Search Results (5,495)

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have attracted considerable attention for biomedical applications owing to their excellent biocompatibility, tunable optical properties, and low toxicity. In this study, we report a simple, rapid, and cost-effective one-pot bottom-up synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles using propanoic acid as a novel liquid carbon precursor. Unlike conventional approaches that often require high temperatures, lengthy reaction times, or complex procedures, the proposed method enables efficient nanoparticle synthesis under mild thermal conditions. The use of propanoic acid enabled carbonization under relatively mild conditions, yielding nanoparticles with excellent aqueous dispersibility. Following the synthesis of CNPs using propanoic acid as the carbon precursor, the nanoparticles were treated with ethylenediamine (EDA) as a nitrogen source and surface-passivating agent, yielding nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles (NCNPs). The resulting NCNPs exhibited approximately fourfold higher fluorescence intensity than the undoped CNPs. The NCNPs exhibited strong visible photoluminescence with a dominant emission band in the green spectral region (490–540 nm), which is advantageous for cellular imaging due to reduced background interference and improved imaging selectivity. Furthermore, the NCNPs demonstrated high aqueous solubility, cellular permeability, and excellent photostability under the in vitro imaging conditions investigated. The bioimaging capability of the NCNPs was evaluated using human lung fibroblasts and lung cancer cells. Confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed efficient cellular uptake and successful nuclear labeling without observable photobleaching and morphological alterations. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using propanoic acid-derived NCNPs as fluorescent probes for cellular imaging and suggest their potential for future applications in bioimaging, biosensing, and related biomedical research. Further studies are warranted to evaluate their long-term biological safety and performance. Full article

Introduction: Degenerative lumbar kyphosis (DLK) is a common cause of sagittal imbalance, pain, and functional disability. While three-column osteotomies provide powerful correction, they are associated with substantial morbidity. We evaluated the radiographic and clinical outcomes of a novel posterior-based correction strategy combining Posterior Interpedicular Osteotomy (PIO), bilateral discectomy, and hyperlordotic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in patients with DLK. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-center case series was conducted including 215 consecutive patients with symptomatic DLK and pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis (PI–LL) mismatch >10° treated between 2019 and 2023. All patients underwent PIO combined with bilateral discectomy and insertion of a 20° hyperlordotic TLIF cage. Radiographic parameters, including lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS), were assessed preoperatively and up to 24 months postoperatively. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Complications were systematically recorded. Results: Mean lumbar lordosis improved from 15.7° ± 8.3° preoperatively to 45.4° ± 11.6° at 24 months, corresponding to a mean correction of 29.7° ± 10.1° and 12.4° ± 2.9° per treated level (p < 0.001). Significant improvements were observed in PT, SS, VAS, ODI, and SF-36 scores (all p < 0.001), with maintenance of correction throughout follow-up. Mean operative time was 218.4 ± 47.3 min and mean blood loss was 483.2 ± 195.7 mL. The overall complication rate was 16.3%, with incidental durotomy being the most common event (14.9%). No cases of cage migration, deep infection, neurological deterioration, or radiographic pseudarthrosis were identified among patients who underwent CT evaluation. Conclusions: PIO combined with bilateral discectomy and hyperlordotic TLIF achieved substantial and durable sagittal correction with significant clinical improvement and an acceptable safety profile. By combining extensive posterior release with preservation of the anterior tension band, this technique may represent an effective intermediate alternative between conventional posterior column osteotomies and more invasive three-column deformity correction procedures. Full article

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) has evolved from a salvage procedure for otherwise-fatal leukemia into a curative modality spanning nearly every hematological malignancy and several non-malignant disorders. The contemporary landscape has been reshaped by three converging forces: the refinement of disease-specific risk stratification (European LeukemiaNet [ELN] 2022 for acute myeloid leukemia, Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System [IPSS-M] for myelodysplastic syndromes, Mutation-Enhanced International Prognostic Scoring System [MIPSS70+ v2.0], and Myelofibrosis Transplant Scoring System [MTSS] for myelofibrosis); the integration of measurable residual disease (MRD) into dynamic, response-adapted transplant decisions; and the approval of immune effector cell therapies that have displaced transplantation from several long-standing indications while creating new ones (bridge-to-transplant, post-CAR-T consolidation). In parallel, post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has largely equalized outcomes across matched sibling, matched unrelated, and mismatched alternative donors, and novel agents (ruxolitinib, belumosudil, axatilimab) have materially reduced graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) morbidity. This narrative review synthesizes current indications for autologous (auto-HSCT) and allogeneic (allo-HSCT) transplantations in adults, and flags areas of persistent controversy where randomized data are still maturing. Across all indications, the clinician’s question is shifting from “transplant or not?” towards “which donor, which conditioning, which bridge, and which post-transplant maintenance?”, each tailored to disease biology, MRD trajectory, and patient fitness. Full article

