validated with both simulations and measurements. The antenna demonstrates excellent performance in terms of port matching, isolation, and efficiency, achieving an efficiency of 40%, which is impressive compared to optically transparent antennas in the literature. The radiation characteristics exhibit peak gains up to 4 dB with stable, symmetric, and linear polarized patterns maintained across the entire UWB range. Regarding diversity performance, the antenna displays outstanding behavior with an envelope correlation coefficient of less than 0.0016 and a diversity gain around 10 dB across the entire operating band. The antenna’s exceptional performance along with its optical transparency makes it suitable for various applications, such as medical non-invasive devices that can be easily integrated into glasses without obstructing vision. It can also be combined with solar cells for energy harvesting and communication purposes. Additionally, its structure is suitable for vehicular settings and can be seamlessly integrated into vehicle mirrors or windows. Full article

High platelet reactivity (HPR) in patients with coronary artery disease receiving P2Y12 inhibitors increases ischemic risk. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an established contributor to HPR during clopidogrel therapy. The objective of the study was to assess whether CKD influences platelet reactivity (PR) in patients treated with clopidogrel or ticagrelor. This double-blind, double-dummy study enrolled 106 stable patients more than one year after an acute coronary syndrome, with or without CKD. Participants were matched by age and sex and randomized to clopidogrel or ticagrelor. PR was measured using the VerifyNow™ P2Y12 assay, and HPR was defined as P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) ≥ 208. Median glomerular filtration rates were 80 mL/min/1.73 m² in non-CKD patients and 41 mL/min/1.73 m² in CKD patients (p < 0.01). Ticagrelor produced similarly low PR in both groups (36 vs. 35 PRU; p = 0.61). Clopidogrel resulted in a numerically higher PR in CKD patients (209 vs. 180 PRU; p = 0.07). The magnitude of PR reduction with ticagrelor relative to clopidogrel was greater in CKD patients (p-interaction = 0.09). HPR was markedly more common with clopidogrel, particularly in CKD (difference 37%; adjusted OR 4.42; p = 0.01). In conclusion, CKD significantly impairs clopidogrel responsiveness but does not affect ticagrelor, resulting in a greater relative advantage of ticagrelor in patients with CKD. Full article

Non-contact monitoring of human vital signs using microwave radar has attracted increasing attention due to its capability to operate unobtrusively and through clothing or light obstacles. In vector network analyzer (VNA)-based radar systems, vital signs can be extracted from phase variations in the forward transmission coefficient $S_{21}$, whose sensitivity strongly depends on the electromagnetic performance of the antenna system. This work presents the design, optimization, fabrication, and experimental validation of a high-gain 12 GHz 4 × 4 microstrip patch antenna array specifically developed for phase-based vital signs monitoring. The antenna array was progressively optimized through coaxial feeding, slot-based impedance control, stepped transmission line matching, and mitered bends, achieving a simulated gain of 17.8 dBi, a measured gain of 17.06 dBi, a reflection coefficient of −26 dB at 12 GHz, and a total efficiency close to 74%. The antenna performance was experimentally validated in an anechoic chamber and subsequently integrated into a continuous-wave VNA-based radar system. Comparative measurements were conducted against a commercial biconical antenna, a single patch radiator, and an MIMO antenna under identical conditions. Results demonstrate that while respiration can be detected with moderate-gain antennas, reliable heartbeat detection requires high-gain, narrow-beam antennas to enhance phase sensitivity and suppress environmental clutter. The proposed array significantly improves pulse detectability in the (1–1.5) Hz band without relying on advanced signal processing. These findings highlight the critical role of antenna design in $S_{21}$-based biomedical radar systems and provide practical design guidelines for high-sensitivity non-contact vital signs monitoring. Full article

