Unmasking the Area Postrema on MRI: Utility of 3D FLAIR, 3D-T2, and 3D-DIR Sequences in a Case-Control Study.

The area postrema (AP) is a key circumventricular organ involved in the regulation of autonomic functions. Accurate identification of the AP via MRI is essential in neuroimaging but it is challenging. This study evaluated 3D FSE Cube T2WI, 3D FSE Cube FLAIR, and 3D DIR sequences to improve AP detection in patients with and without multiple sclerosis (MS).

Skin Lesion Classification Through Test Time Augmentation and Explainable Artificial Intelligence.

Despite significant advancements in the automatic classification of skin lesions using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, skepticism among physicians persists. This reluctance is primarily due to the lack of transparency and explainability inherent in these models, which hinders their widespread acceptance in clinical settings. The primary objective of this study is to develop a highly accurate AI-based algorithm for skin lesion classification that also provides visual explanations to foster trust and confidence in these novel diagnostic tools.

Differences in Arrhythmia Detection Between Harvard Step Test and Maximal Exercise Testing in a Paediatric Sports Population.

Background: Sport practice may elevate the risk of cardiovascular events, including sudden cardiac death, in athletes with undiagnosed heart conditions. In Italy, pre-participation screening includes a resting ECG and either the Harvard Step Test (HST) or maximal exercise testing (MET), but the relative efficacy of the latter two tests for detecting arrhythmias and heart conditions remains unclear.

Methods: This study examined 511 paediatric athletes (8-18 years, 76.

The Role of Advanced Cardiac Imaging in Monitoring Cardiovascular Complications in Patients with Extracardiac Tumors: A Descriptive Review.

Cardiac involvement in cancer is increasingly important in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients. A thorough cardiovascular evaluation using multimodal imaging is crucial to assess any direct cardiac involvement from oncological disease progression and to determine the cardiovascular risk of patients undergoing oncological therapies. Early detection of cardiac dysfunction, particularly due to cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is essential to establish the disease's overall prognostic impact.

Reverse Osmosis Coupled with Ozonation for Clean Water Recovery from an Industrial Effluent: Technical and Economic Analyses.

Technical and economic criteria were used to evaluate the feasibility of the treatment of an industrial effluent (10 m/h) for water recovery and reuse. The treatment evaluation included the following: (1) effluent characteristic determination; (2) selection and evaluation of the effluent treatment at lab scale, establishing operating conditions and process efficiency; (3) scaling up the treatment process to the industrial level; (4) treatment plant design and commercial availability analysis of the required equipment; and (5) the costs of the inversion and operation of the plant treatment, cost/m for water recovery, and time of investment recovery. The physicochemical characteristics of the effluent exposed the polluted wastewater with sodium chloride salts and colourants, predominating a mixture of tartrazine, Red 40, and brilliant blue from the synthesis of food additives.

Health Professionals' Preferences for Next-Generation Sequencing in the Diagnosis of Suspected Genetic Disorders in the Paediatric Population.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can explain how genetics influence morbidity and mortality in children. However, it is unclear whether health providers will perceive and use such treatments. We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to understand Italian health professionals' preferences for NGS to improve the diagnosis of paediatric genetic diseases.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Advancing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a widely performed surgical procedure that has evolved significantly due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. As demand for THA grows, reliable tools are essential to enhance diagnosis, preoperative planning, surgical precision, and postoperative rehabilitation. AI applications in orthopedic surgery offer innovative solutions, including automated hip osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis, precise implant positioning, and personalized risk stratification, thereby improving patient outcomes.

The Need for Standardized Guidelines for the Use of Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) in the Early Diagnosis of Sepsis.

Sepsis is a complex and potentially life-threatening syndrome characterized by an abnormal immune response to an infection, which can lead to organ dysfunction, septic shock, and death. Early diagnosis is crucial to improving prognosis and reducing hospital management costs. This narrative review aims to summarize and evaluate the current literature on the role of monocyte distribution width (MDW) as a diagnostic biomarker for sepsis, highlighting its advantages, limitations, and potential clinical applications.

Is WALANT Really Necessary in Outpatient Surgery?

