Explainable AI-Based Skin Cancer Detection Using CNN, Particle Swarm Optimization and Machine Learning.

Skin cancer is among the most prevalent cancers globally, emphasizing the need for early detection and accurate diagnosis to improve outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods, based on visual examination, are subjective, time-intensive, and require specialized expertise. Current artificial intelligence (AI) approaches for skin cancer detection face challenges such as computational inefficiency, lack of interpretability, and reliance on standalone CNN architectures.

X-Ray Image-Based Real-Time COVID-19 Diagnosis Using Deep Neural Networks (CXR-DNNs).

On 11 February 2020, the prevalent outbreak of COVID-19, a coronavirus illness, was declared a global pandemic. Since then, nearly seven million people have died and over 765 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported. The goal of this study is to develop a diagnostic tool for detecting COVID-19 infections more efficiently.

Point-Cloud Instance Segmentation for Spinning Laser Sensors.

In this paper, we face the point-cloud segmentation problem for spinning laser sensors from a deep-learning (DL) perspective. Since the sensors natively provide their measurements in a 2D grid, we directly use state-of-the-art models designed for visual information for the segmentation task and then exploit the range information to ensure 3D accuracy. This allows us to effectively address the main challenges of applying DL techniques to point clouds, i.

Current Role of CT Pulmonary Angiography in Pulmonary Embolism: A State-of-the-Art Review.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on the current role of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in the diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). It addresses key topics such as the quantification of the thrombotic burden, its role as a predictor of mortality, new diagnostic techniques that are available, the possibility of analyzing the thrombus composition to differentiate its evolutionary stage, and the applicability of artificial intelligence (AI) in PE through CTPA. The only finding from CTPA that has been validated as a prognostic factor so far is the right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) diameter ratio being >1, which is associated with a 2.

Real-Time Emotion Recognition for Improving the Teaching-Learning Process: A Scoping Review.

Emotion recognition (ER) is gaining popularity in various fields, including education. The benefits of ER in the classroom for educational purposes, such as improving students' academic performance, are gradually becoming known. Thus, real-time ER is proving to be a valuable tool for teachers as well as for students.

Enhanced YOLOv8 Ship Detection Empower Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Advanced Maritime Surveillance.

The evolution of maritime surveillance is significantly marked by the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning into Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). This paper presents an AI approach for detecting and tracking unmanned surface vehicles, specifically leveraging an enhanced version of YOLOv8, fine-tuned for maritime surveillance needs. Deployed on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 platform, the system features an innovative architecture and perception module optimized for real-time operations and energy efficiency.

Long-Term Dentin Bonding Performance of Universal Adhesives: The Effect of HEMA Content and Bioactive Resin Composite.

This study investigated the effects of resin composites (RCs) containing surface pre-reacted glass ionomer (S-PRG) filler on the dentin microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of HEMA-free and HEMA-containing universal adhesives (UAs). Water sorption (WS) and solubility (SL), degree of conversion (DC), and ion release were measured. The UAs BeautiBond Xtreme (BBX; 0% HEMA), Modified Adhesive-1 (E-BBX1; 5% HEMA), Modified Adhesive-2 (E-BBX2; 10% HEMA), and two 2-step self-etch adhesives (2-SEAs): FL-BOND II (FBII; with S-PRG filler) and silica-containing adhesive (E-FBII) were used.

Chemical Composition, Free Radicals and Pathogenic Microbes in the Extract Derived from : In Silico and In Vitro Approaches.

Marine algae are renowned for their health benefits due to the presence of functional bioactive compounds. In this context, this study aims to valorize the extract of a seaweed, (), through phytochemical characterization using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), as well as in vitro and in silico evaluation of its biological activities (antioxidant and antimicrobial). Phytochemical characterization revealed that the ethanolic extract of (DdEx) is rich in phenolic compounds, with a total of 22 phycocompounds identified.

