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This study presents a systematic literature review to understand the applications, benefits, and challenges of digital assistants (DAs) in production and logistics tasks. Our conceptual framework covers three dimensions: information management, collaborative operations, and knowledge transfer. We evaluate human-DA collaborative tasks in the areas of product design, production, maintenance, quality management, and logistics. This allows us to expand upon different types of DAs, and reveal how they improve the speed and ease of production and logistic work, which was ignored in previous studies. Our results demonstrate that DAs improve the speed and ease of workers' interaction with machines/information systems in searching, processing, and demonstrating. Extant studies describe DAs with different levels of autonomy in decision-making; however, most DAs perform tasks as instructed or with workers' consent. Additionally, we observe that workers find it more intuitive to perform tasks and acquire knowledge when they receive multiple sensorial cues (e.g. auditory and visual cues). Consequently, future research can explore how DAs can be integrated with other technologies for robust multi-modal assistance such as eye tracking and augmented reality. This can provide customised DA support to workers with disabilities or conditions to facilitate more inclusive production and logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The largest documented outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome occurred in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia, in 2021, marking the first-time cases of hantavirus infection recorded outside of the known endemic region in the north of the county. Aim: To identify the factors contributing to the spread of the outbreak and to compare risk factors for acquiring hantavirus infection in the endemic and newly affected regions. Methods and Results: A total of 189 cases were confirmed by positive Puumala IgM/IgG antibodies (93.6%), and 13 probable cases were identified by clinical and epidemiological data (6.4%) using a structured questionnaire. Of the 179 cases with available clinical data, 59 (33.0%) were hospitalized. Three cases received hemodialysis, and no deaths were reported. Among 170 cases with information on exposures, 66 (38.8%) reported occupational risk. Cases in the northern part of county were more likely to have been infected in early spring (OR 27.1, 95% CI 2.93–250.7), to report seeing a rodent (OR 6.5; 95%CI 2.3–18.4), and to know someone with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) (OR 3.0; 95%CI 1.2–8.0) than cases from the southern part of the county. Data from Croatian Forests Ltd. suggested that an unusually good production of beech seeds in 2020 may have contributed to an increased rodent population in 2021. However, average temperature, rainfall, and humidity data from 2021 did not illustrate a significant difference from previous years (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.837, p = 0.999, p = 0.108). Conclusion: The 2021 HFRS outbreak was likely fueled by an abundant rodent population and virus transmission in rodent hosts. Human activity, environmental factors, and the ensuing animal–human interactions have spread hantavirus infection from Croatia's mountainous region to a previously nonendemic coastal area with a Mediterranean climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: PET imaging with [18F]F-DOPA has demonstrated high potential for the evaluation and management of pediatric brain gliomas. Manual extraction of PET parameters is time-consuming, lacks reproducibility, and varies with operator experience. Methods: In this study, we tested whether a semi-automated image processing framework could overcome these limitations. Pediatric patients with available static and/or dynamic [18F]F-DOPA PET studies were evaluated retrospectively. We developed a Python software to automate clinical index calculations, including preprocessing to delineate tumor volumes from structural MRI, accounting for lesions with low [18F]F-DOPA uptake. A total of 73 subjects with treatment-naïve low- and high-grade gliomas, who underwent brain MRI within two weeks of [18F]F-DOPA PET, were included and analyzed. Static analysis was conducted on all subjects, while dynamic analysis was performed on 32 patients. Results: For 68 subjects, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for T/S between manual and ground truth segmentation was 0.91. Using our tool, ICC improved to 0.94. Our method demonstrated good reproducibility in extracting static tumor-to-striatum ratio (p = 0.357); however, significant differences were observed in tumor slope (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in time-to-peak (p = 0.167) and striatum slope (p = 0.36). Conclusions: Our framework aids in analyzing [18F]F-DOPA PET images of pediatric brain tumors by automating clinical score extraction, simplifying segmentation and Time Activity Curve extraction, reducing user variability, and enhancing reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates the outcomes of a third-level Seismic Microzonation project carried out in pilot areas of the Municipality of L'Aquila, Italy, an area characterized by recent strong seismic activity (6 April 2009 Mw 6.3 earthquake and central Italy 2016 seismic sequence—Mw 6.0 and 6.5 events). The primary aim was to develop numerical maps for urban and land planning to mitigate seismic risk, in line with the guidelines of the Italian Civil Protection Department. The local amplification assessment was organized through various sequential and/or parallel activities, including geotechnical and geophysical investigations and characterization, seismic input and numerical code selection, acquisition of 2D microtremor arrays, and comparison between 1D and 2D numerical modeling of seismic site response. This case study introduces several innovations to the microzonation procedures outlined in current Italian and European regulations, such as the use of microtremor arrays to assess a reliable subsoil model and a new procedure for associating amplification factors to each microzone. The results obtained are significant both for the detailed seismic characterization of the territory and for providing methodological indications useful for similar future studies. The use of 2D models is integrated into the flowchart for producing third-level microzonation maps, offering valuable tools within the framework