: The Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique has revolutionized outpatient hand surgery, enabling procedures such as carpal tunnel release and trigger finger release without a tourniquet. Its benefits include patient cooperation during surgery, especially for tendon repairs. However, WALANT has limitations, including a steep learning curve, longer operative preparation time, and risks such as digital ischemia and adrenaline-induced cardiac ischemia.

Outlining the Psychological Profile of Persistent Depression in Fibromyalgia Patients Through Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI).

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex condition marked by increased pain sensitivity and central sensitization. Studies often explore the link between FM and depressive anxiety disorders, but few focus on dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), which can be more disabling than major depression (MD). To identify clinical scales and subscales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) that effectively describe and differentiate the psychological profile of PDD, with or without comorbid MD, in FM patients with PDD previously dimensionally classified by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III).

Insights from a Genome-Wide Study of UADEC20: A Promising Strain for Phosphate Solubilization and Exopolysaccharides Production.

The genome sequence of UADEC20 is presented, which is a strain isolated from agricultural fields in northeast Mexico. The genome was assembled into 13 scaffolds, constituting a total chromosome size of 4.2 Mbp, with two of the scaffolds representing closed plasmids.

Plant miRNAs for Improved Gene Regulation in a Wide Range of Human Cancers.

Determining the relationships between miRNA expression, target genes, and cancer development is critical to cancer research. The possibility of correlating miRNA expression with plant or artificial ones provides prerequisites for cancer treatment. Based on the broad database of human miRNA expression for all cancer types, we grade human miRNAs by their expression level.

Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques.

Plastic pollution, particularly from microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), has become a critical environmental and health concern due to their widespread distribution, persistence, and potential toxicity. MPs and NPs originate from primary sources, such as cosmetic microspheres or synthetic fibers, and secondary fragmentation of larger plastics through environmental degradation. These particles, typically less than 5 mm, are found globally, from deep seabeds to human tissues, and are known to adsorb and release harmful pollutants, exacerbating ecological and health risks.

MicroVi: A Cost-Effective Microscopy Solution for Yeast Cell Detection and Count in Wine Value Chain.

In recent years, the wine industry has been researching how to improve wine quality along the production value chain. In this scenario, we present here a new tool, MicroVi, a cost-effective chip-sized microscopy solution to detect and count yeast cells in wine samples. We demonstrate that this novel microscopy setup is able to measure the same type of samples as an optical microscopy system, but with smaller size equipment and with automated cell count configuration.

Influence of Synthesis Conditions on the Capacitance Performance of Hydrothermally Prepared MnO for Carbon Xerogel-Based Solid-State Supercapacitors.

In this study, the potential to modify the phase structure and morphology of manganese dioxide synthesized via the hydrothermal route was explored. A series of samples were prepared at different synthesis temperatures (100, 120, 140, and 160 °C) using KMnO and MnSO·HO as precursors. The phase composition and morphology of the materials were analyzed using various physicochemical methods.

Enhancing the Oxidative Stability of Beeswax-Canola Oleogels: Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Alpha-Tocopherol on Their Physical and Chemical Properties.

The choice of antioxidant to be used in the formulation of an oleogel is crucial to determine its oxidative stability and functionality, as these factors can also affect the physical, chemical, and rheological properties of the oleogel. In this study, the effect of two antioxidants (ascorbic acid, AA, and alpha-tocopherol, AT) and their concentration (0.01, 0.

Decision-Making Styles, Prosociality, and Behavioral Difficulties in Adolescent Offenders: The Mediating Role of Life Satisfaction and Emotional Experiences.

Research on adolescents suggests that decision-making styles, emotional experiences, and life satisfaction play a crucial role in emotional and behavioral difficulties and the development of prosocial behaviors. This study analyzed the relationship between decision-making styles, prosociality, and difficulties among adolescent offenders, as well as the mediating role of life satisfaction and emotional experiences in this relationship. A total of 457 adolescents aged from 14 to 19 years (M = 16.

The Effect of Free Weight Resistance Training on Cognitive Function Explored Through Eye Tracking: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

In this study, we investigated the impact of a 10-week free weight resistance training (RT) program on cognitive function in healthy young adults. In this randomized controlled trial, 18 participants were assigned to either an experimental or control group. We assessed cognitive function by using eye-tracking (ET) technology during text processing tasks.