Revealing the Potential of Linnaeus for Cosmetic Purposes: Chemical Profile and Biological Activities of Commercial and Wild Samples.

The natural products industry is gaining increasing interest, not only due to modern lifestyles becoming more aware of environmental and sustainability issues but also because of the loss of efficacy and undesirable side effects of synthetic ingredients. This pioneering study provides a comprehensive comparison between extracts obtained from wild and commercial samples of Linnaeus, highlighting their multifaceted benefits in cosmetic applications. The antiaging potential of acetone (70 and 90%) and ethanol 60% extracts from wild and commercial samples of , focusing on their application in cosmetics, was explored.

Enzymatic Interesterification of Cold-Pressed Maqui ( (Mol.) Stuntz) Seed Oil and Belly Oil from Rainbow Trout () Through Supercritical CO.

A new antioxidant lipid (AL) was synthesized from rainbow trout () belly oil and cold-pressed maqui (CPM) ( (Mol.) Stuntz) seed oil via enzymatic interesterification using in supercritical CO medium. A Box-Behnken design with 15 experiments was employed, with the independent variables being the following: belly oil/CPM oil ratio (10/90, 50/50, and 90/10, /), supercritical CO temperature (40.

Development of Novel Squid Gladius Biomaterials for Cornea Tissue Engineering.

Cornea tissue engineering is strictly dependent on the development of biomaterials that fulfill the strict biocompatibility, biomechanical, and optical requirements of this organ. In this work, we generated novel biomaterials from the squid gladius (SG), and their application in cornea tissue engineering was evaluated. Results revealed that the native SG (N-SG) was biocompatible in laboratory animals, although a local inflammatory reaction was driven by the material.

Cleft Palate and Presurgical Orthopedics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intra-Arch Dimensions During the First Year of Life.

: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of presurgical orthopedics (PSO) on maxillary arch dimensions in infants with cleft lip and palate during the first year of life. : The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive electronic search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, supplemented by manual searching.

Survival Outcomes in Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Sinonasal mucosal melanomas (SNMMs) are rare and aggressive malignancies with poor survival outcomes. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate overall survival (OS) rates in patients with SNMM; : We conducted a systematic search, following PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), and citation searching for studies reporting survival and prognosis outcomes for SNMMs. Inclusion criteria included studies with 5-year OS rates.

Advancing Phage Therapy: A Comprehensive Review of the Safety, Efficacy, and Future Prospects for the Targeted Treatment of Bacterial Infections.

Background: Phage therapy, a treatment utilizing bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections, is gaining attention as a promising alternative to antibiotics, particularly for managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of phage therapy by examining its safety, efficacy, influencing factors, future prospects, and regulatory considerations. The study also seeks to identify strategies for optimizing its application and to propose a systematic framework for its clinical implementation.

The Effectiveness of Topical Treatment for Plantar Warts: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Plantar warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), are a common condition that can be painful and resistant to treatment. There are various therapeutic options for managing them, but it is not always clear which are the most effective and tolerated by patients. Among the most commonly used treatments are a zinc and nitric complex (nitrizinc complex), cantharidin, and bleomycin, each with different mechanisms of action and profiles in terms of pain and patient satisfaction.

Exploring developmental changes in femoral midneck cross-sectional properties.

This research delves deeper into previous works on femoral cross-sectional properties during ontogeny by focusing for the first time on the human femoral midneck. The ontogenetic pattern of cross-sectional properties at femoral midneck is established and compared with those at three different femoral locations: the proximal femur, the midshaft, and the distal femur. The study sample includes 99 femora (70 non-adults and 29 adults) belonging to archaeological specimens.

Advances in the Diagnosis of Atypical Polypoid Adenomyoma Combining Immunohistochemical and Molecular-Based Approaches: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is a benign uterine lesion with a premalignant potential and occurs in women of reproductive age. The histological pattern is characterized by irregular epithelial proliferation and muscular stroma. Based on a case report, we performed a systematic review of the literature to assess the main immunohistochemical and molecular markers that contribute to its differential diagnosis against endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC).