Flexible pressure sensors serve as core sensing components for wearable health monitoring systems, electronic skins for soft robots, and flexible human–machine interaction devices. Benefiting from the interfacial electric double-layer polarization effect, iontronic sensing delivers far higher pressure response sensitivity than conventional parallel-plate capacitive sensors, endowing it with distinctive advantages in the detection of weak physiological signals. Nevertheless, current dense ionic thin-film dielectric layers suffer from limited deformation space under compression and poor low-pressure sensing capability. Mainstream high-precision micropillar arrays are fabricated via photolithography, 3D printing, and metal etching molds, which require costly equipment and complicated fabrication procedures, making large-area mass production unfeasible. Random frosted concave-convex microstructures feature disordered dimensions, leading to severe device hysteresis and narrow linear ranges, which fail to achieve ultrahigh sensitivity alongside a wide pressure detection range simultaneously. To address the aforementioned multiple bottlenecks, this paper proposes a low-cost resin template replication process to fabricate TPU-based ionic thin-film dielectric layers with ordered micropillar array microstructures. Combined with inkjet-printed silver conductive PI flexible electrodes, an iontronic flexible pressure sensor with a sandwich layered structure is constructed. Multi-dimensional investigations including microscopic morphology characterization, electromechanical sensing performance calibration, and human wearable application tests are systematically implemented to thoroughly elucidate the synergistic enhancement mechanism of the arrayed micropillars. Test results demonstrate that the effective pressure detection range of the sensor spans 0–1038 kPa, accommodating ultra-low pressures such as pulse signals as well as medium-to-high-pressure loads including joint bending. The sensitivity reaches 23.27 kPa⁻¹ within the low-pressure range of 0–200 kPa and remains stable at 3.52 kPa⁻¹ in the high-pressure range of 200–1038 kPa, with piecewise linear fitting correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.96 respectively. Both the response time and recovery time of the device are 40 ms, and the hysteresis error throughout the loading-unloading cycle is merely 2.62%. After 20,000 consecutive cyclic loading-unloading tests, the peak capacitance output only decays by 5.1%, verifying outstanding mechanical fatigue resistance and electrical stability. Validations in multi-scenario applications prove that the sensor can accurately capture human physiological and motion signals including radial artery pulses, laryngeal deformation induced by multi-syllable vocalization, and multi-angle bending of fingers and elbow joints, suitable for home-based health monitoring, quantitative rehabilitation training, flexible tactile interaction and other scenarios. The entire fabrication process eliminates high-precision micro-nano processing equipment such as photolithography systems, plasma etchers and 3D printers; only general chemical raw materials and conventional laboratory instruments are adopted. The reusable templates enable low manufacturing costs and large-area coating forming, offering a novel low-cost technical solution for the engineering implementation and industrialization of high-performance iontronic flexible pressure sensors. Full article

One-pot protocols leading to target products in two or more sequential reactions, without the separation and isolation of intermediate products, are powerful synthetic tools. In fact, they surpass usual procedures based on single-step reactions in terms of efficiency, cost, and green aspects. The appeal of such methodologies is further increased with the use of catalysts, which makes the process easier and more efficient, minimizing unwanted byproducts. In this context, this paper describes three new one-pot protocols, based on an oxo-Re(V)-catalyzed Meyer–Schuster rearrangement of different secondary propargylic alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketones. These products, without isolation, subsequently, can undergo the 1,4-conjugate addition of a soft Gilman copper nucleophile or the intramolecular cyclocondensation with hydrazine hydrochloride to pyrazoles. Moreover, the ketone formed by the addition of a Gilman reagent can further be reduced in situ with LiAlH₄ to the corresponding secondary alcohol. The remarkable aspects of these novel procedures involving two and three one-pot consecutive steps are the high overall yields, the readily available reaction conditions, and the compatible presence of two transition metallic species in the same reaction medium. Full article

