Biodegradable stimulating electrodes for resident neural stem cell activation in vivo.

Brain stimulation has been recognized as a clinically effective strategy for treating neurological disorders. Endogenous brain neural precursor cells (NPCs) have been shown to be electrosensitive cells that respond to electrical stimulation by expanding in number, undergoing directed cathodal migration, and differentiating into neural phenotypes in vivo, supporting the application of electrical stimulation to promote neural repair. In this study, we present the design of a flexible and biodegradable brain stimulation electrode for temporally regulated neuromodulation of NPCs.

Type B aortic dissection in Marfan patients after the David procedure: Insights from patient-specific simulation.

Objective: An elevated risk of acute type B aortic dissection exists in patients with Marfan syndrome after the David procedure. This study explores hemodynamic changes in the descending aorta postsurgery.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review identified 5 patients with Marfan syndrome who experienced acute type B aortic dissection within 6 years after the David procedure, alongside 5 matched patients with Marfan syndrome without dissection more than 6 years postsurgery.

Distributed parameter model of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in the identification of IDH mutation, 1p19q codeletion, and tumor cell proliferation in glioma patients.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical value of hemodynamic parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in predicting glioma genotypes including isocitrate dehydrogenase () mutation, codeletion status and the tumor proliferation index () noninvasively. And to compare the diagnostic performance of parameters of distributed parameter (DP)model and extended Tofts (Ex-Tofts) model.

Materials And Methods: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) data of patients with glioma were prospectively enrolled from April 2021 to May 2023.

Zoom Pattern Signatures for Fetal Ultrasound Structures.

During a fetal ultrasound scan, a sonographer will zoom in and zoom out as they attempt to get clearer images of the anatomical structures of interest. This paper explores how to use this zoom information which is an under-utilised piece of information that is extractable from fetal ultrasound images. We explore associating zooming patterns to specific structures.

Toward a better understanding of barriers to wayfinding technology use for people with disabilities.

Wayfinding is the process of navigating from one's present location to their desired location. While wayfinding technologies are increasingly used by people with disabilities, there is little understanding of the barriers specific to wayfinding technology. The objective of this study was to understand the wayfinding technology barriers experienced by Canadians with disabilities.

Interface-Engineered CuO@BiMoO Heterojunctions to Inhibit Piezoelectric Screening Effect and Promote Double-Nanozyme Catalysis for Antibacterial Treatment.

Sonodynamic therapy is confronted with the low acoustic efficiency of sonosensitizers, and nanozymes are accompanied by intrinsic low catalytic activity. Herein, to increase the piezopotential of N-type piezoelectric semiconductors, the P-N heterojunction is designed to inhibit the piezoelectric screening effect (PSE) and increase electron utilization efficiency to enhance nanozyme activity. P-type CuO nanoparticles are in situ grown on N-type piezoelectric BiMoO (BMO) nanoflakes (NFs) to construct heterostructured CuO@BMO by interface engineering.

Intervention development and optimisation of a multi-component digital intervention for the monitoring and management of hypertensive pregnancy: the My Pregnancy Care Intervention.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affect around 10% of pregnancies and remain a major cause of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Trials have shown that self-monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy is safe, but self-monitoring alone does not improve blood pressure control or pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to develop and optimise a multicomponent intervention to support blood pressure monitoring, hypertension management and urine testing within current care pathways.

Passive shimming of a 3T cryogen-free animal magnetic resonance imaging superconducting magnet with dense shim tray slots and small residual magnetic force.

Passive shimming is widely used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems due to its excellent efficacy and cost-effectiveness. However, conventional shim tray structures have difficulty in effectively adjusting magnetic field distributions under specific conditions. This limitation can lead to insufficient cancellation of harmonics and result in significant residual forces on the trays, impeding accurate placement of the trays.

Establishment of a Minimally Invasive Rat Model of Pulmonary Embolism Using Autologous Blood Clots.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death, resulting in a significant socioeconomic burden. Although current treatments primarily focus on anticoagulation and thrombolysis, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of its pathophysiology and the development of new treatment strategies. Animal models play a crucial role in understanding PE and developing new therapies for the disease, with rodents commonly used due to ethical and cost considerations.

Cell driven elastomeric particle packing in composite bioinks for engineering and implantation of stable 3D printed structures.

Geometric and structural integrity often deteriorate in 3D printed cell-laden constructs over time due to cellular compaction and hydrogel shrinkage. This study introduces a new approach that synergizes the advantages of cell compatibility of biological hydrogels and mechanical stability of elastomeric polymers for structure fidelity maintenance upon stereolithography and extrusion 3D printing. Enabling this advance is the composite bioink, formulated by integrating elastomeric microparticles from poly(octamethylene maleate (anhydride) citrate) (POMaC) into biologically derived hydrogels (fibrin, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and alginate).

Exploring Biomineralization Processes Using In Situ Liquid Transmission Electron Microscopy: A Review.

Liquid transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a newly established technique broadly used to study reactions in situ. Since its emergence, complex and multifaceted biomineralization processes have been revealed with real-time resolution, where classical and non-classical mineralization pathways have been dynamically observed primarily for Ca and Fe-based mineral systems in situ. For years, classical crystallization pathways have dominated theories on biomineralization progression despite observations of non-traditional routes involving precursor phases using traditional- and cryo-TEM.

Graph Theory and Modeling of Network Topology in Clinical Neurosurgery.

