Feasibility of very low iodine dose aortoiliac CT angiography using dual-source photon-counting detector CT.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of aortoiliac CT-Angiography (CTA) using dual-source photon-counting detector (PCD)-CT with minimal iodine dose.

Methods: This IRB-approved, single-center prospective study enrolled patients with indications for aortoiliac CTA from December 2022 to March 2023. All scans were performed using a first-generation dual-source PCD-CT.

Impact of intravenous CT contrast agents on internal calibration techniques to determine trabecular BMD of the lumbar spine.

Objectives: Contrast agents are frequently administered in computed tomography (CT) scans used for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis. The objective of this study is to compare the impact of contrast-related bone mineral density (BMD) increase between phantom-based and internal CT calibration techniques.

Materials And Methods: Phantom-based and internal CT calibration techniques were used to determine trabecular BMD in 93 existing clinical CT scans of the lumbar spine of 34 subjects, scanned before and after administration of contrast agents.

Feasibility of on-site CT-FFR analysis on cardiac photon-counting CT in evaluation of hemodynamically significant stenosis in comparison to invasive catheter angiography.

Objectives: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is an excellent tool in ruling out coronary artery disease (CAD) but tends to overestimate especially highly calcified plaques. To reduce diagnostic invasive catheter angiographies (ICA), current guidelines recommend CT-FFR to determine the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis. Photon-Counting Detector CT (PCCT) revolutionized CCTA and may improve CT-FFR analysis in guiding patients.

Participation interest and completion of home blood pressure measurements with mailed devices in adults with and without hypertension.

Objectives: Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is valuable for the detection and monitoring of hypertension. Despite logistical advantages, HBPM has not yet been used in national blood pressure (BP) surveys. We investigated randomly selected adults' willingness to participate in an HBPM study (attitude survey) and piloted this approach (feasibility study).

The WIRS motifs in Fat2 are required for Drosophila egg chamber rotation but not for elongation.

The elongation of tissues and organs is important for proper morphogenesis in animal development. In Drosophila ovaries, the elongation of egg chambers involves aligned Collagen IV fiber-like structures, a gradient of extracellular matrix stiffness and actin-based protrusion-driven collective cell migration, leading to the rotation of the egg chamber. Egg chamber elongation and rotation depend on the atypical cadherin Fat2.

Digital Teaching and Learning Media for Nursing and Health Care Courses in Germany: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: In Germany, digital transformation and legal regulations are leading to the need to integrate digital technologies into the nursing profession. In addition, to nursing practice, they are also being incorporated into nursing training. Despite comprehensive regulations regarding the use of digital teaching and learning media in nursing education, their specific applicability and implementation vary.

Guest Segregation in Heteromeric Multicage Systems.

Dynamically interconvertible metallo-supramolecular multicomponent assemblies, coexisting orthogonally in solution, serve as simplified mimics for complex networks found in biological systems. Building on recent advances in controlling the nonstatistical self-assembly of heteroleptic coordination cages and heteromeric completive self-sorting, i.e.

Morphological Evolution of Sn-Metal-Based Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Operando X-Ray Imaging.

Sn-based electrodes are promising candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, it suffers from deleterious micro-structural deformation as it undergoes drastic volume changes upon lithium insertion and extraction. Progress in designing these materials is limited to complex structures.

Unveiling the Werner-Type Cluster Chemistry of Heterometallic 4f/Post-Transition Metals: A {DyBi} Complex Exhibiting Quantum Tunneling Steps in the Hysteresis Loops and its 1-D Congener.

A new [DyBiOCl(saph)] () Werner-type cluster has been prepared, which is the first Dy/Bi polynuclear compound with no metal-metal bond and one of the very few Ln-Bi (Ln = lanthanide) heterometallic complexes reported to date. The molecular compound has been deliberately transformed to its 1-D analogue [DyBiO(N)(saph)] () via the replacement of the terminal Cl ions by end-to-end bridging N groups. The overall metallic skeleton of (and ) can be described as consisting of a diamagnetic {Bi} unit with an elongated trigonal bipyramidal topology, surrounded by a magnetic {Dy} equilateral triangle, which does not contain μ-oxo/hydroxo/alkoxo groups.