Testing multinormality in two-level structural equation models (SEMs) presents a fundamental challenge because observations from the same level-2 unit are correlated, violating the independence assumption required by classical normality tests. In this paper, we develop a novel generalized Shapiro–Wilk ($GW$) test that explicitly accounts for this dependence. The proposed method rearranges the dependent observations into a random matrix and employs principal component analysis (PCA) to project this matrix onto a set of principal directions, achieving effective dimension reduction. On each projected direction, the scale-invariant Shapiro–Wilk statistic is applied to test for sphericity, leveraging the property that spherical distributions preserve the null distribution of such statistics. The Johnson $S_B$-transform is then used to approximate the null distribution of the combined test statistic. A Monte Carlo study demonstrates that the proposed $GW$ test controls type I error rates satisfactorily and exhibits strong power against a range of non-normal alternatives, including heavy-tailed and asymmetric distributions. The method is further illustrated using real alcohol use data from nested families, highlighting its practical utility. Comparative evaluation indicates that the $GW$ test performs favorably relative to a recently proposed approach. The procedure is applicable to balanced level-1 designs and provides researchers with a necessary diagnostic tool for assessing multinormality assumptions in two-level SEMs. Full article

Since Tenebrio molitor L. was approved by the EU as novel food in 2021, food safety is paramount for both chemically and microbiologically safe products. Since T. molitor larvae are reared on substrates mainly based on cereals, mycotoxins and heavy metals may represent a serious risk. However, analyses of mycotoxins and heavy metals are complex and cost-intensive procedures, which may not be affordable for small-scale farmers on a regular basis. To provide a preliminary risk assessment and to add further insights to existing knowledge, this study used a rapid screening method based on MALDI-TOF to identify potentially mycotoxin-producing microfungi. The colony-forming units (CFU) were determined, and the isolated species identified. In addition, a_w-values of substrates and meal (four samples, nine repeats each) were determined to assess mycotoxin-related risks. Eight mycobionts were identified, including three potential mycotoxin producers: Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. Very low CFU counts (<3 × 10³ CFU/g) and a_w-values (0.35–0.59) indicate minor risks. LC-MS/MS mycotoxin analysis of nine samples (varying in source and time point) confirmed concentrations below the limit of detection (LoD): 0.50 µg/kg for aflatoxins B1/B2/G1/G2; 50 µg/kg for DON/FuB1/FuB2; 20 µg/kg for HT2/T2; 150 µg/kg for NIV; 1 µg/kg for OTA; and 5 µg/kg for ZEA. Heavy metal analysis (ICP-OES/MS) of three substrates and insect meal showed that all six metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Sb, As, Cr) were below the LoD (0.2 mg/kg), except for Cr in malt residual pellets (0.4 mg/kg). Full article

The medication-related problems identified by clinical pharmacists during hospitalisation may be better addressed after patient discharge and recovery from acute illness. This approach enables follow-up and may reduce the risks associated with multiple medication changes. However, inadequate information transfer at discharge is a recognised patient safety risk. Referral-based communication between clinical pharmacists and general practitioners (GPs) is a novel procedure in southern Sweden. This retrospective observational study aimed to describe the patient population, medication-related problems, their clinical relevance, and resulting GP actions. Data were collected from pharmacist referrals and electronic medical records between Q4 2021 and Q4 2023. Medication-related problems were categorised, recommendations were assessed for clinical relevance, and follow-up within six months after discharge was analysed to determine whether GPs accepted the recommendations. Forty patients with 58 medication-related problems were included. Women accounted for 70% of the patients, the median age was 79.5 years, and 75% had extensive polypharmacy. Adherence problems were most common (22%). Overall, 98% of the recommendations were considered clinically relevant. Of the 48 assessable recommendations, 77% were implemented in primary care. No statistical association between clinical relevance and implementation was detected (odds ratio 2.27, p = 0.247, CI 0.57–9.04). Pharmacist referrals at discharge may support information transfer and provide clinically relevant recommendations that improve medication safety. Full article

