Virtual Experience Toolkit: An End-to-End Automated 3D Scene Virtualization Framework Implementing Computer Vision Techniques.

Virtualization plays a critical role in enriching the user experience in Virtual Reality (VR) by offering heightened realism, increased immersion, safer navigation, and newly achievable levels of interaction and personalization, specifically in indoor environments. Traditionally, the creation of virtual content has fallen under one of two broad categories: manual methods crafted by graphic designers, which are labor-intensive and sometimes lack precision; traditional Computer Vision (CV) and Deep Learning (DL) frameworks that frequently result in semi-automatic and complex solutions, lacking a unified framework for both 3D reconstruction and scene understanding, often missing a fully interactive representation of the objects and neglecting their appearance. To address these diverse challenges and limitations, we introduce the Virtual Experience Toolkit (VET), an automated and user-friendly framework that utilizes DL and advanced CV techniques to efficiently and accurately virtualize real-world indoor scenarios.

Soluble ACE2 correlates with severe COVID-19 and can impair antibody responses.

Identifying immune modulators that impact neutralizing antibody responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is of great relevance. We postulated that high serum concentrations of soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (sACE2) might mask the spike and interfere with antibody maturation toward the SARS-CoV-2-receptor-binding motif (RBM). We tested 717 longitudinal samples from 295 COVID-19 patients and showed a 2- to 10-fold increase of enzymatically active sACE2 (a-sACE2), with up to 1 μg/mL total sACE2 in moderate and severe patients.

Microbiological diagnosis of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis in critically ill patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a bronchoalveolar study.

Background: Diagnosing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) can be challenging since radiological and clinical criteria in the critically ill patient are nonspecific. Microbiological diagnostic support is therefore crucial. The aim of this study was to document the incidence of aspergillosis using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) as the diagnostic method and to determine the performance of the current mycological diagnostic tests most widely used for the diagnosis of CAPA, together with evaluation of the Asp lateral flow device (LFD).

Relevance of inferior petrosal sinus sampling in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome: a case report.

Objectives: Non-specific signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome (CS) can pose a diagnostic challenge.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a man referred to the service of endocrinology for suspected CS. Hypercortisolism was confirmed on CS screening tests, whereas diagnostic tests confirmed the presence of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) -dependent CS.

CroniCare: Platform for the Design and Implementation of Follow-Up, Control and Self-Management Interventions for Chronic and Multimorbidity Patients Based on Mobile Technologies.

The project proposes to facilitate the design and evaluation of interventions based on mobile technologies and information systems in order to improve the capacity for self-management, empowerment and control of chronic and multimorbidity patients. The system allows to create customizable apps according to the needs of primary care and specialized care. The project includes an evaluation of the impact of the care model, as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of the intervention through a study with 124 multimorbidity patients.

Analysis of the Gut Microbiota: An Emerging Source of Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: The human gut harbors around 10-10 microorganisms, collectively referred to as gut microbiota. Recent studies have found that the gut microbiota may have an impact on the interaction between immune regulation and anti-cancer immunotherapies.

Methods: In order to characterize the diversity and composition of commensal microbiota and its relationship with response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing was performed on 69 stool samples from advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients prior to treatment with ICB.

Volumetric BMD by 3D-DXA and Trabecular Bone Score in Adults With Down Syndrome.

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than the general population. The objective of our study was to describe bone mineral status in DS population through volumetric BMD (vBMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS). Retrospective study of 297 subjects recruited from the Adult DS Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Spain, who underwent a bone densitometry for clinical purposes between January 2010 and June 2015.

Dynamics of Pd Dopant Atoms inside Au Nanoclusters during Catalytic CO Oxidation.

Doping gold nanoclusters with palladium has been reported to increase their catalytic activity and stability. PdAu nanoclusters, with the Pd dopant atom located at the center of the Au cluster core, were supported on titania and applied in catalytic CO oxidation, showing significantly higher activity than supported monometallic Au nanoclusters. After pretreatment, DRIFTS spectroscopy detected CO adsorbed on Pd during CO oxidation, indicating migration of the Pd dopant atom from the Au cluster core to the cluster surface.

Short and ultrashort antimicrobial peptides anchored onto soft commercial contact lenses inhibit bacterial adhesion.

Commercial soft contact lenses were chemically modified to incorporate antibacterial properties. Contact lenses and especially soft contact lenses present a risk of eye microbial infection that eventually may lead to vision loss. This is a significant health issue given the large population of contact lenses wearers worldwide.

The Dynamic Structure of Au(SR) Nanoclusters Supported on CeO upon Pretreatment and CO Oxidation.

Atomically precise thiolate protected Au nanoclusters Au(SCHPh) on CeO were used for in-situ (operando) extended X-ray absorption fine structure/diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy and ex situ scanning transmission electron microscopy-high-angle annular dark-field imaging/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies monitoring cluster structure changes induced by activation (ligand removal) and CO oxidation. Oxidative pretreatment at 150 °C "collapsed" the clusters' ligand shell, oxidizing the hydrocarbon backbone, but the S remaining on Au acted as poison. Oxidation at 250 °C produced bare Au surfaces by removing S which migrated to the support (forming Au-S), leading to highest activity.

Bone Mineral Density Distribution Curves in Spanish Adults With Down Syndrome.

According to reports from small-sized case series, adults with Down syndrome (DS) appear to have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than the general population. The objective of our study was to further characterize the bone mass acquisition curve in an adult DS population. This is a retrospective study of 297 adults with DS from the Adult Down Syndrome Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Madrid, Spain, who underwent a bone densitometry (Hologic QDR-4500W), for clinical purposes between January 2010 and June 2015.

Bone Mass Assessment in a Cohort of Adults With Down Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Differences in bone mineral density (BMD) have been observed between adults with Down syndrome (DS) and the general population. The purpose of this article is to describe the prevalence of bone mass disorders in a cohort of adults with DS and their predisposing factors. We performed a cross-sectional study of 104 consecutively recruited adults with DS from an outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Madrid, Spain.

[Pediatric gastrointestinal disorders at hight altitude. Report of two cases and review of literature.].

Upon ascending above 2500 meters sea level, the human body undergoes a series of physiological changes that have been studied during years. These changes undertake various systems including gastrointestinal tract, with diverse clinical manifestations, most mild and therefore little reported and are underdiagnosed. Two pediatric patients who atended to the Pediatric Unit of Gastroenterolog, Hepatolog and Nutrition (Gastronutriped) in Bogota, in whose we documented symptoms affecting gastrointestinal tract associated with high altitude.