This review examines and hypothesizes cytoprotection as a conceptual therapeutic criterion for antiarrhythmic drugs, referring to the possibility of suppressing arrhythmias while avoiding adverse electrophysiological or systemic effects. Toward a theoretically complete cytoprotective profile—preserving benefits and eliminating toxicity—the criterion was the degree of counteraction of arrhythmias (i.e., bradycardia, tachycardia, atrioventricular (AV) block, ventricular tachycardia (VT), ST-segment changes, prolonged P, PR, QRS, and QT/QTc intervals, and repolarization). Conventional and new antiarrhythmics share class I–IV ≈ partial cytoprotection/narrow range; late INa inhibitors, IKs enhancers, RyR2 stabilizers, gap junction modulators, and atrial-selective antiarrhythmics ≈ partial cytoprotection/more extended range. Still predominantly in preclinical models, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, in the clinic, has not demonstrated adverse effects in available human trials (non-cardiac) to date. As a prominent cytoprotection mediator (LD1 not achieved in toxicology studies), it demonstrates well-matched cytoprotective–antiarrhythmic effects, BPC 157 ≈ full cytoprotection/wide-range homeostasis. In vivo, this was across models of hypo-/hyperkalemia, hypermagnesemia, ischemia–reperfusion, myocardial infarction, drug-induced arrhythmias (including local anesthetics), and vascular occlusion. BPC 157 restores sinus rhythm, normalizes P/QRS/QT intervals, prevents AV block, suppresses VT, attenuates ST-segment changes, and stabilizes heart rate, even when insults are advanced. In vitro, HEK293 studies confirm direct membrane-stabilizing actions: BPC 157 prevents hypokalemia-induced hyperpolarization, reduces hyperkalemia- and hypermagnesemia-induced depolarization, and mitigates local anesthetic-induced Na⁺/Ca²⁺ dysregulation, reflecting bidirectional homeostatic modulation of membrane potential. Thus, to confirm the hypothesis, these BPC 157 conditional, not constitutive effects, in rodent models or in vitro systems (HEK293 cells), mandate expansion of now limited clinical data and mechanisms in human investigated as a translational cytoprotective strategy for complex arrhythmias. Full article

Title block compliance checking requires interpreting irregular tabular layouts and reporting structural inconsistencies, not only extracting metadata. This paper introduces a user-in-the-loop, template-based method that leverages a graphical annotation workflow to encode title block structure as a hierarchical annotation graph combining detected primitives (cells/text) with user-defined semantic entities (key–value pairs, tables, headers). The resulting template is matched onto target title blocks using relative positional constraints and category-specific rules that distinguish acceptable variability from non-compliance (e.g., variable-size tables versus missing fields). The system outputs extracted key–value information and localized warning logs for end-user correction. On a real industrial example from the nuclear domain, the approach achieves 98–99% compliant annotation matching and 84% accuracy in flagging structural/content deviations, while remaining tolerant to moderate layout changes. Limitations and extensions are discussed, including support for additional fields, improved key similarity metrics, operational deployment with integrated feedback and broader benchmarking. Full article

UV-C LED systems have emerged as a chemical-free alternative to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) mist-based technologies. This study assesses the sporicidal efficacy of a UV-C LED HLD system under clinically relevant conditions using performance qualification (PQ) and compares its outcomes with two established H₂O₂ mist devices. The effectiveness of Lumicare ONE^® UV-C LED system and two H₂O₂ mist systems (trophon^® EPR and trophon^®2) in achieving a 6 log₁₀ reduction was evaluated using Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores as challenge test. Tests were conducted under three conditions: bare-metal non-flamed, bare-metal flamed, and packaged (glassine or Tyvek^®), with indicators positioned at both upper and lower chamber locations. AOAC 966.04 carrier tests using bacterial spores were also performed to confirm log-reduction performance. Under clinically representative bare-metal conditions, both non-flamed and flamed, Lumicare ONE achieved complete sporicidal efficacy at all chamber positions, matching the performance of the H₂O₂ mist systems. Under non-relevant (packaged) conditions, only the H₂O₂ systems passed the test, which is consistent with packaging materials that allowed H₂O₂ penetration, but blocked UV-C. AOAC carrier testing confirmed > 6 log₁₀ reductions following a 90 s UV-C cycle. Overall, when evaluated using appropriate PQ criteria, the UV-C LED system delivered efficacy equivalent to H₂O₂ systems while providing a fast and chemical-free HLD option for semi-critical probes. Full article