Background/Objective: Persistent infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is the principal cause of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (cHSIL) and cervical cancer, yet the established treatments remain limited to ablative or excisional procedures that carry reproductive risk and do not eliminate the underlying infection. We report the preclinical development of ARV-2001, a messenger RNA (mRNA)–lipid nanoparticle (LNP) immunotherapeutic encoding mutated, non-oncogenic HPV-16 E6 and E7 fused to a SARS-CoV-2 spike S2 subdomain enriched in human CD4 helper epitopes, formulated in a novel cholesterol-derived ionizable lipid (ARV-T1). Methods: Interactions of ARV-2001-expressed antigens with p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) were evaluated in human cervical carcinoma cell line C33A, in lentiviral constructs in primary human keratinocytes, and in soft-agar colony-formation assays. ARV-2001 was administrated by intramuscular (IM) or intradermal (ID) injection in naive mice or in the TC-1 tumor models. Tumor size and survival were monitored over time and tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes were characterized by flow cytometry. Intracellular cytokine staining and Elispot were used to evaluate immunogenicity. Results: In vitro, the mutated E6/E7–S2 antigen lost the ability to degrade p53, to deregulate the retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway, and to support anchorage-independent growth, suggesting abrogation of oncogenic activity. The S2 domain and imiquimod administration each augmented antitumor activity and intratumoral CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration while reducing myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the syngeneic HPV-16 E6/E7 TC-1 tumor models. In addition, ID administration of ARV-2001 into TC-1 tumor-bearing mice was superior to IM administration in terms of both tumor growth inhibition and survival. ID vaccination with ARV-2001 in mice consistently elicited a more potent E6/E7-specific T-cell response than the same dose given IM. Dose-escalation studies showed a dose-dependent T cell response against E6/E7 in ID-injected mice. Conclusions: This study supports future human evaluation of intradermally administrated ARV-2001 for treatment of HPV-16+ cHSIL in clinical trials. Full article

Linear dichroism (LD) optical absorption spectroscopy historically has found substantial yet still limited application in broad areas of science. In particular, full-dipole-tensor reconstruction has been onerous, usually requiring tedious and difficult measurements on single crystals at many orientations using a four-circle goniometer. As a consequence, it is very seldom done. Here, we propose, and test by numerical simulation, a simpler, faster, novel method of determining the full dipole optical absorption tensor of homogeneous planar films in real time as a function of energy (or wavelength), while requiring only minimal additional time and instrumentation. The goal of this paper is to explain the theory and to demonstrate the effectiveness and stability of the procedure using synthetic data sets. Experimental implementation and testing is deferred to future work and publications. The full-tensor spectrum, after construction from the experimental data, allows one to instantly calculate the absorption for any selected polarization direction, even those that are physically inaccessible to experimental measurement. Although our specific application in this paper is X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) Spectroscopy, the method should be applicable to UV–Vis, IR, THz, microwave, and other wavelengths. A strength of this measurement modality is that full-tensor data can be acquired using essentially the same sort of scanning geometry that is normally used for XAFS, with only a discrete shift in the spin axis orientation between groups of scans. The additional instrumentation needed to determine the five Fourier components of the signal at each energy is minimal; two angles gives ten parameters, while six are strictly needed. Robust inversion from data to tensor elements is demonstrated, implemented via simple matrix multiplication. Outside of XAFS, FTMAPS is also expected to be applicable to diverse scientific and technological areas such as oriented bio-molecular films, semiconductor and materials physics, and process control of thin-film photovoltaics and semiconductors. Full article

In the present work, we report the sustainable regioselective synthesis of a novel series of 1,2,3-triazole-based hybrid molecules containing isatins and 1,4-dihydropyridines by Copper(I)-catalyzed Azide-Alkyne 1,3-dipolar Cycloaddition (CuAAC). Our synthetic strategy provides mild reaction conditions, high reaction yields, a simple recovery procedure, and a reusable catalytic system based on an environmentally benign solvent mixture of ionic liquid/water. The latter was recovered together with the Cu(I) catalyst generated in situ and Na-ascorbate and reused up to six times, maintaining high efficacy in terms of regioselectivity and reaction yields. Finally, a mechanism of the reaction was proposed, involving the key role of IL. Full article

A novel distributed Transmission-Only Vector Network Analyzer (TVNA) based on two Six-Port Reflectometers (SPRs) is experimentally verified. The prototype distributed SPR-TVNA measures $S_{21}$ and operates with two independent RF sources, allowing the two ports of the Device Under Test (DUT) to be widely separated with no common cables coming to a central location. Using the distributed SPR-TVNA allows for measurements of, e.g., distantly separated antennas, or taking grain bin imaging measurements that would otherwise require long coaxial cables. A key issue of these large DUTs is accurate measurement of the through-measurement, $S_{21}$. The distribution (separation) of the two RF sources in the SPR-VNA requires novel procedures to obtain accurate results. The results are confirmed using simulations and experiments, with the experimental results obtained using custom-built hardware. While, in theory, a full VNA can measure $S_{11}$ and $S_{22}$, which is confirmed through simulation, the experimental results show significant errors in $S_{11}$ and $S_{22}$. We thus call the current device a Transmission-Only VNA. The fundamental math of the SPR-VNA means there is a ±180° phase uncertainty that must be solved, e.g., via a wide-band sweep looking for phase jumps. The experimental $S_{21}$ measurements of the prototype show maximum errors of 1.5 dB in magnitude and 6 degrees in phase over a bandwidth of 0.6–1.2 GHz. Full article

