Search Results (100)

Objective: To assess the long-term effects of Dienogest on clinical complaints and nodule sizes in women affected by recto-sigmoid deep endometriosis (DE). Methods: This was a single-center longitudinal prospective observational study comprising a consecutive series of women affected by recto-sigmoid DE, who underwent medical treatment with Dienogest (2 mg daily continuous). All women underwent clinical visits and transvaginal sonography (TVS) with bowel preparation prior to starting therapy and at 3–6-month intervals for at least 12 months. Clinical complaints such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and dyschezia were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). The DE recto-sigmoid lesion was measured in the three orthogonal planes. The lesion’s volume was estimated using the prolate ellipsoid formula. The maximum diameter and lesion volume were used for analysis. Patients’ complaints and lesion sizes before starting the treatment and at final follow-up were compared. Results: From January 2017 to July 2020, 125 patients were consecutively recruited (mean age: 37 years, ranging from 20 to 50 years). The median follow-up period was 47.8 months (range: 12–74 months). We did not observe a significant correlation between the severity of the symptoms and the lesion size prior to starting therapy. Clinical complaints improved significantly during treatment (88% of women were symptomatic at initial visit, versus 53% at final follow-up, p < 0.001). The median lesion volume significantly decreased (median initial volume vs. final volume: 1.1 mL vs. 0.9 mL, p = 0.017). However, the median maximum lesion diameter did not change significantly (26.0 mm vs. 25.0 mm, p = 0.779). Conclusions: Long-term Dienogest therapy significantly relieves clinical symptoms related to recto-sigmoid DE. This is accompanied by a significant reduction in the lesion volume but not the maximum lesion diameter. Full article

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following catheter ablation remains a significant clinical challenge despite technological advancements, with recurrence rates in the range of 20–40%. While left atrial parameters have been extensively studied as predictors of recurrence, the contribution of right atrial mechanical function has received limited attention. The hypothesis that the combined assessment of right and left atrial strain parameters may provide superior predictive value represents an important clinical question with potential implications for post-ablation risk stratification and follow-up strategies. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 100 consecutive adult patients who underwent AF ablation between May 2022 and June 2024 with at least one-year follow-up. Patients were divided into two groups: those with recurrence (n = 13) and those without recurrence (n = 87). A comprehensive echocardiographic assessment, including the speckle-tracking strain analysis of both atria, was performed. Results: The median follow-up was 365 days [range: 150–912 days] in patients with recurrence. In the multivariable analysis, right ventricular diameter (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.61–0.90; p = 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00–1.08; p = 0.022), and left ventricular global longitudinal strain rate (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.05–1.40; p = 0.007) emerged as independent predictors of recurrence. Conclusions: The significant association of right atrial longitudinal reservoir strain with recurrence in univariable analysis, although not retained as an independent predictor in the multivariable model, suggests the importance of comprehensive cardiac assessment including right heart parameters in predicting AF recurrence. Full article

Wind turbine performance in cold regions is affected by icing which can lead to power reduction due to the aerodynamic degradation of the turbine blade. The development of airfoil shapes applied as blade sections contributes to improving the aerodynamic performance under a wide range of weather conditions. The present study considers inverse design coupled with numerical modelling to simulate the effects of varying airfoil thickness and maximum camber. The inverse design process was implemented in MATLAB R2023a, whereas the numerical models were constructed using ANSYS Fluent and FENSAP ICE 2023 R1. The inverse design process applied the modified Garabedian–McFadden (MGM) iterative technique. Shear velocities were calculated from the flow over an airfoil with slip conditions, and then this velocity distribution was modified according to the prevailing icing conditions to obtain the target velocities. A parameter was proposed to consider the airfoil thickness as well when calculating the target velocities. The airfoil generated was then exposed to various atmospheric conditions to check the improvement in the aerodynamic performance. The ice mass and lift-to-drag ratio were determined considering cloud characteristics under varying liquid water content (LWC) from mild to severe (0.1 g/m³ to 1 g/m³), median volume diameter (MVD) of 50 µm, and two ambient temperatures (−4 °C and −20 °C) that characterize freezing drizzle and in-cloud icing conditions. The ice mass on the blade section was not significantly impacted by modifying the shape after applying the process developed (i.e., <5%). However, the lift-to-drag ratio that describes the aerodynamic performance may even be doubled in the icing scenarios considered. Full article