High coverage and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in two vulnerable areas in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations for about 86 individuals per 100 population as of 5 July 2023. However, ensuring higher coverage in vulnerable areas is challenging. We report on the COVID-19 vaccine uptake and associated factors among adults in two vulnerable areas in Bangladesh.

Adaptation optimizes sensory encoding for future stimuli.

Sensory neurons continually adapt their response characteristics according to recent stimulus history. However, it is unclear how such a reactive process can benefit the organism. Here, we test the hypothesis that adaptation actually acts proactively in the sense that it optimally adjusts sensory encoding for future stimuli.

Neural plasticity in early potters: Shape analysis and TMS-EEG co-registration trace the rise of a new motor skill.

In this study, we explored the biocultural mechanisms underlying ancient craft behaviours. Archaeological methods were integrated with neuroscience techniques to explore the impact on neuroplasticity resulting from the introduction of early pottery techniques. The advent of ceramic marked a profound change in the economy and socio-cultural dynamics of past societies.

Characteristics of ChatGPT users from Germany: Implications for the digital divide from web tracking data.

A major challenge of our time is reducing disparities in access to and effective use of digital technologies, with recent discussions highlighting the role of AI in exacerbating the digital divide. We examine user characteristics that predict usage of the AI-powered conversational agent ChatGPT. We combine behavioral and survey data in a web tracked sample of N = 1376 German citizens to investigate differences in ChatGPT activity (usage, visits, and adoption) during the first 11 months from the launch of the service (November 30, 2022).

The Cost of Randomness in Evolutionary Algorithms: Crossover Can Save Random Bits.

Evolutionary algorithms make countless random decisions during selection, mutation and crossover operations. These random decisions require a steady stream of random numbers. We analyze the expected number of random bits used throughout a run of an evolutionary algorithm and refer to this as the cost of randomness.

Prediction of microbial crude protein flow from the rumen of dairy cattle by means of dietary characteristics - a meta-analysis.

Protein supply to ruminants relies mainly on the flow of microbial crude protein (MCP) from the rumen, which is commonly assumed to primarily depend on energy supply. This study evaluated this assumption with recent data and tested if ruminally fermented organic matter (FOM) was a better predictor of MCP flow than total-tract digestible organic matter (DOM) and if more variables could improve the prediction of MCP flow. A previously published data set was extended by additional studies resulting in a data set of 139 studies including 407 treatment means, typical to Central European rations.

Enhancement of Transdermal Drug Delivery: Integrating Microneedles with Biodegradable Microparticles.

This investigation aimed to enhance transdermal methotrexate delivery through human skin by employing Dr. Pen microneedles and poly(d,l-lactide--glycolide) acid microparticles formulated from eight polymer grades (Expansorb DLG 95-4A, DLG 75-5A, DLG 50-2A, DLG 50-5A, DLG 50-8A, DLG 50-6P, DLG 50-7P, and DLL 10-15A). A comprehensive characterization of the microparticles was performed, encompassing various parameters such as size, charge, morphology, microencapsulation efficiency, yield, release kinetics, and chemical composition.

Low functional change despite high taxonomic turnover characterizes the microbiome across a 2000-km salinity gradient.

The green seaweed relies on associated bacteria for morphogenesis and is an important model to study algal-bacterial interactions. -associated bacteria exhibit high turnover across environmental gradients, leading to the hypothesis that bacteria contribute to the acclimation potential of the host. However, the functional variation of these bacteria in relation to environmental changes remains unclear.

Inherent differential microbial assemblages and functions associated with corals exhibiting different thermal phenotypes.