Background: Accurate detection of cervical lymph node metastases is a critical determinant of prognosis and treatment planning in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Although ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (USgFNAB) is widely used as a minimally invasive diagnostic tool, its sensitivity for detecting occult metastases remains limited. Current preoperative staging modalities are further constrained by operator dependency and suboptimal specificity in early-stage disease. Integration of molecular diagnostics, particularly the analysis of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), represents a promising strategy to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Objective: This review synthesizes the current evidence on lncRNA expression profiles in HNSCC, with an emphasis on their association with lymph node metastasis and potential application in FNAB-derived material for pre-treatment staging. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted, focusing on studies evaluating lncRNA expression profiles in HNSCC and their relevance to lymph node metastasis, with a particular focus on the feasibility of analysis of USgFNAB samples. Results: Multiple lncRNAs, including HOTAIR, MALAT1, UCA1, TUG1, AFAP1-AS1, H19, MEG3, and ADAMTS9-AS2, have been implicated in metastatic progression through their involvement in diverse mechanisms such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, chromatin remodeling, angiogenesis, and pre-metastatic niche formation. Elevated expression of several of these transcripts correlates with adverse clinicopathological features, including advanced tumor stage, extranodal extension, and reduced survival. However, no studies have profiled lncRNA expression in matched primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes, and transcriptomic analysis of FNAB samples remains largely unexplored in HNSCC. Conclusions: lncRNAs represent promising molecular biomarkers for enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of USgFNAB in detecting occult cervical metastases. Future research should prioritize paired tumor–node lncRNA profiling, validation of FNAB-based molecular assays, and integration of multi-omics data for predictive modeling. Overall, integrating lncRNA analysis into ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy may enhance the detection of occult nodal metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and support more accurate nodal staging in clinically node-negative patients. Full article

The widespread panzootic of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 necessitates the development of vaccine platforms capable of rapid adaptation to emerging antigenic variants. Although commercial recombinant turkey herpesvirus (rHVT) vaccines are available, they often utilize heterologous inserts that may fail to optimally limit viral shedding of novel field strains. Here, we report the rapid construction of a homologous rHVT-H5 vaccine expressing the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of a representative clade 2.3.4.4b isolate via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). In vitro characterization confirmed stable HA surface expression and growth kinetics comparable to the parental virus. In specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, rHVT-H5 elicited robust hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers. Following lethal challenge with a homologous clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus, the vaccine conferred 100% protection against mortality and clinical signs while significantly reduced oropharyngeal sheddings and completely inhibited viral shedding in cloacal samples. These findings demonstrate that an antigenically matched rHVT-H5 constitutes a promising strategy for mitigating the ongoing global threat posed by clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1. Full article

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is characterized by profound genomic instability and spatial heterogeneity. Liquid biopsy, utilizing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), offers a non-invasive approach to capture the comprehensive mutational landscape of the disease. This pilot study evaluated the concordance of genomic alterations between cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and matched tumor tissue in patients with HGSOC. Twelve patients with HGSOC undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery were enrolled. Using the Macrogen^® Axen™ Cancer Panel 2 with unique molecular identifier (UMI) technology for error suppression, we achieved a theoretical limit of detection of ~0.36% VAF. The mean cfDNA concentration was 107.3 ng/mL, showing a significant positive correlation with FIGO stage (p = 0.016). While the sensitivity of cfDNA to detect tissue-confirmed mutations was 57.6%, the overall gene-level concordance was 95.3%, largely driven by negative agreement in wild-type genes. Liquid biopsy revealed a significantly broader mutational spectrum (mean 9.67 alterations/patient) compared to tissue (5.50/patient). Crucially, concordant mutations exhibited high variant allele frequencies (VAFs) (mean 41.4%), whereas plasma-unique discordant mutations showed significantly lower VAFs (mean 7.31%, p < 0.001). These preliminary findings suggest that while tissue biopsy likely reflects the dominant clonal population, liquid biopsy may serve as a potential molecular mirror, capturing subclonal variants from spatially distinct metastatic sites and hypoxic niches. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between various anthropometric measurements (Body Mass Index (BMI), Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUNBAE), hip and waist circumference (WC), weight, and height) and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) according to menopausal status. Methods: A total of 113 TNBC cases and 226 matched controls from the MCC-Spain study were included. Controls were matched by age, educational level, family history, and province. Conditional logistic regression models, stratified by menopausal status, were used to estimate adjusted Odds Ratios (aORs) and their 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) for the association between anthropometric measures and TNBC risk. Results: A divergent non-significant trend was observed: compared to their respective controls, premenopausal cases tended to have lower mean anthropometric measurements (except height), while postmenopausal cases showed higher means. No statistically significant associations were observed for individual measures derived from logistic regressions. However, when comparing women with normal BMI and normal WC (the reference group), a non-significant association of risk was found in those premenopausal women who were centrally obese (normal weight/high WC) (aOR = 1.79; 95% CI = 0.17–18.29), but the combination of overweight and a large WC showed an aOR of 0.22 (95% CI = 0.03–1.68) before menopause. In contrast, the combination of overweight and a high WC showed a statistically significant adjusted OR of 3.28 in postmenopausal women (95% CI = 1.10–9.81). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the relationship between adiposity and TNBC is inverse in premenopausal women and direct in postmenopausal women, highlighting the importance of considering both body fat distribution and menopausal status when evaluating TNBC. However, our findings are limited by low statistical power, which may have led to a lack of statistical significance, and there is a need for larger, collaborative studies. Full article