of urban and land management from a perspective of territorial sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative review examines the existing literature on minimally invasive image-guided sampling techniques of mediastinal lesions gathered from international databases (Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar). Original studies, systematic reviews with meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and case reports published between January 2009 and November 2023 were included. Four authors independently conducted the search to minimize bias, removed duplicates, and selected and evaluated the studies. The review focuses on the recent advancements in mediastinal sampling techniques, including EBUS-TBNA, EUS-FNA and FNB, IFB, and nodal cryobiopsy. The review highlights the advantages of an integrated approach using these techniques for diagnosing and staging mediastinal diseases, which, when used competently, significantly increase diagnostic yield and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer are often managed by various treatment approaches including surgery, chemotherapy/immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. While patients with a good performance status and a limited burden of disease are often candidates for surgical resection, the selection of the optimal adjuvant treatment paradigm, in light of the development of novel treatments for tumors with actionable mutations, remains a challenge. In this study, we sought to examine the benefit of radiation therapy, systemic therapy, or a combination of treatments following surgery with respect to in-brain progression-free survival and overall survival. Our data demonstrate that a combination of radiation therapy and systemic therapy has a benefit in improving progression-free survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have developed brain metastases. Background/Objectives: Brain metastases (BrMs) are a common complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), present in up to 50% of patients. While the treatment of BrMs requires a multidisciplinary approach with surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and systemic therapy, the advances in molecular sequencing have improved outcomes in patients with targetable mutations. With a push towards the molecular characterization of cancers, we evaluated the outcomes by treatment modality at our institution with respect to prioritizing RT and targeted therapies. Methods: We identified the patients with NSCLC BrMs treated with surgical resection. The primary endpoints were in-brain freedom from progression (FFP) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoint included index lesion recurrence. The tumor molecular profiles were reviewed. The outcomes were evaluated by treatment modality: surgery followed by adjuvant RT and/or adjuvant systemic therapy. Results: In total, 155/272 (57%) patients who received adjuvant therapy with adequate follow-up were included in this analysis. The patients treated with combination therapy vs. monotherapy had a median FFP time of 10.72 months vs. 5.38 months, respectively (p = 0.072). The patients of Hispanic/Latino vs. non-Hispanic/Latino descent had a statistically significant worse OS of 12.75 months vs. 53.15 months, respectively (p = 0.015). The patients who received multimodality therapy had a trend towards a reduction in index lesion recurrences (χ2 test, p = 0.063) with a statistically significant improvement in the patients receiving immunotherapy (χ2 test, p = 0.0018). Conclusions: We found that systemic therapy combined with RT may have an increasing role in delaying the time to progression; however, there was no statistically significant relationship between OS and treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: MDM2, a negative regulator of the TP53 tumor suppressor, is oncogenic when amplified. MDM2 amplification (MDM2amp) is mutually exclusive with TP53 mutation and is seen in 6% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), with significant enrichment in subsets with receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) driver alterations. Recent studies have shown synergistic activity of MDM2 and MEK inhibition in patient-derived LUAD models with MDM2amp and RTK driver alterations. However, the combination of MDM2 and RTK inhibitors in LUAD has not been studied. METHODS: We evaluated the combination of MDM2 and RTK inhibition in patient-derived models of LUAD. RESULTS: In a RET-fusion LUAD patient-derived model with MDM2amp, MDM2 inhibition with either milademetan or AMG232 combined with selpercatinib resulted in long-term in vivo tumor control markedly superior to either agent alone. Similarly, in an EGFR-mutated model with MDM2amp, combining either milademetan or AMG232 with osimertinib resulted in long-term in vivo tumor control, which was strikingly superior to either agent alone. CONCLUSION: These preclinical in vivo data provide a rationale for further clinical development of this combinatorial targeted therapy approach. Preclinical in vivo data support personalized genomically informed combination targeted therapy in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves store significant amounts of carbon in both sediment and water. Methane (CH4) is often produced in anoxic, organic‐rich sediments during carbon degradation and released to overlying waters via porewater exchange. Yet, a portion of CH4 can be oxidized to CO2 before emission. Here, we investigate whether CH4 oxidation impacts its emissions using high‐temporal resolution CH4 concentration and stable isotope (δ13C‐CH4) observations collected over 14 tidal cycles in 2 Brazilian mangrove creeks with no river inputs. We found higher CH4 concentrations (~ 150 nM) more depleted in 13C (−75‰) during low tide than high tide at both creeks. Similar δ13C‐CH4 values between low tide surface waters and porewaters further suggest tidally driven porewater exchange as the main source of CH4. More 13C‐enriched CH4 in surface waters and surface sediments than deep sediments indicate partial CH4 oxidation prior to exchange with the atmosphere. A stable isotope mass balance revealed that 17–58% of CH4 was oxidized at rates of 3–25 μmol m−2 d−1 in the water column of tidal creeks. A larger portion of deep porewater CH4 (45–61%) was oxidized in sediments prior to porewater exchange with surface creek waters. The two mangrove creeks had average water–air CH4 fluxes of 51–109 μmol m−2 d−1 over spring‐neap tidal cycles. These aquatic CH4 