Certain coral individuals exhibit enhanced resistance to thermal bleaching, yet the specific microbial assemblages and their roles in these phenotypes remain unclear. We compared the microbial communities of thermal bleaching-resistant (TBR) and thermal bleaching-sensitive (TBS) corals using metabarcoding and metagenomics. Our multidomain approach revealed stable distinct microbial compositions between thermal phenotypes.

A highly magnetized long-period radio transient exhibiting unusual emission features.

Long-period radio transients are a new class of astrophysical objects that exhibit periodic radio emission on timescales of tens of minutes. Their true nature remains unknown; possibilities include magnetic white dwarfs, binary systems, or long-period magnetars; the latter class is predicted to produce fast radio bursts (FRBs). Using the MeerKAT radio telescope, we conducted follow-up observations of the long-period radio transient GPM J1839-10.

Rationalizing Predictions of Isoform-Selective Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Inhibitors Using MolAnchor Analysis.

Explaining the predictions of machine learning models is of critical importance for integrating predictive modeling in drug discovery projects. We have generated a test system for predicting isoform selectivity of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors and systematically analyzed correct predictions of selective inhibitors using a new methodology termed MolAnchor, which is based on the "anchors" concept from explainable artificial intelligence. The approach is designed to generate chemically intuitive explanations of compound predictions.

The population dynamics of clustered consumer-resource spatial patterns: Insights from the demographics of a Turing mechanism.

In ecology, Alan Turing's proposed activation-inhibition mechanism has been abstracted as corresponding to several ecological interaction types to explain pattern formation in ecosystems. Consumer-resource interactions have strong theoretical arguments linking them to both the Turing mechanism and pattern formation, but there is little empirical support to demonstrate these claims. Here, we connect several lines of evidence to support the proposition that consumer-resource interactions can create empirically observed spatial patterns through a mechanism similar to Turing's theory.

The vacuolar phosphatases PAP26 and HIIA2.1 hydrolyze 5'-, 3'-, and 2'-nucleotides derived from RNA degradation.

The vacuole is an important site for RNA degradation. Autophagy delivers RNA to the vacuole, where the vacuolar T2 RNase Ribonuclease 2 (RNS2) plays a major role in RNA catabolism. The presumed products of RNS2 activity are 3'-nucleoside monophosphates (3'-NMPs).

Illuminating the dark mess of fibers: Application of circular cross polarized light in unravelling the bone tissue structure of the dermal pectoral girdle of Metoposaurus krasiejowensis.

Current understanding of the histology of the dermoskeleton of tetrapods comes from fossilized and recent remains of skulls, osteoderms, carapace, plastron and other postcranial material which were always investigated using linear cross polarized light (LCPL) microscopy. The pectoral girdle of vast majority of non-amniote tetrapods, including temnospondyls evolved large ventrally located dermal bones- the interclavicle and a pair of clavicles. Despite that, there is a lack of information about the bone tissue structure from these postcranial dermal bones.

Efficacy and safety of finerenone in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes by diuretic use: A FIDELITY analysis.

Aims: This post hoc analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone by baseline diuretic use in FIDELITY, a pre-specified pooled analysis of the phase III trials FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD.

Methods And Results: Eligible patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD; urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] ≥30-<300 mg/g and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥25-≤90 ml/min/1.73 m, or UACR ≥300-≤5000 mg/g and eGFR ≥25 ml/min/1.

Resolving spatially distinct phytohormone response zones in Arabidopsis thaliana roots colonized by Fusarium oxysporum.

Jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET) and salicylic acid (SA) are the three major phytohormones coordinating plant defense responses, and all three are implicated in the defense against the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. However, their distinct modes of action and possible interactions remain unknown, in part because all spatial information on their activity is lacking. Here, we set out to probe this spatial aspect of plant immunity by using live-microscopy with newly developed fluorescence-based transcriptional reporter lines.