Effects of Melatonin Administration on Physical Performance and Biochemical Responses Following Exhaustive Treadmill Exercise.

Exercise, despite being a beneficial activity for health, can also be a source of oxidative imbalance, which can lead to a decrease in performance. Furthermore, melatonin is an endogenous molecule that may counteract exercise-induced oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential ergogenic and antioxidant capacity of melatonin administered for a maximal effort test.

Enhancing Transcriptomic Insights into Neurological Disorders Through the Comparative Analysis of Shapley Values.

Neurological disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia (SCH), Bipolar Disorder (BD), and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affect millions of people worldwide, yet their molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study describes the application of the Comparative Analysis of Shapley values (CASh) to transcriptomic data from nine datasets associated with these complex disorders, demonstrating its effectiveness in identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs). CASh, which combines Game Theory with Bootstrap resampling, offers a robust alternative to traditional statistical methods by assessing the contribution of each gene in the broader context of the complete dataset.

Massive Screening of Food Extracts for Quality Assessment and Standardization of Allergenic Activity.

(1) Background: In drug discovery and pharmaceutical quality control, a challenge is to assess protein extracts used for allergy therapy and in vivo diagnosis, such as prick tests. Indeed, there are significant differences between the features of marketed products due to variations in raw materials, purification processes, and formulation techniques. (2) Methods: A protein array technology has been developed to provide comprehensive information on protein-biomarker interactions on a large scale to support the pharmaceutical industry and clinical research.

Sensing Platform Based on Gold Nanoclusters and Nanoporous Anodic Alumina for Preeclampsia Detection.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive syndrome recognized as the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity worldwide. Early diagnosis is crucial for mitigating its adverse effects, and recent investigations have identified endoglin as a potential biomarker for this purpose. Here, we present the development of a hybrid biosensor platform for the ultrasensitive detection of endoglin, aimed at enabling the early diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Plant Biosensors Analysis for Monitoring Nectarine Water Status.

The real-time monitoring of plant water status is an important issue for digital irrigation to increase water productivity. This work focused on a comparison of three biosensors that continuously evaluate plant water status: trunk microtensiometers (MTs), trunk time-domain reflectometry (TDR), and LVDT sensors. During the summer and autumn seasons (DOY 150-300), nectarine trees were subjected to four different consecutive irrigation periods based on the soil Management Allowed Deficit (MAD) concept, namely: MAD (light deficit); MAD (moderate deficit); MAD (severe deficit), and MAD (full irrigation).

Biomimetic Plant-Root-Inspired Robotic Sensor System.

There are many examples in nature in which the ability to detect is combined with decision-making, such as the basic survival instinct of plants and animals to search for food. We can technically translate this innate function via the use of robotics with integrated sensors and artificial intelligence. However, the integration of sensing capabilities into robotics has traditionally been neglected due to the significant associated technical challenges.

Enhanced Nutritional and Functional Recovery in Femur Fracture Patients Post-Surgery: Preliminary Evidence of Muscle-Targeted Nutritional Support in Real-World Practice.

: To describe the effects of muscle-targeted oral nutritional supplementation (MT-ONS) on nutrition, functional capacity, and other health outcomes in patients after femur fracture surgery. : A prospective, open-label, single-centre study was conducted. Patients aged 80+ post-femur fracture were recruited.

Immediate Effects of the Mandibular Muscle Energy Technique in Adults with Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder.

Background/objectives: Temporomandibular disorders affect the muscles used for chewing, the temporomandibular joint, and other related tissues, resulting in pain, limited mobility, and dysfunction of the masticatory muscles. Physical therapy plays a critical role in treatment. Manual therapy can trigger neurophysiological mechanisms that contribute to pain relief and a reduction in muscle activation.