emissions offset only < 3% of the mangroves' soil carbon sequestration. Overall, CH4 oxidation in both surface water and sediment attenuated CH4 emissions to the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Medical thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive and safe procedure mostly performed for unexplained exudative pleural effusions but may be considered for pneumothorax (PNX). Methods: This retrospective study included participants affected by PNX who underwent medical thoracoscopy with talc poudrage at a single academic hospital from 2008 to 2021. The primary endpoint was the observation of complete radiographical lung re-expansion and absence of air supply from the chest drain within 7 days of medical thoracoscopy. The secondary endpoint was achieving no recurrence of ipsilateral PNX at 24 months post-discharge. Results: A total of 95 patients affected by primary spontaneous PNX (PSP), secondary spontaneous PNX (SSP), iatrogenic, and traumatic PNX were enrolled. An additional procedure was required by 17.89% of patients, and only one patient with SSP required subsequent surgery. Recurrence of PNX occurred on the same side within 24 months after discharge in 9.47% of patients, with a median time to recurrence of 13.5 months. The PSP group was significantly more likely to achieve the primary endpoint. Pleural morphology was significantly associated with reaching the primary endpoint, while receiving a cumulative dose of talc greater than or equal to 4 g during hospitalization was associated with a lower risk of meeting it. Receiving a cumulative dose of talc greater than or equal to 4 g led in all cases to the achievement of the secondary endpoint. Patients with iatrogenic and traumatic PNX had an excellent prognosis in both the short- and long-term evaluation. Conclusion: Medical thoracoscopy is an effective procedure for treating PNX in the acute setting in selected cases while preventing long-term relapses. Large prospective clinical studies are needed to support and better define the role of medical thoracoscopy in current clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the influence of the photobleaching (PB) effect on the dosimetry performances of a phosphosilicate single-mode optical fiber (core diameter of 6.6 µm) operated at 638 nm, within the framework of the LUMINA project. Different irradiation tests were performed under ~40 keV mean energy fluence X-rays at a 530 µ Gy(SiO2)/s dose rate to measure in situ the radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) growth and decay kinetics while injecting a 638 nm laser diode source with powers varying from 500 nW to 1 mW. For injected continuous power values under 1 µW, we did not measure any relevant influence of the photobleaching effect on the fiber radiation sensitivity coefficient of ~140 dB km−1 Gy−1 up to ~30 Gy. Above 1 µW, the fiber radiation sensitivity is significantly reduced due to the PB associated with the signal and can decrease to ~80 dB km−1 Gy−1 at 1 mW, strongly affecting the capability of this fiber to serve as a dosimeter-sensitive element. Higher power values up to 50 µW can still be used by properly choosing a pulsed regime with periodic injection cycles to reduce the PB efficiency and maintain the dosimetry properties. Basing on the acquired data, a simple model of the photobleaching effect on a coil of the investigated fiber is proposed in order to estimate its sensitivity coefficient evolution as a function of the cumulated dose and its fiber length when injecting a certain laser power. Additional studies need to investigate the influence of the temperature and the dose rate on the PB effects since these parameters were fixed during all the reported acquisitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis of medium arteries, particularly involving coronary arteries. Coronary artery lesions (CALs) is the most serious complication in the acute stage, potentially leading to ischemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction and sudden death. Environmental factors and genetic background contribute to individual susceptibility to develop CALs. The aim of this study was to define the risk factors for CALs in an Italian cohort. Methods: Data of KD patients from 10 Italian sites were registered into a REDCap database where demographic and clinical data, laboratory findings and coronary status were recorded. KD was diagnosed according to AHA definition. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for CALs. Results: A total of 517 patients were enrolled, mainly Caucasians (83.6%). Presentation was complete in 321 patients (62.8%) and IVIG responsiveness in 360 (70%). CALs developed in 136/517 (26.31%). Gender, age, ethnicity, clinical presentation, fever duration, non-coronary cardiac events, Hb, albumin and CRP were significantly different between patients with and without CALs, while seasonality was not. Male gender, age < 18 months, Asian ethnicity, incomplete presentation and fever > 10 days were independent risk factors for CALs. Conclusions: Age younger than 18 months, incomplete KD and longer fever duration are risk factors for CALs. Asian ethnicity also represents a risk factor in our Italian Cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing modern, web-based, distributed applications effectively is a complex task that requires coordinating several aspects, including understanding the relationships among their components, the way they interact, the available hardware, the quality of network connections, and the providers hosting them. A distributed application consists of multiple independent and autonomous components. Managing the application involves overseeing each individual component with a focus on global optimization rather than local optimization. Furthermore, each component may be hosted by different resource providers, each offering its own monitoring and control interfaces. This diversity adds complexity to the management process. Lastly, the implementation, load profile, and internal status of an application or any of its components can evolve over time. This evolution makes it challenging for a Quality of Service (QoS) manager to adapt to the dynamics of the application's performance. This aspect, in particular, can significantly affect the QoS manager's ability to manage the application, as the controlling strategies often rely on the analysis of historical behavior. In this paper, the authors propose an extension to a previously introduced QoS manager through the addition of two new modules: (i) an associative memory module and (ii) an event forecast module. Specifically, the associative memory module, functioning as a cache, is designed to accelerate inference times. The event forecast module, which relies on a Weibull Time-to-Event Recurrent Neural Network (WTTE-RNN), aims to provide a more comprehensive view of the system's current status and, more importantly, to mitigate the limitations posed by the finite number of decision classes in the classification algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To leverage the complementary strengths of humans and artificial intelligence (AI) in online service encounters, firms have begun to use hybrid service agents: combinations of AI agents (e.g., chatbots) and human agents (e.g., service employees) behind a single interface. However, it is unclear whether firms should be transparent about behind-the-scenes employees working in tandem with an AI-based chatbot to serve customers. Against this backdrop, we investigated the impact of human involvement disclosure on customer interactions with hybrid service agents. Our findings suggest that disclosing human involvement before or during an interaction with the hybrid service agent leads customers to adopt a more human-oriented communication style. This effect is driven by impression management concerns that are activated when customers become aware of humans working in tandem with the chatbot. The more human-oriented communication style ultimately increases employee workload because fewer customer requests can be handled automatically by the chatbot and must be delegated to a human. These findings provide novel insights into how and why disclosing human involvement affects customer communication behavior, reveal its negative consequences for employees working in tandem with a chatbot, and highlight the potential costs and benefits of providing transparency in customer–hybrid service agent interactions. The proliferation of hybrid service agents—combinations of artificial intelligence (AI) and human employees behind a single interface—further blurs the line between humans and technology in online service encounters. While much of the current debate focuses on disclosing the nonhuman identity of AI-based technologies (e.g., chatbots), the question of whether to also disclose the involvement of human employees working behind the scenes has received little attention. We address this gap by examining how such a disclosure affects customer interactions with a hybrid service agent consisting of an AI-based chatbot and human employees. Results from a randomized field experiment and a controlled online experiment show that disclosing human involvement before or during an interaction with the hybrid service agent leads customers to adopt a more human-oriented communication style. This effect is driven by impression management concerns that are activated when customers become aware of humans working in tandem with the chatbot. The more human-oriented communication style ultimately increases employee workload because fewer customer requests can be handled automatically by the chatbot and must be delegated to a human. These findings provide novel insights into how and why disclosing human involvement affects customer communication behavior, shed light on its negative consequences for employees working in tandem with a chatbot, and help managers understand the potential costs and benefits of providing transparency in customer–hybrid service agent interactions. History: Karthik Kannan, Senior Editor; Jason Chan, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.0152. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: MDM2, a negative regulator of the TP53 tumor suppressor, is oncogenic when amplified. MDM2 amplification (MDM2amp) is mutually exclusive with TP53 mutation and is seen in 6% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), with significant enrichment in subsets with receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) driver alterations. Recent studies have shown synergistic activity of MDM2 and MEK inhibition in patient-derived LUAD models with MDM2amp and RTK driver alterations. However, the combination of MDM2 and RTK inhibitors in LUAD has not been studied. METHODS: We evaluated the combination of MDM2 and RTK inhibition in patient-derived models of LUAD. RESULTS: In a RET-fusion LUAD patient-derived model with MDM2amp, MDM2 inhibition with either milademetan or AMG232 combined with selpercatinib resulted in long-term in vivo tumor control markedly superior to either agent alone. Similarly, in an EGFR-mutated model with MDM2amp, combining either milademetan or AMG232 with osimertinib resulted in long-term in vivo tumor control, which was strikingly superior to either agent alone. CONCLUSION: These preclinical in vivo data provide a rationale for further clinical development of this combinatorial targeted therapy approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nursing Journal / Sestrinski Glasnik is the property of Croatian Nurses Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rassegna di Patologia dell'Apparato Respiratorio is the property of AIPO - Associazione Italiana Pneumologi Ospedalieri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Elementary Education / Revija za Elementarno Izobraževanje is the property of University of Maribor, Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: We investigated the impact of anthracycline-based chemotherapy on methylation status of RB1 gene in peripheral blood leukocytes together with parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation in sarcoma patients. Patients/methods: Blood samples were collected from 51 consecutive newly diagnosed sarcoma patients admitted to University Hospital Center Zagreb (Zagreb, Croatia) for first-line chemotherapy before the first cycle and post-chemotherapy. Methylation and copy number variation (CNV) of leukocyte RB1 gene were assessed using MS-MLPA probes. In addition, in blood samples, parameters of oxidative stress (ROS, MDA, SOD, and GSH) and inflammation (CRP, WBC, and NBC) were followed. Results: In pre-chemotherapy samples, no CNVs and aberrant methylation of CpG106 promoter region of RB1 gene were detected; however, one patient had hypermethylation (by approximately 10%) of imprinted locus CpG85 in intron 2 of RB1 gene. In addition, a very good correlation of the tumor burden and CRP and tumor burden and GSH was found. The anthracycline-based chemotherapy reverts methylation of RB1 gene-imprinted locus CpG85 