To address the technical problems of broad droplet size spectrum, insufficient atomization uniformity, and spray drift in plant protection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications, this study developed a novel two-stage aerial electrostatic spraying device based on the coupled mechanisms of hydraulic atomization and electrostatic induction, and, through the integration of three-dimensional numerical simulation and additive manufacturing technology, a new two-stage inductive charging device was designed on the basis of the traditional hydrodynamic nozzle structure, and a synergistic optimization study of the charging effect and atomization characteristics was carried out systematically. With the help of a charge ratio detection system and Malvern laser particle sizer, spray pressure (0.25–0.35 MPa), charging voltage (0–16 kV), and spray height (100–1000 mm) were selected as the key parameters, and the interaction mechanism of each parameter on the droplet charge ratio (C/m) and the particle size distribution (Dv50) was analyzed through the Box–Behnken response surface experimental design. The experimental data showed that when the charge voltage was increased to 12 kV, the droplet charge-to-mass ratio reached a peak value of 1.62 mC/kg (p < 0.01), which was 83.6% higher than that of the base condition; the concentration of the particle size distribution of the charged droplets was significantly improved; charged droplets exhibited a 23.6% reduction in Dv50 (p < 0.05) within the 0–200 mm core atomization zone below the nozzle, with the coefficient of variation of volume median diameter decreasing from 28.4% to 16.7%. This study confirms that the two-stage induction structure can effectively break through the charge saturation threshold of traditional electrostatic spraying, which provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the optimal design of electrostatic spraying systems for plant protection UAVs. This technology holds broad application prospects in agricultural settings such as orchards and farmlands. It can significantly enhance the targeted deposition efficiency of pesticides, reducing drift losses and chemical usage, thereby enabling agricultural enterprises to achieve practical economic benefits, including reduced operational costs, improved pest control efficacy, and minimized environmental pollution, while generating environmental benefits. Full article

The Upper Lianggaoshan (LGS) Formation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin, composed of shale with interbedded siltstone, is a promising target layer for shale oil. Accurate evaluation of pore structures is essential for effective exploration of shale oil. This study investigated pore structures of siltstone and shale samples from the Upper LGS Formation using low-pressure CO₂ adsorption (LTCA), low-temperature N₂ adsorption (LTNA), high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. The single-exponent and multifractal dimensions of samples were determined, and the relationships between fractal dimensions and pore structures were explored. Results show that the pore size distribution (PSD) of siltstone and shale samples exhibits multi-peak characteristics, with mesopores (2–50 nm) being dominant in the total pore volumes. The multi-scaled pores in shale and siltstone samples exhibit fractal characteristics. The average values of single-fractal dimensions (D₁, D₂) obtained by LTNA data are 2.39 and 2.62 for shale samples, and 2.24 and 2.59 for siltstone samples, respectively. Compared to siltstones, the pore structures of shale samples exhibit greater complexity, indicated by larger fractal dimensions. The samples from subsections Liang 2 and Liang 3 exhibit greater heterogeneity compared to subsection Liang 1. The single-fractal dimensions of micropores and mesopores show positive correlations with specific surface area (SSA) and pore volume (PV), while the fractal dimension of macropores shows a negative correlation with average pore diameter and median radius. The average values of single-fractal dimension D₃ obtained from HPMI data are 2.9644 and 2.9471 for shale and siltstone samples, respectively, indicating more complex structures of macropores in shale samples compared to siltstone samples. The average value of $\Delta D^{NMR}$ and singularity strength range Δα obtained by a multifractal model for core samples from subsection Liang 1 are 1.868 and 2.155, respectively, which are the smallest among all of the three subsections, indicating that the heterogeneity of pore structures of subsection Liang 1 is the weakest. This research provides valuable guidance for shale oil development in the northeastern Sichuan Basin, China. Full article

In Germany, Pinus sylvestris is a dominant tree species, and many trees with large diameters are not utilised due to difficulties with processing. However, older pines have larger volumes of sapwood, and boards with a high sapwood content can be produced. The durability of boards from large-diameter (>50 cm) P. sylvestris trees, treated with furfurylation, acetylation, DMDHEU (1.3-dimethylol-4.5-dihydroxyethyleneurea), and SorCA (Sorbitol/Citric Acid), was assessed. The samples were taken from different sections along the longitudinal axis and the cross-section. The durability was tested against Coniophora puteana, Rhodonia placenta, and Trametes versicolor, according to the EN 113-2 standard. All treatments had a median mass loss < 5%, so classed as “highly durable” (Durability Class 1) against all fungi. DMDHEU had a large deviation in mass loss against Coniophora puteana and could potentially be classified as “moderately durable” (Durability Class 3), if based on the mean mass loss. The inner part of the end section had a higher mass loss, indicating that there was poorer retention of the treatment at this location. Overall, chemical modifications on large-diameter pine trees were effective at increasing durability. Utilising large-diameter pine trees can help to make use of regional resources and potentially reduce reliance on imported timber. With favourable mechanical properties and easy-to-treat sapwood, large-diameter P. sylvestris trees could be used for commercial treatments. Full article

