Exploration of transfer learning techniques for the prediction of PM.

Modelling of pollutants provides valuable insights into air quality dynamics, aiding exposure assessment where direct measurements are not viable. Machine learning (ML) models can be employed to explore such dynamics, including the prediction of air pollution concentrations, yet demanding extensive training data. To address this, techniques like transfer learning (TL) leverage knowledge from a model trained on a rich dataset to enhance one trained on a sparse dataset, provided there are similarities in data distribution.

Photon-counting-detector CT outperforms state-of-the-art cone-beam and energy-integrated-detector CT in delineation of dental root canals.

This experimental phantom study investigates current standard of care protocols in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), energy-integrating-detector (EID) CT, and photon-counting-detector (PCD) CT regarding their potential in delineation of dental root canals. Artificial accessory canals (diameters: 1000, 600, 400, 300 and 200 μm) were drilled into three bovine teeth mounted on a bovine rib as a jaw substitute. The phantom was scanned in two dental CBCTs, two EID-CTs and a PCD-CT using standard clinical protocols.

Compact inverse designed vertical coupler with bottom reflector for sub-decibel fiber-to-chip coupling on silicon on insulator platform.

Inverse design via topology optimization has led to innovations in integrated photonics and offers a promising way for designing high-efficiency on-chip couplers with a minimal footprint. In this work, we exploit topology optimization to design a compact vertical coupler incorporating a bottom reflector, which achieves sub-decibel coupling efficiency on the 220-nm silicon-on-insulator platform. The final design of the vertical coupler yields a predicted coupling efficiency of -0.

Efficient and accurate determination of the degree of substitution of cellulose acetate using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and machine learning.

Multiple linear regression models were trained to predict the degree of substitution (DS) of cellulose acetate based on raw infrared (IR) spectroscopic data. A repeated k-fold cross validation ensured unbiased assessment of model accuracy. Using the DS obtained from H NMR data as reference, the machine learning model achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.

Nephrectomy in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A consensus statement of the ERA Genes & Kidney Working Group.

A substantial number of patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) undergo a nephrectomy, especially in work-up for a kidney transplantation. Currently, there is no evidence-based algorithm to guide clinicians which patients should undergo nephrectomy, the optimal timing of this procedure, or the preferred surgical technique. This systematic review-based consensus statement aimed to answer important questions regarding nephrectomy in ADPKD.

Beta-tricalcium phosphate patient-specific gap implants in bilateral sagittal split osteotomy: an innovative treatment method to enhance the mandibular border contour. Part 1: concept and workflow.

Antegonial notching can occur after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) and may lead to unpleasant aesthetic outcomes in both young and older patients. This clinical study presents a new concept to potentially overcome this problem and describes the workflow. Beta-tricalcium phosphate patient-specific gap implants (β-TCP gap-PSIs) are biocompatible and resorbable bone grafts that are placed in the space of the osteotomy gap during orthognathic procedures; they are virtually planned and printed in 3D.

Advanced Automated Model for Robust Bone Marrow Segmentation in Whole-body MRI.

Rationale And Objectives: To establish an advanced automated bone marrow (BM) segmentation model on whole-body (WB-)MRI in monoclonal plasma cell disorders (MPCD), and to demonstrate its robust performance on multicenter datasets with severe myeloma-related pathologies.

Materials And Methods: The study cohort comprised multi-vendor, multi-protocol imaging data acquired with varying field strength across 8 different centers. In total, 210 WB-MRIs of 207 MPCD patients were included.

The utilization of a spare ureter to create a continent catheterizable channel to the bladder in pediatric patients.

Introduction: Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) has significant advantages over indwelling catheters. To facilitate CIC, a continent catheterizable channel (CCC) to the bladder is required in some cases. The Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy (APV) is considered the gold standard for pediatric CCC creation.

Physical activity, cathepsin B, and cognitive health.

Regular physical activity (PA) is beneficial for cognitive health, and cathepsin B (CTSB) - a protease released by skeletal muscle during PA - acts as a potential molecular mediator of this association. PA-induced metabolic and mechanical stress appears to increase plasma/serum CTSB levels. CTSB facilitates neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in brain regions (e.

Structural insights into actin filament turnover.

The dynamic turnover of actin filaments drives the morphogenesis and migration of all eukaryotic cells. This review summarizes recent insights into the molecular mechanisms of actin polymerization and disassembly obtained through high-resolution structures of actin filament assemblies. We first describe how, upon polymerization, actin subunits age within the filament through changes in their associated adenine nucleotide.