to normal level. Moreover, inflammation and oxidative stress parameters such as CRP, WBC, ROS, and MDA were significantly decreased in post-chemotherapy samples. Conclusion: This single-centered study on a cohort of consecutive sarcoma patients indicates that sarcoma patients can have aberrant germline DNA methylation and confirms the relationship of tumor burden with inflammation and oxidative stress. The applied chemotherapy protocols reverted RB1 gene methylation to normal level and decreased the level of inflammation and oxidative damage, thus indicating chemotherapy benefit to the patient's health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical wastewater treatment technologies are increasingly being used in practice, and the combination of electrocoagulation with advanced oxidation processes has been shown to increase treatment efficiency. The treatment of oily wastewater produces electrocoagulated metal sludge (EMS). In this work, the possibility of using different ratios of EMS produced during oily wastewater treatment was investigated. EMS was dried conventionally in an oven at 105 °C and used as a partial substitute for clay in the manufacture of laboratory bricks. The main research objectives of this study were to examine the possibility and justification of introducing EMS in brick production. The results show that an increase in the proportion of EMS in the manufacturing of bricks leads to a deterioration in the quality of the bricks. Bricks with an addition of 1 wt% and 5 wt% EMS showed the best properties. The loss on ignition (LOI), compressive strength, boiling water absorption and initial water absorption were determined at 5.7%; 49 N/mm2, 16%, 14 g/min/200 cm2, 15% for modified bricks with 1 wt% EMS and 6.3%, 48 N/mm2, 20%, 15 g/min/200 cm2 for modified brick with 5 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the widespread adoption of Machine Learning (ML) at the core of complex IT systems has driven researchers to investigate the security and reliability of ML techniques. A very specific kind of threats concerns the adversary mechanisms through which an attacker could induce a classification algorithm to provide the desired output. Such strategies, known as Adversarial Machine Learning (AML), have a twofold purpose: to calculate a perturbation to be applied to the classifier's input such that the outcome is subverted, while maintaining the underlying intent of the original data. Although any manipulation that accomplishes these goals is theoretically acceptable, in real scenarios perturbations must correspond to a set of permissible manipulations of the input, which is rarely considered in the literature. In this article, we present AdverSPAM, an AML technique designed to fool the spam account detection system of an Online Social Network (OSN). The proposed black-box evasion attack is formulated as an optimization problem that computes the adversarial sample while maintaining two important properties of the feature space, namely statistical correlation and semantic dependency. Although being demonstrated in an OSN security scenario, such an approach might be applied in other context where the aim is to perturb data described by mutually related features. Experiments conducted on a public dataset show the effectiveness of AdverSPAM compared to five state-of-the-art competitors, even in the presence of adversarial defense mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation play important roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes, while the bioactive products of lipid peroxidation, lipid hydroperoxides and reactive aldehydes, act as important mediators of redox signaling in normal and malignant cells. Many types of cancer, including osteosarcoma, express altered redox signaling pathways. Such redox signaling pathways protect cancer cells from the cytotoxic effects of oxidative stress, thus supporting malignant transformation, and eventually from cytotoxic anticancer therapies associated with oxidative stress. In this review, we aim to explore the status of lipid peroxidation in osteosarcoma and highlight the involvement of lipid peroxidation products in redox signaling pathways, including the involvement of lipid peroxidation in osteosarcoma therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This retrospective study investigates the validity of lateral ventricle opening during high-grade glioma (HGG) surgery, contributing to the literature by addressing its relationship with postoperative complications in a large cohort of newly diagnosed patients with HGG. The approach of dividing patients into groups with and without lateral ventricle opening enhances the study's internal validity, allowing for a direct comparison between the two conditions. The analysis of complications, including subependymal dissemination and multifocal progression, contributes to understanding associated side effects. Furthermore, the conclusion that lateral ventricle opening does not significantly increase the risks of dissemination, hydrocephalus or cerebrospinal fluid leakage suggests practical implications for surgery. Given the importance of maximizing resection for prognosis in patients with HGG and the potential risks associated with ventricle opening, this study aimed to assess the actual increase in post-surgical complications related to lateral ventricle opening and its influence on OS and PFS. A retrospective study was conducted on newly diagnosed HGG, dividing the patients into two groups according to whether the lateral ventricle was opened (69 patients) or not opened (311 patients). PFS, OS, subependymal dissemination, distant parenchymal recurrences, the development of hydrocephalus and CSF leak were considered outcome measures. A cohort of 380 patients (154 females (40.5%) and 226 males (59.5%)) was involved in the study (median age 61 years). The PFS averaged 10.9 months (±13.3 SD), and OS averaged 16.6 months (± 16.3 SD). Among complications, subependymal dissemination was registered in 15 cases (3.9%), multifocal and multicentric progression in 56 cases (14.7%), leptomeningeal dissemination in 12 (3.2%) and hydrocephalus in 8 (2.1%). These occurrences could not be clearly justified by ventricular opening. The act of opening the lateral ventricles itself does not carry an elevated risk of dissemination, hydrocephalus or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Therefore, if necessary, it should be pursued to achieve radical removal of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MR is a