As an innovative plant protection method in precision agriculture, electrostatic spray technology can increase the droplet coverage area by over 30% coMpared to conventional spraying. This technology not only achieves higher droplet deposition density and coverage but also enables water and pesticide savings while reducing environmental pollution. This study, combining theoretical analysis with experimental validation, reveals the critical role of electrode material selection in induction-based electrostatic spray systems. Theoretical analysis indicates that the Fermi level and work function of electrode materials fundamentally determine charge transfer efficiency, while corrosion resistance emerges as a key parameter affecting system durability. To elucidate the effects of different electrode materials on droplet charging, a coMparative study was conducted on nickel, copper, and brass electrodes in both pristine and moderately corroded states based on the corrosion classification standard, using a targeted mesh-based charge-to-mass measurement device. The results demonstrated that the nickel electrode achieved a peak charge-to-mass ratio of 1.92 mC/kg at 10 kV, which was 8.5% and 11.6% higher than copper (1.77 mC/kg) and brass (1.72 mC/kg), respectively. After corrosion, nickel exhibited the smallest reduction in the charge-to-mass ratio (19.2%), significantly outperforming copper (40.2%) and brass (21.6%). Droplet size analysis using a Malvern Panalytical Spraytec spray particle analyzer (measurement range: 0.1–2000 µm) further confirmed the atomization advantages of nickel electrodes. The volume median diameter (Dv50) of droplets produced by nickel was 4.2–8 μm and 6.8–12.3 um smaller than those from copper and brass electrodes, respectively. After corrosion, nickel showed a smaller increase in droplet size spectrum inhomogeneity (24.5%), which was lower than copper (30.4%) and brass (25.8%), indicating superior droplet uniformity. By establishing a multi-factor predictive model for spray droplet size after electrode corrosion, this study quantifies the correlation between electrode characteristics and spray performance metrics. It provides a theoretical basis for designing weather-resistant electrostatic spray systems suitable for agricultural pesticide application scenarios involving prolonged exposure to corrosive chemicals. This work offers significant technical support for sustainable crop protection strategies. Full article

Background: Patients bearing large-volume, bulky primary or relapsed tumors, are usually referred to palliative low-dose radiotherapy with very poor results. Lattice Radiation Therapy (LRT) is able to produce a high number of high-dose foci or vortexes (multiple SBRT treatments), separated by low-dose zones (valleys). Treatment planning on vortex placing, valley definition, and dose administered depends on individual decisions of the treating team. The aim of our study is to assess for the first time the possibility of a dense fractionated LRT within the target volume. Methods: A total of 22 treatments in 20 patients were performed in the frame of a prospective observational study of fractionated LRT ongoing in our institution. According to our aim of achieving dense LRT, no GTV contraction was considered to create the LRTV (GTV is equal to LRTV). The vortexes were segmented as 1 cm diameter at a 1.5 cm vortex-to-vortex distance. Dose prescription to the vortexes per fraction was 12 Gy. Results: The vortex/LRTV ratio was 7.38 ± 2.13% (3.4–10.40%, median 7.60%). Mean dose to the vortex volume was 11.90 ± 0.09 Gy (11.70–12.10 Gy, median 11.90 Gy). Mean dose administered to the valley volume was 8.29 ± 0.70 (7.05–9.51 Gy, median 8.29 Gy). Valley/vortex (peak) dose ratio (VPDR) was 69.40 ± 6.02% (59.00–79.80%, median 69.70%). The mean peripheral tumor dose was 5.11 ± 0.8710 Gy (3.16–6.78 Gy, median 5.18 Gy). Conclusions: Our dense LRT schedule fulfilled most of the recommended guidelines for LRT, increasing the high dose points without risking the dose to the surrounding tissues. Further analysis of feasibility and safety are needed to secure the clinical relevance of our proposed protocol. Full article