The last several decades have seen a shift in understanding many neurological disorders as abnormalities in brain networks rather than specific brain regions. This conceptual revolution, coupled with advancements in computing capabilities and resources, has enabled a wealth of research on delineating and treating aberrant brain networks. One approach to network neuroscience, graph theory, involves modeling network topologies as mathematical graphs and computing various metrics that describe its characteristics.

A multimodal imaging approach to investigate retinal oxygen and vascular dynamics, and neural dysfunction in bietti crystalline dystrophy.

Background: This study aimed to explore retinal changes in Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) patients, including retinal metabolism, blood flow, vascular remodeling, and pupillary light reflex (PLR) abnormalities.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 120 eyes from BCD patients and 120 eyes from healthy controls, utilizing a multimodal imaging system (MEFIAS 3200, SYSEYE, Chongqing, China) to evaluate retinal oxygenation, blood flow, vascular structure, and PLR. Measurements included oxygen saturation, blood flow velocity, vessel diameters, and pulsatility metrics.

Integrating PET/CT, radiomics and clinical data: An advanced multi-modal approach for lymph node metastasis prediction in prostate cancer.

The involvement of lymph nodes critically affects patient outcomes in prostate cancer. While traditional risk models use factors like stage and PSA levels, the detection of lymph node involvement through modalities like PET targeting PSMA with Ga radiotracer plays a pivotal role in guiding treatments ranging from prostatectomy to pelvic radiotherapy. This study aims to create a deep learning model to predict lymph node involvement in intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer patients using Ga-PSMA PET/CT imagery, radiomics features, and various clinical parameters.

Comprehensive utilization of in silico approach and in vitro experiment to unveil the molecular mechanisms of mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced lung adenocarcinoma.

Mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the main bioactive metabolite of commonly used plasticizer Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, has received increasing attention due to its carcinogenic toxicity. This study aims to systematically explore the molecular mechanisms underlying MEHP-induced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Firstly, network toxicology was employed to construct the interaction network of MEHP-targeted LUAD-related proteins and identify core proteins.

Analysis of the Abasic Sites in Breast Cancer Patients With 5 Year Postoperative Treatment Without Recurrence in Taiwan.

Purpose: This prospective study aimed to investigate estrogen-induced carcinogenesis by assessing the background levels of abasic sites (apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, AP sites) in Taiwanese breast cancer patients following 5 years of postoperative treatment without recurrence (5-year survivors) (n = 70). The study also sought to compare the extent of these DNA lesions with those found in healthy controls and in breast cancer patients prior to treatment.

Methods: Abasic sites were measured using an aldehyde reactive probe and quantified as the total number of abasic sites per total nucleotides.

Real-Time Wireless Detection of Heavy Metal Ions Using a Self-Powered Triboelectric Nanosensor Integrated with an Autonomous Thermoelectric Generator-Powered Robotic System.

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) with advanced sensing technologies is transforming environmental monitoring and public health protection. In this study, a fully self-powered and automated chemical sensing system is developed and integrated with a robotic hand for "touch and sense" detection of toxic heavy metal ions (Pb⁺, Cr⁶⁺, As⁺) in aquatic environments. The system combines a self-powered solid-liquid triboelectric nanosensor (SL-TENS) with a thermoelectric generator (TEG), which harnesses ambient heat to power the robotic hand, eliminating the need for external power sources.

Notoginsenoside R1 Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity by Inducing Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression and Suppressing Oxidative Stress.

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity occurs in approximately half of patients treated with cisplatin, and pediatric patients are more likely to be affected than adults. The oxidative stress elicited by cisplatin is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of ototoxicity. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), the main bioactive compound of saponins, has antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects.

Hierarchical Fusion of Infrared and Visible Images Based on Channel Attention Mechanism and Generative Adversarial Networks.

In order to solve the problem that existing visible and infrared image fusion methods rely only on the original local or global information representation, which has the problem of edge blurring and non-protrusion of salient targets, this paper proposes a layered fusion method based on channel attention mechanism and improved Generative Adversarial Network (HFCA_GAN). Firstly, the infrared image and visible image are decomposed into a base layer and fine layer, respectively, by a guiding filter. Secondly, the visible light base layer is fused with the infrared image base layer by histogram mapping enhancement to improve the contour effect.

Towards the Development of the Clinical Decision Support System for the Identification of Respiration Diseases via Lung Sound Classification Using 1D-CNN.

Respiratory disorders are commonly regarded as complex disorders to diagnose due to their multi-factorial nature, encompassing the interplay between hereditary variables, comorbidities, environmental exposures, and therapies, among other contributing factors. This study presents a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for the early detection of respiratory disorders using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) model. The ICBHI 2017 Breathing Sound Database, which contains samples of different breathing sounds, was used in this research.

The Influence of Iron Content on the Porosity of AlSi9 Alloy Intended for Alfining Piston Ring Inserts.

Due to its tendency to increase the power of engines, improving their reliability and operational efficiency, the compression ring in combustion engine pistons is embedded in a cast iron insert, which is subjected to the process of "alfining". This involves covering the insert with an Al-Si alloy, which increases the iron content. Research has shown that the β-AlFeSi phases crystallizing in the area of the insert-piston connection are the main cause of an unstable connection between the silumin casting of the piston and the ring insert.

Enhanced Experimental Setup and Methodology for the Investigation of Corrosion Fatigue in Metallic Biodegradable Implant Materials.

Biodegradable implants as bone fixations may present a safe alternative to traditional permanent implants, reducing the risk of infections, promoting bone healing, and eliminating the need for removal surgeries. Structural integrity is an important consideration when choosing an implant material. As a biodegradable implant is being resorbed, until the natural bone has regrown, the implant material needs to provide mechanical stability.