Incidence and Outcomes of Secondary Bladder Cancer Following Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: There is an established association between secondary bladder cancers (SBCs) and radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PC), which remains a significant concern. Our aim was to update the evidence on SBC incidence across different RT modalities and to compare oncological outcomes for patients diagnosed with SBC to those diagnosed with primary bladder cancer (PBC).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies on SBC following PC.

Use and acceptance of video consultation among adults insured by statutory health insurance provider in Germany: A nationwide online survey.

Introduction: The increasing digitalization of the healthcare system makes it possible to provide medical services using digital technologies without direct patient-provider contact. This study aimed to investigate 1) the use and acceptance of video consultation and 2) factors associated with the use of video consultation.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in February 2023.

Green Nuclear Medicine and Radiotheranostics.

There is a significantly growing interest in diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, and it is foreseeable that an unprecedented number of patients will need to be treated with new nuclear medicine therapies. This predicted increase will have potentially significant environmental impacts. In this discussion, we show different areas of impact, as well as possible measures to reduce such impact.

KDIGO 2025 clinical practice guideline for the evaluation, management, and treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD): executive summary.

The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation, Management, and Treatment of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) represents the first KDIGO guideline on this subject. Its scope includes nomenclature, diagnosis, prognosis, and prevalence; kidney manifestations; chronic kidney disease (CKD) management and progression, kidney failure, and kidney replacement therapy; therapies to delay progression of kidney disease; polycystic liver disease; intracranial aneurysms and other extrarenal manifestations; lifestyle and psychosocial aspects; pregnancy and reproductive issues; pediatric issues; and approaches to the management of people with ADPKD. The guideline has been developed with patient partners, clinicians, and researchers around the world, with the goal to generate a useful resource for healthcare providers and patients by providing actionable recommendations.

Comparative effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment strategies for relapse prevention in first-episode schizophrenia in Finland: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The best pharmacological treatment practices for relapse prevention in patients with first-episode schizophrenia are unclear. We aimed to assess different treatment strategies used before and after the first relapse, and their associations with subsequent relapse risk.

Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we enrolled individuals (aged ≤45 years) with first-episode schizophrenia who were hospitalised and subsequently relapsed between 1996 and 2014 from the nationwide Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.

Shorter and inflexible intrinsic neural timescales of the self in schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia is hypothesized to involve a disturbance in the temporal dynamics of self-processing, specifically within the interoceptive, exteroceptive, and cognitive layers of the self. This study aimed to investigate the intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) within these self-processing layers among people with schizophrenia.

Methods: We conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate INTs, as measured by the autocorrelation window, among people with schizophrenia and healthy controls during both resting-state and task (memory encoding and retrieval) conditions.

Free Energy, Rates, and Mechanism of Transmembrane Dimerization in Lipid Bilayers from Dynamically Unbiased Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

The assembly of proteins in membranes plays a key role in many crucial cellular pathways. Despite their importance, characterizing transmembrane assembly remains challenging for experiments and simulations. Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations do not cover the time scales required to sample the typical transmembrane assembly.

Microneedle patch-involved local therapy synergized with immune checkpoint inhibitor for pre- and post-operative cancer treatment.

The metastasis and recurrence of cancer post-surgery remain the major reasons for treatment failures. Herein, a photo-immune nanoparticle decorating with M1 macrophage membrane (BD@LM) is designed based on the inflammatory environment after surgical resection. By loading photosensitizer black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) and chemotherapeutics doxorubicin (DOX) in BD@LM nanoparticles, an effective chemophototherapy-mediated immunogenic cell death of tumor cells is triggered, subsequently leading to the maturation of dendritic cells for further immune cascade.

Phase II Randomized Trial of BI 730357, a Novel Oral RORγt Inhibitor, for Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Trial Design: This two-part, double-blinded trial assessed the truncated retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ (RORγt) inhibitor BI 730357 in plaque psoriasis.

Methods: Part 1: patients were randomized 2:2:2:2:1 to BI 730357 25, 50, 100, 200 mg, or placebo once daily (qd; fasting conditions); non-responders switched to higher doses. Part 2: a separate patient set was randomized 4:4:1 to BI 730357 400 mg qd, 200 mg twice daily, or placebo (fed conditions).