This study experimentally investigates the breakup mechanisms and atomization characteristics of liquid jets in subsonic crossflows and develops a penetration depth model that incorporates the incidence angle. Experimental data show that the model fits well, with a minimum R² value of 0.924 and an average of 0.969. High-speed imaging techniques were used to systematically analyze the effects of liquid- and gas-phase Weber numbers and incidence angles on the penetration and atomization of liquid jets. The experimental results indicate the following: (1) As the liquid Weber number (We_l) increases, the penetration depth increases, while the gas Weber number (We_a) is inversely related to penetration depth. (2) A decrease in the incidence angle (ranging from 45° to 90°) significantly reduces penetration performance. (3) As We_a increases, the volume median diameter (VMD) of droplets decreases by 61.70% to 83.09%, while smaller incidence angles cause a 42.96% increase in the VMD. The VMD shows a non-linear trend with respect to We_l, reflecting the complex interaction between inertial forces and surface tension. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the atomization behavior of transverse jets and the key parameters affecting penetration and droplet formation. The results are of practical significance for the structural optimization and performance enhancement of air-assisted atomizing nozzles used in precision agricultural spraying systems. Full article

The process of droplet formation during spraying is influenced by several factors, including the nozzle type and the use of adjuvants. This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding adjuvants to spray solutions using different nozzles, with a focus on droplet spectra, and to examine the impact of the contact angle and the surface tension on this process. The surface tension and contact angle were evaluated using a droplet shape analyzer. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) using four treatment solutions: water alone and water mixed with three different types of adjuvants, including fatty acid esters (vegetable oil-based), polyether–polymethyl, and polydimethyl-siloxane. The droplet spectra (volume median diameter, relative amplitude, and droplets smaller than 100 µm) were assessed using a particle size analyzer. A CRD with a 4 × 2 factorial scheme was used to assess the effects of the four treatment solutions and two flat-fan nozzles (ULD 120-02 with air induction and LD 110-02 without air induction technology). The polyether–polymethyl considerably reduced the contact angle and surface tension (226% and 180%, respectively, in relation to water). However, it did not homogenize the droplet spectra or reduce the drift risk. The vegetable oil-based adjuvant increased the droplet size when the standard flat-fan nozzle was used. No significant correlation was found between the surface tension and contact angle regarding the droplet spectra parameters. The effect of adjuvants on the droplet spectra was found to be dependent on the nozzle type, which prevents generalizations about the implications of their use. Full article

Introduction: Patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) have significantly higher mortality compared with the general population. Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the primary reason for death in these patients. Suboptimal extracellular fluid management increases the CV risk of HD patients. We aimed to study the effect of visit-to-visit ultrafiltration volume (UV) variability on CV events and mortality in chronic HD patients. Patients and Methods: In our study, 173 chronic HD patients were included (median age: 63 ± 13 years; 53% men). Ultrafiltration volume (UV) variability was analyzed retrospectively for 24 months. The standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated using the indices of UV variability. CV is the SD divided by the mean. The obtained parameters were SD and CV of the UV: UVSD and UVCV. UV data during the observation period were recorded and used to calculate UV variability. Routine transthoracal echocardiography was performed. Results: Patients were divided into groups based on the median of UVSD, low-UVSD (<568 mL) and high-UVSD (≥568 mL) group; and also based on the median of UVCV, low- (<0.29) and high-UVCV (≥0.29) group. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in the high compared to the low-UVSD (21/84 vs. 9/89; p < 0.001) group. Similarly, mortality was higher in the high-UVCV group compared to the low-UVCV group (18/78 vs. 12/95; p = 0.005) after 24 months. Major adverse CV event (MACE) rates were also significantly higher in the high- compared to the low-UVSD group (20/84 vs. 8/89; p < 0.001). Similarly, the MACE rate was significantly higher in the high-UVCV group compared to the low-UVCV group (15/78 vs. 13/95; p = 0.029) after 24 months. There was no significant difference between the groups in CV mortality. UVSD correlated with parathormone (PTH) level (r = 0.416; p = 0.015), and UVCV with total cholesterol (r = 0.419; p = 0.015). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and end-systolic diameter (LVESD) were higher in the high-UVCV group compared to the low-UVCV group (49.95 vs. 52.08; p = 0.013 and 32.19 vs. 34.13; p = 0.034). Conclusions: According to our results, high UVSD and UVCD are associated with increased all-cause mortality and MACE rates but not CV mortality in chronic HD patients. Cardiovascular changes caused by increased UF volume variability during HD may contribute to higher CV morbidity and mortality in these patients. Full article