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) are rare and often remain asymptomatic until rupture, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Elastin degradation, largely mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), plays a central role in their pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate plasma desmosine (pDES), a specific biomarker of elastin breakdown, as a non-invasive tool for TAAA detection and risk stratification. In a prospective single-centre case–control study, 30 patients with TAAA and 30 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Plasma pDES levels were quantified using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Aortic wall samples from 12 patients were analysed for elastic fibre content and MMP expression by histology and western blotting. Statistical analyses included correlation testing, propensity score matching, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. TAAA patients exhibited significantly higher pDES levels compared with controls (0.40 ± 0.31 vs. 0.22 ± 0.15 ng/mL; p < 0.001). pDES correlated positively with MMP-2 (ρ = 0.68, p = 0.02), TIMP-1 (ρ = 0.72, p = 0.01), and the proportion of elastic fibres in the aortic media (ρ = 0.61, p = 0.03). ROC analysis showed good diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.82), with a threshold of 0.27 ng/mL yielding 78.6% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity. Elevated pDES levels reflect aortic elastolytic activity and may serve as a promising biomarker for TAAA detection and risk assessment. Full article

In this study, a gold nanocage composite perovskite quantum dot fluorescent probe (MB-GNCs-PQDs) was designed and constructed. The GNCs-PQDs composite system was formed by the combination of gold nanocages (GNCs) and perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). Spectral analysis confirmed that its fluorescence intensity was significantly enhanced by 15.38% compared with that of pure PQDs. Furthermore, amino modification was performed on the nanomaterial. Through the specific design of molecular beacons (MB), the fluorescence emission spectrum of the probe was matched with the absorption peak of the quencher group BHQ2, and the effective closure of the fluorescence signal was achieved based on the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) effect. Subsequently, MB was immobilized on the surface of the composite system via amino covalent conjugation to complete the probe preparation. The prepared probe was applied to the detection of miRNA-4529-3P and miR-301b-3p, which are tumor markers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The hybridization of target molecules with MB could trigger the disruption of FRET and the recovery of fluorescence signal, exhibiting excellent recognition performance. This study provides an experimental basis for the preparation of composite fluorescent probes, and the developed probe has potential application value in the field of tumor marker detection. Full article

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system, frequently associated with visual and oculomotor disturbances. Quantitative analysis of eye movements represents a non-invasive method for assessing central nervous system dysfunction beyond conventional imaging; however, the diagnostic and predictive value of oculomotor metrics remains insufficiently defined. Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare smooth pursuit gain and reflexive saccade parameters (latency, velocity, and precision) between individuals with MS and healthy controls, and to evaluate their ability to discriminate disease status. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 46 clinically stable patients with MS (EDSS ≤ 6.5) and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Oculomotor function was assessed using videonystagmography under standardized conditions. Group differences across horizontal and vertical gaze directions were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Random forest models were applied to assess the discriminative performance of oculomotor parameters, with permutation-based feature importance and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Patients with MS showed significantly reduced smooth pursuit gain across most horizontal and vertical directions compared with controls. Saccadic latency was significantly prolonged in all tested movement directions. Saccadic velocity exhibited selective directional impairment consistent with subtle medial longitudinal fasciculus involvement, whereas saccadic precision did not differ significantly between groups. A random forest model combining pursuit and saccadic parameters demonstrated only moderate discriminative performance between MS patients and controls (AUC = 0.694), with saccadic latency contributing most strongly to classification. Conclusions: Quantitative eye-movement assessment revealed widespread oculomotor abnormalities in MS, particularly reduced smooth pursuit gain and prolonged saccadic latency. Although the overall discriminative accuracy of oculomotor parameters was limited, these findings support their potential role as complementary markers of central nervous system dysfunction. Further longitudinal and multimodal studies are required to clarify their clinical relevance and prognostic value. Full article