powerful diagnostic tool in the diagnosis and management of most hepatic and pancreatic diseases. Thanks to its multiple sequences, the use of dedicated contrast media and special techniques, it allows a multiparametric approach able to provide both morphological and functional information for many pathological conditions. The knowledge of correct technique is fundamental in order to obtain a correct diagnosis. In this paper, different MR sequences will be illustrated in the evaluation of liver and pancreatic diseases, especially those sequences which provide information not otherwise obtainable with other imaging techniques. Practical MR protocols with the most common indications of MR in the study of the liver and pancreas are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemical reaction between Sb and N2 was induced under high‐pressure (32–35 GPa) and high‐temperature (1600–2200 K) conditions, generated by a laser heated diamond anvil cell. The reaction product was identified by single crystal synchrotron X‐ray diffraction at 35 GPa and room temperature as crystalline antimony nitride with Sb3N5 stoichiometry and structure belonging to orthorhombic space group Cmc21. Only Sb−N bonds are present in the covalent bonding framework, with two types of Sb atoms respectively forming SbN6 distorted octahedra and trigonal prisms and three types of N atoms forming NSb4 distorted tetrahedra and NSb3 trigonal pyramids. Taking into account two longer Sb−N distances, the SbN6 trigonal prisms can be depicted as SbN8 square antiprisms and the NSb3 trigonal pyramids as NSb4 distorted tetrahedra. The Sb3N5 structure can be described as an ordered stacking in the bc plane of bi‐ layers of SbN6 octahedra alternated to monolayers of SbN6 trigonal prisms (SbN8 square antiprisms). The discovery of Sb3N5 finally represents the long sought‐after experimental evidence for Sb to form a crystalline nitride, providing new insights about fundamental aspects of pnictogens chemistry and opening new perspectives for the high‐pressure chemistry of pnictogen nitrides and the synthesis of an entire class of new materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemical reaction between Sb and N2 was induced under high‐pressure (32–35 GPa) and high‐temperature (1600–2200 K) conditions, generated by a laser heated diamond anvil cell. The reaction product was identified by single crystal synchrotron X‐ray diffraction at 35 GPa and room temperature as crystalline antimony nitride with Sb3N5 stoichiometry and structure belonging to orthorhombic space group Cmc21. Only Sb−N bonds are present in the covalent bonding framework, with two types of Sb atoms respectively forming SbN6 distorted octahedra and trigonal prisms and three types of N atoms forming NSb4 distorted tetrahedra and NSb3 trigonal pyramids. Taking into account two longer Sb−N distances, the SbN6 trigonal prisms can be depicted as SbN8 square antiprisms and the NSb3 trigonal pyramids as NSb4 distorted tetrahedra. The Sb3N5 structure can be described as an ordered stacking in the bc plane of bi‐ layers of SbN6 octahedra alternated to monolayers of SbN6 trigonal prisms (SbN8 square antiprisms). The discovery of Sb3N5 finally represents the long sought‐after experimental evidence for Sb to form a crystalline nitride, providing new insights about fundamental aspects of pnictogens chemistry and opening new perspectives for the high‐pressure chemistry of pnictogen nitrides and the synthesis of an entire class of new materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral perovskites possess a huge applicative potential in several areas of optoelectronics and spintronics. The development of novel lead‐free perovskites with tunable properties is a key topic of current research. Herein, we report a novel lead‐free chiral perovskite, namely (R/S−)ClMBA2SnI4 (ClMBA=1‐(4‐chlorophenyl)ethanamine) and the corresponding racemic system. ClMBA2SnI4 samples exhibit a low band gap (2.12 eV) together with broad emission extending in the red region of the spectrum (∼1.7 eV). Chirality transfer from the organic ligand induces chiroptical activity in the 465–530 nm range. Density functional theory calculations show a Rashba type band splitting for the chiral samples and no band splitting for the racemic isomer. Self‐trapped exciton formation is at the origin of the large Stokes shift in the emission. Careful correlation with analogous lead and lead‐free 2D chiral perovskites confirms the role of the symmetry‐breaking distortions in the inorganic layers associated with the ligands as the source of the observed chiroptical properties providing also preliminary structure‐property correlation in 2D chiral perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral perovskites possess a huge applicative potential in several areas of optoelectronics and spintronics. The development of novel lead‐free perovskites with tunable properties is a key topic of current research. Herein, we report a novel lead‐free chiral perovskite, namely (R/S−)ClMBA2SnI4 (ClMBA=1‐(4‐chlorophenyl)ethanamine) and the corresponding racemic system. ClMBA2SnI4 samples exhibit a low band gap (2.12 eV) together with broad emission extending in the red region of the spectrum (∼1.7 eV). Chirality transfer from the organic ligand induces chiroptical activity in the 465–530 nm range. Density functional theory calculations show a Rashba type band splitting for the chiral samples and no band splitting for the racemic isomer. Self‐trapped exciton formation is at the origin of the large Stokes shift in the emission. Careful correlation with analogous lead and lead‐free 2D chiral perovskites confirms the role of the symmetry‐breaking distortions in the inorganic layers associated with the ligands as the source of the observed chiroptical properties providing also preliminary structure‐property correlation in 2D chiral perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note we explore the structure of the diffusion metric of Coifman-Lafon determined by fractional dyadic Laplacians. The main result is that, for each t > 0, the diffusion metric is a function of the dyadic distance, given in R+ by d(x, y) = inf {|I|: I is a dyadic interval containing x and y}. Even if these functions of d are not equivalent to d, the families of balls are the same, to wit, the dyadic intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dosimetry performances of a nitrogen‐doped core (diameter of 8 μm) optical fiber, before and after 100 kV X‐Ray preirradiation treatments, up to cumulated dose of 1 