Multi-Ligament Reconstruction in an Adolescent Female Affected by Congenital Femoral Deficiency and Complete Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligament agenesis: A Case Report.

Multi-ligament reconstruction in adolescent patients affected by congenital femoral deficiency is an extremely rare and delicate surgical procedure. There are very few reported cases of complete anterior and posterior cruciate ligament agenesis in these patients. We present a complex case of a 16-year-old girl affected by congenital femoral deficiency and ipsilateral tibial hypoplasia who was treated successfully for a complete agenesis of the anterior (ACL) and posterior (PCL) cruciate ligament with single-sitting ACL and PCL reconstruction.

Osteoblastic Differentiation and Mitigation of the Inflammatory Response in Titanium Alloys Decorated with Oligopeptides.

Under benign conditions, bone tissue can regenerate itself without external intervention. However, this regenerative capacity can be compromised by various factors, most importantly related with the extent of the injury. Critical-sized defects, exceeding the body's natural healing ability, demand the use of temporary or permanent devices like artificial joints or bone substitutes.

Influence of the Sodium Titanate Crystal Size of Biomimetic Dental Implants on Osteoblastic Behavior: An In Vitro Study.

Treating the surfaces of dental implants in an alkaline medium allows us to obtain microstructures of sodium titanate crystals that favor the appearance of apatite in the physiological environment, producing osteoconductive surfaces. In this research, 385 discs made of titanium used in dental implants underwent different NaOH treatments with a 6M concentration at 600 °C and cooling rates of 20, 50, 75, and 115 °C/h. Using high-resolution electron microscopy, the microstructures were observed, and the different crystal sizes were determined and compared with control samples (those without biomimetic treatment).

An Open-Source 3D Printed Three-Fingered Robotic Gripper for Adaptable and Effective Grasping.

This research focuses on the design of a three-finger adaptive gripper using additive manufacturing and electromechanical actuators, with the purpose of providing a low-cost, efficient, and reliable solution for easy integration with any robot arm for industrial and research purposes. During the development phase, 3D printing materials were employed in the gripper's design, with Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament used for the rigid mechanical components and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) for the flexible membranes that distribute pressure to the resistive force sensors. Stress analysis and simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the components under load and to gradually refine the design of the adaptive gripper.

Nature-Inspired Metaheuristic Optimization for Control Tuning of Complex Systems.

In this contribution, a methodology for the optimal tuning of controllers of complex systems based on meta-heuristic techniques is proposed. Two bio-inspired meta-heuristic optimization algorithms -the Antlion Optimizer (ALO) and the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)- have been applied to two different dynamic systems: the Hoop & Ball electromechanical system, a system where a linearized description is adequate; and to a Wind Turbine-Generator-Rectifier, as an example of a complex non-linear dynamic system. The performance of the ALO and WOA techniques for the tuning of conventional PID controllers is evaluated in relation to the number of agents nS and the maximum number of iterations nMaxIter; given the stochastic nature of both methods, repeatability is also addressed.

Statistical Complexity Analysis of Sleep Stages.

Studying sleep stages is crucial for understanding sleep architecture, which can help identify various health conditions, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and neurodegenerative diseases, allowing for better diagnosis and treatment interventions. In this paper, we explore the effectiveness of generalized weighted permutation entropy (GWPE) in distinguishing between different sleep stages from EEG signals. Using classification algorithms, we evaluate feature sets derived from both standard permutation entropy (PE) and GWPE to determine which set performs better in classifying sleep stages, demonstrating that GWPE significantly enhances sleep stage differentiation, particularly in identifying the transition between N1 and REM sleep.

Quadratic Forms in Random Matrices with Applications in Spectrum Sensing.

Quadratic forms with random kernel matrices are ubiquitous in applications of multivariate statistics, ranging from signal processing to time series analysis, biomedical systems design, wireless communications performance analysis, and other fields. Their statistical characterization is crucial to both design guideline formulation and efficient computation of performance indices. To this end, random matrix theory can be successfully exploited.