Cost code verification in state-funded construction projects remains a labor-intensive and error-prone task, particularly given the structural heterogeneity of project estimates and the prevalence of malformed codes, inconsistent units of measurement (UoMs), and locally modified price components. This study evaluates a deterministic GPT-based assistant designed to automate Vietnam’s regulatory verification. The assistant was developed and iteratively refined across four Action Research cycles. Also, the system enforces strict rule sequencing and dataset grounding via Python-governed computations. Rather than relying on probabilistic or semantic reasoning, the system performs strictly deterministic checks on code validity, UoM alignment, and unit price conformity in material (MTR), labor (LBR), and machinery (MCR), given the provincial unit price books (UPBs). Deterministic equality is evaluated either on raw numerical values or on values transformed through explicitly declared, rule-governed operations, preserving auditability without introducing tolerance-based or inferential reasoning. A dedicated exact-match mechanism, which is activated only when a code is invalid, enables the recovery of typographical errors only when a project item’s full price vector well matches a normative entry. Using twenty real construction estimates (16,100 rows) and twelve controlled error-injection cases, the study demonstrates that the assistant executes verification steps with high reliability across diverse spreadsheet structures, avoiding ambiguity and maintaining full auditability. Deterministic extraction and normalization routines facilitate robust handling of displaced headers, merged cells, and non-standard labeling, while structured reporting provides line-by-line traceability aligned with professional verification workflows. Practitioner feedback confirms that the system reduces manual tracing effort, improves evaluation consistency, and supports documentation compliance with human judgment. This research contributes a framework for large language model (LLM)-orchestrated verification, demonstrating how Action Research can align AI tools with domain expectations. Furthermore, it establishes a methodology for deploying LLMs in safety-critical and regulation-driven environments. Limitations—including narrow diagnostic scope, unlisted quotation exclusion, single-province UPB compliance, and sensitivity to extreme spreadsheet irregularities—define directions for future deterministic extensions. Overall, the findings illustrate how tightly constrained LLM configurations can augment, rather than replace, professional cost verification practices in public-sector construction. Full article

Cultural ecosystem services (CESs) are the non-material benefits people derive from ecosystems and are important for human well-being. Most research has focused on individual CES supply–demand relationships, with little systematic study of the overall CES structure, interactions, and mechanisms in metropolitan areas. This study takes the Nanjing Metropolitan Area as a case study, integrating multi-source geospatial data and employing the MaxEnt model, self-organizing maps (SOMs), Spearman correlation analysis, and the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD). It analyzes supply–demand matching, trade-offs, synergies, and drivers for four CES categories: aesthetic (AE), recreational entertainment (RE), knowledge education (KE), and cultural diversity (CD). The main findings are as follows: (1) CES supply and demand are spatially zoned: the core area has surplus supply, secondary centers are balanced, and the periphery has both weak supply and demand. (2) Three supply–demand bundles have distinct synergy and trade-off patterns: Bundle 1 primarily exhibits strong synergy between AE and CD; Bundle 2 shows a weak trade-off relationship; and Bundle 3 forms a synergy centered on AE. (3) The explanatory power of driving factors exhibits pronounced spatial heterogeneity: Bundle 1 is dominated by non-quantifiable social factors; Bundle 2 features dual synergistic drivers of population and transportation; and Bundle 3 demonstrates synergistic effects driven by facilities and economic factors. Overall, this study contributes an integrated metropolitan-scale framework that connects CES supply–demand mismatch patterns with bundle typologies, interaction structures, and bundle-specific drivers. The results provide an operational basis for targeted planning and coordinated ecological–cultural governance in the Nanjing Metropolitan Area and offer a transferable reference for other metropolitan regions. Full article