MGy(SiO2), to highlight their effects on the radiation‐induced luminescence (RIL), are investigated. The RIL reproducibility versus dose rate calibration curves (in the 0.17–50 Gy s−1 range) are evaluated using four sets of ten different probes: three sets using preirradiated samples at 80 kGy, 280 kGy, 1 MGy, respectively, and one set with pristine samples. The RIL kinetics during ≈60 h long preirradiations at constant dose rate are also studied, showing a non‐negligible bright burn effect. The main outcome is that the preirradiation improves the fiber dosimetry properties since it: 1) enhances fiber radiation detection sensitivity, 2) improves the linearity of the RIL dose rate dependence, and 3) suppresses the observed afterglow postirradiation effect. However, after preirradiation, larger dispersion between the different probes is noted, from 4% (non‐irradiated samples) to 10% for the 1 MGy preirradiated samples. The possible physical explanations are discussed on the basis of the preirradiation filling deep traps that, competing with the RIL centers for the trapping of electrons released by ionization, influence the RIL efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The use of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for assessing CNS fetal vasculature has been limited. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and added value of 2D time-of-flight (TOF) MRA of the fetal brain vasculature with a 1.5 T scanner. Methods: We conducted a prospective study (September 2018 to October 2022) by consecutively selecting pregnant women (≥ 18 years) with clinical indication to fetal brain MRI. On a 1.5 T scanner, a 2D TOF MRA acquisition was obtained at the end of the clinical protocol. Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed all MRIs; a qualitative scale of motion artifacts was applied to MRA images; represented vessels in MRA and T2 images were registered. Results: Thirty-five fetal brain MRIs. Mean maternal age: 32 years; mean fetal gestational age (GA): 31 weeks. Artifacts were found in 74% of MRA. The number of MRAs performed without artifacts increased with GA. On MRA, the identification of the majority of vessels increased with GA; statistical significance was reached in the identification of torcular Herophili (p = 0.026), vein of Galen (p < 0.001), internal cerebral veins (p = 0.002), basilar artery (p = 0.027), vertebral arteries (p = 0.025), and middle cerebral arteries (p = 0.044). Significantly, MRA depicted the sigmoid sinuses and internal jugular veins more frequently. Vascular pathology was found in 3/35 fetal brain MRIs. Conclusion: Although artifacts were found in 74% of cases, MRA acquisitions were informative and of sufficient diagnostic quality in most studies. This technique may represent a valuable complimentary tool in CNS prenatal vascular studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) represents an important public health problem in Europe. We analyzed the epidemiology of TBE based on data from humans, animals, and Ixodes ricinus ticks in endemic regions of continental Croatia. In the period from 2017 to 2023, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of 684 patients with neuroinvasive diseases, 2240 horse serum samples, and 300 sheep serum samples were tested for TBEV. In addition, 8751 I. ricinus ticks were collected. CSF samples were tested using RT-PCR. Serological tests (serum, CSF) were performed using commercial ELISA, with confirmation of cross-reactive samples by a virus neutralization test. Eighty-four autochthonous human TBEV cases were confirmed. The majority of patients were in the age group of 40–69 years (58.3%) with a male predominance (70.2%). TBE showed a bimodal seasonality with a large peak in April–August and a small one in October–November. In addition to humans, TBEV IgG antibodies were found in 12.2% of horses and 9.7% of sheep. Seasonal tick abundance corresponds to the reported number of human infections. Continental Croatia is still an active natural focus of TBE. Continuous monitoring of infections in humans, sentinel animals, and ticks is needed for the implementation of preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archival boxes are used as a preventive measure to control the microenvironment in museums and archives storages. However, their efficiency in protecting valuable artefacts from fluctuations in relative humidity (RH) is not yet fully understood. In this study, the environmental performance of different archival boxes with different configurations (size, design, presence of holes/paper material, cardboard types, surface modification) was included in the evaluation of internal environment (RH). The effectiveness of archival boxes on reducing relative humidity fluctuations was investigated by testing various properties of boxes and boards, such as air exchange rates (AER), moisture sorption and water vapour transmission rates (WVTR). While most cardboard boxes showed only a limited buffering against the humidity ingress, strategies such as surface modification limited the interaction of a box with the external environment, resulting in a more stable internal environment. Material and box properties, such as moisture sorption, AER and WVTR proved to be useful quantitative tools for assessing the environmental performance of the selected archival boxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seryl-tRNA synthetases (SerRSs), members of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family, interact with diverse proteins, enabling SerRSs to enhance their role in the translation of the genetic message or to perform alternative functions in cellular processes beyond translation. Atypical archaeal SerRS interacts with arginyl-tRNA synthetase and proteins of the ribosomal P-stalk to optimize translation through tRNA channeling. The complex between yeast SerRS and peroxin Pex21p provides a connection between translation and peroxisome function. The partnership between Arabidopsis SerRS and BEN1 indicates a link between translation and brassinosteroid metabolism and may be relevant in plant stress response mechanisms. In Drosophila, the unusual heterodimeric mitochondrial SerRS coordinates mitochondrial translation and replication via interaction with LON protease. Evolutionarily conserved interactions of yeast and human SerRSs with m3C32 tRNA methyltransferases indicate coordination between tRNA modification and aminoacylation in the cytosol and mitochondria. Human cytosolic SerRS is a cellular hub protein connecting translation