In high-resolution wide-swath (HRWS) spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems, clustered phased array (CPA) architectures alleviate hardware costs but face critical subarray synthesis challenges: manually prescribed pattern masks, redundant equality matching, and unrealizable crossover topologies. This paper proposes a mask- and contiguity-constrained power pattern matching method (MC-PMM) to address these limitations. First, a semidefinite programming (SDP) procedure constructs an SAR-metric-aware SDP-relaxed reference mask for the noise equivalent sigma zero (NESZ) and range ambiguity-to-signal ratio (RASR) requirements within the relaxed covariance space. Second, a dynamic programming (DP) strategy is integrated with a novel mask-constrained iterative projection method (Mask-IPM) to optimize physically contiguous partitions and weights. By transforming equality waveform fitting into mask-violation-based inequality matching, MC-PMM focuses restricted spatial degrees of freedom onto critical performance boundaries. Simulations on a 64-element array demonstrate that, at a subarray ratio of $3/4$, MC-PMM achieves a 100% crossover-free topology. Furthermore, relative to the conventional equality matching framework, it lowers the mean RASR by $24.50$ dB, with a negligible worst-case NESZ degradation of under $0.4$ dB. Full article

Tooth-bearing structures are commonly involved in the spread of various odontogenic lesions. Radicular and dentigerous cysts are among the most common odontogenic cysts, exhibiting significant variations in size and morphology within the jawbones. On the other hand, the influence of dental caries, periodontal diseases, and periapical lesions extends beyond tooth-bearing bone and also affects adjacent anatomical structures, especially the maxillary sinuses. In addition to untreated odontogenic lesions, treatment-related complications in the posterior maxilla may also disturb the sinus environment, particularly when oroantral communication is not recognized or adequately managed. The etiology of sinusitis is multifactorial; however, tooth-related infections are the primary cause of odontogenic sinusitis (ODS). Routine upper posterior tooth extraction may also become clinically significant when pre-existing sinus mucosal changes, close sinus floor proximity, or persistent oroantral communication are overlooked. When ODS is undiagnosed or overlooked on a classic computed tomography or a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan, it is frequently inadequately managed by otolaryngological interventions alone; this leaves the underlying dental pathology unaddressed. Consequently, the utilization of CT/CBCT and close collaboration between dentists, oral surgeons, and otolaryngologists are essential for the successful management of these conditions. In advanced cases of ODS, isolated intranasal otolaryngological procedures are often insufficient. Comprehensive management relies on the elimination of all sources of odontogenic infection through endodontic therapy, dental extractions, and localized bone curettage. While the traditional Caldwell–Luc approach (CLA) is not commonly used nowadays, it remains an important surgical option in select cases, especially when infection spreads beyond tooth-bearing structures or soft tissue abscesses are present. This paper presents the radiological and clinical findings of two ODS cases with different etiologies and demonstrates how these findings influenced surgical planning. The aim is not to introduce the Caldwell–Luc approach as a novel technique but to illustrate its selective role when the direct treatment of the odontogenic source and oroantral defect is required. Full article

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) face a significantly elevated risk of persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and subsequent anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) due to chronic immunosuppressive therapy impairing immunosurveillance. Despite the markedly increased risk of ASCC in this vulnerable cohort, standardized screening protocols and optimal clinical management guidelines are not exhaustive. Chronically compromised immunosurveillance permits prolonged HR-HPV carriage and viral genome integration, driving oncogenesis via the E6 and E7 oncoproteins. While calcineurin inhibitors exert pro-oncogenic effects, transitioning to mTOR inhibitors offers distinct antiproliferative and antiviral advantages. Early detection relies on risk-stratified screening utilizing digital anorectal examination, anal cytology, and high-resolution anoscopy. For managing anal intraepithelial neoplasia, traditional topical agents and minimally invasive ablative procedures are widely used, although high recurrence rates present a major clinical challenge. This review analyzes HPV pathogenesis and clinical management in KTRs, evaluating the impact of immunosuppressive regimens and exploring innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. To address viral persistence without compromising the allograft, integrating novel non-invasive, target-specific nutraceuticals may represent an interesting complementary approach. Ultimately, mitigating post-transplant ASCC requires a multidisciplinary strategy that couples early localized screening with tailored systemic immunosuppression. Full article