Objective: To assess the safety of open PC-RPLND at a high-volume national referral centre over the course of several years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) who underwent PC-RPLND at our institution between 2008 and 2023 was conducted. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative parameters and adjunctive procedures were recorded. ClassIntra and Clavien Dindo classifications were used to assess intraoperative and postoperative complications, respectively. Results: In total, 165 patients were studied. The median (Q1–Q3) age of patients was 30.5 years (24.75–38.25), and the median maximum diameter of retroperitoneal masses was 50 mm (26.75–81.25). The most common adjunctive procedure was synchronous nephrectomy (n = 18, 11%) followed by vascular procedures (n = 7, 4.3%), ureteric reconstruction (n = 7, 4.3%), and partial hepatectomy (n = 3, 1.9%). Intraoperatively, 20, 8 and 1 patient had a grade I, II or V complication, respectively, according to the ClassIntra classification. The median estimated blood loss was 300 mL (120–740), the median duration of the procedure was 4.9 h (4–6 h) and the median length of stay was 8 days (7–10 days). Histopathological examination of the resected specimen showed teratoma in 51.9% of patients, followed by fibrosis/necrosis in 39.5%. A total of 40 patients (24.7%) experienced at least one complication. Conclusions: PC-RPLND is a complex operation, often accompanied by adjunctive surgical procedures and therefore must be conducted in high-volume referral centres to ensure safety and minimise complications. Full article

Background: Accurate prognostic models are essential for optimizing treatment strategies for glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumor. While other neuroimaging modalities have demonstrated utility in predicting overall survival (OS), intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) remains underexplored for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic potential of iUS radiomics in glioblastoma patients in a multi-institutional cohort. Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with glioblastoma from the multicenter Brain Tumor Intraoperative (BraTioUS) database. A single 2D iUS slice, showing the largest tumor diameter, was selected for each patient. Radiomic features were extracted and subjected to feature selection, and clinical data were collected. Using a fivefold cross-validation strategy, Cox proportional hazards models were built using radiomic features alone, clinical data alone, and their combination. Model performance was assessed via the concordance index (C-index). Results: A total of 114 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 56.88 years, a median OS of 382 days, and a median preoperative tumor volume of 32.69 cm³. Complete tumor resection was achieved in 51.8% of the patients. In the testing cohort, the combined model achieved a mean C-index of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.76–0.98), outperforming the radiomic model (C-index: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57–0.86) and the clinical model (C-index: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.87). Conclusions: Intraoperative ultrasound relies on acoustic properties for tissue characterization, capturing unique features of glioblastomas. This study demonstrated that radiomic features derived from this imaging modality have the potential to support the development of survival models. Full article

Precision pesticide application mainly relies on canopy volume, resulting in varied application effectiveness across different density areas of orchard trees. This study examined pesticide application effectiveness based on the spray wind, canopy volume, and leaf area within the canopy, providing variable bases for precise regulation of spray wind and pesticide dosage. The study addresses the knowledge gap by utilizing laser detection and ranging (LiDAR) to measure the thickness and leaf area of orchard tree canopies. The spray experiments were conducted on canopies of different regions, using an air-assisted sprayer with varying fan speeds of 1381 r/min, 1502 r/min, and 1676 r/min. The deposition effects were analyzed using water-sensitive papers. The inlet air speed within the canopy did not increase proportionally when the spray fan speed increased, and it showed a significant variation in locations with sparse foliage. Furthermore, droplets exhibited abnormal median volume diameters of the canopy regions with lower wind loss rates and smaller leaf areas. The influences were in the order of canopy thickness, leaf area, and inlet air speed on the cumulative deposition of droplets on both sides of the water-sensitive papers, as well as the ratio of deposition between the two sides, from big to small, are inlet air speed, leaf area, and canopy thickness. The study provides a scientific foundation for air control in precision pesticide application in apple orchards and contributes to the rapid development of precision spraying technologies. Full article

The unmanned aerial spraying system (UASS) has emerged as an advanced tool in precision agriculture for applying plant protection products (PPP). The addition of tank-mix adjuvants to PPP solutions is a common practice to enhance aerial spray performance. However, the effects of these adjuvants on spray performance under the downwash airflow fields generated by UASS rotors remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of adjuvant addition (AGE852B, AGE825, AGE809, and CCL846) on droplet size spectrum and spray deposition distribution with various rotor speeds and layouts, using an indoor simulated single-rotor/multi-rotor UASS spraying platform. The results showed that adding AGE809 and AGE825 made the droplet size and distribution much better in the flat fan nozzle LU110-015 under the downwash airflow field. The spray volume fractions made with droplets smaller than 100 µm (V₁₀₀) went down by 48.15% and 21.04%, respectively. Furthermore, rotor speed was found to have a significant impact on volume median diameter, relative span, and V₁₀₀ (p < 0.05). The downwash airflow field was observed to increase the vertical droplet velocity, achieving a more uniform spray distribution in the central airflow area. These results show that choosing the right adjuvants and making the most of the operational parameters can improve spray deposition, coverage uniformity, and drift reduction. This gives us useful information for making PPP applications more efficient and effective in precision agriculture. Full article