to vascular development, angiogenesis, lipogenesis, and telomere maintenance. When translocated to the nucleus, SerRS acts as a master negative regulator of VEGFA gene expression. SerRS alone or in complex with YY1 and SIRT2 competes with activating transcription factors NFκB1 and c-Myc, resulting in balanced VEGFA expression important for proper vascular development and angiogenesis. In hypoxia, SerRS phosphorylation diminishes its binding to the VEGFA promoter, while the lack of nutrients triggers SerRS glycosylation, reducing its nuclear localization. Additionally, SerRS binds telomeric DNA and cooperates with the shelterin protein POT1 to regulate telomere length and cellular senescence. As an antitumor and antiangiogenic factor, human cytosolic SerRS appears to be a promising drug target and therapeutic agent for treating cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and possibly obesity and aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoleucyl‐tRNA synthetase (IleRS) links isoleucine to cognate tRNA via the Ile‐AMP intermediate. Non‐cognate valine is often mistakenly recognized as the IleRS substrate; therefore, to maintain the accuracy of translation, IleRS hydrolyzes Val‐AMP within the synthetic site (pre‐transfer editing). As this activity is not efficient enough, Val‐tRNAIle is formed and hydrolyzed in the distant post‐transfer editing site. A strictly conserved synthetic site residue Gly56 was previously shown to safeguard Ile‐to‐Val discrimination during aminoacyl (aa)‐AMP formation. Here, we show that the Gly56Ala variant lost its specificity in pre‐transfer editing, confirming that this residue ensures the selectivity of all synthetic site reactions. Moreover, we found that the Gly56Ala mutation affects IleRS interaction with aa‐tRNA likely by disturbing tRNA‐dependent communication between the two active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Health Sciences is the property of University of Applied Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The combined effects of temperature (from −80 °C to +80 °C) and 100 kV X-ray exposure (up to 108 kGy(SiO2)) on the physical properties of Brillouin scattering and losses in three differently doped silica-based optical fibers, with varying dopant type and concentration (4 wt%(Ge), 10 wt%(Ge) and 1 wt%(F)), are experimentally studied in this work. The dependencies of Brillouin Frequency Shifts (BFS), Radiation-Induced Attenuation (RIA) levels, Brillouin gain attenuation, Brillouin frequency temperature (CT) and strain (Cε) sensitivity coefficients are studied under X-rays in a wide temperature range [−80 °C; +80 °C]. Brillouin sensing capabilities are investigated using a Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analyzer (BOTDA), and several properties are reported: (i) similar behavior of the Brillouin gain amplitude decrease with the increase in the RIA; (ii) the F-doped and heavily Ge-doped fibers do not exhibit a temperature dependence under radiation for their responses in Brillouin gain losses. Increasing Ge dopant concentration also reduces the irradiation temperature effect on RIA. In addition, Radiation-Induced Brillouin Frequency Shift (RI-BFS) manifests a slightly different behavior for lower temperatures than RIA, presenting an opportunity for a comprehensive understanding of RI-BFS origins. Related temperature and strain sensors are designed for harsh environments over an extended irradiation temperature range, which is useful for a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Croatian Nursing Journal is the property of University of Applied Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nursing Journal / Sestrinski Glasnik is the property of Croatian Nurses Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine play a key role in 'one-carbon metabolism', involved in different brain processes. Altered levels have been reported in mood disorders (MDs), particularly in major depression (MDD), while the information in bipolar disorders (BDs) is limited. The present study aimed at assessing vitamin B12, homocysteine, and folic acid in 69 bipolar inpatients. Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed with BDI, 15 BDII, 16 schizoaffective disorders, and 11 MDD, according to DSM-5 criteria. The clinical picture was assessed by the MINI, HRSD, YMRS, and CGI. The blood parameters were measured according to common clinical-chemical methods. Thirty-four patients had significantly lower vitamin B12, and 14 higher homocysteine levels than normative values. Folic acid levels were normal in the majority of the sample. Patients with a family history of suicide showed significantly lower levels of vitamin B12. Our results underline the utility of assessing vitamin B12, homocysteine, and folic acid in patients with BD. Although other studies are necessary, the present findings that lower levels of vitamin B12 seem typical of patients with a family history of suicide independently from the phase of illness suggest that they might constitute a possible predictor of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chimica & L'Industria is the property of Societa Chimica Italiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recently, vitamin D is considered a pleiotropic hormone, and as such, it has also become a topic of renewed interest in neuropsychiatry for its proposed role in the aetiology and pathophysiology of different psychiatric conditions, including mood disorders (MDs). This seems particularly crucial while considering the relatively high and often neglected prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the general population and in specific groups, such as patients suffering from the most common type of MDs, which are major depression (MDD) and bipolar disorders (BDs). Therefore, in view of the controversial literature and findings on this topic and its potential therapeutic implications, the present study aimed at evaluating vitamin D levels in the plasma of a sample of inpatients fulfilling the DSM-5 criteria for mood episodes within BDs. The clinical picture was assessed by means of specific rating scales. The results showed that the vitamin D levels (mean ± SD, nM/L) of the bipolar patients of our sample were significantly lower (14.58 ± 11.27 nmol/L) than the normative values (>30 nmol/L). Eleven patients had sufficient values and only 4 had optimal, while 19 showed insufficient, 18 critical, and 17 severely critical levels. No differences emerged according to different socio-demographic or clinical features. In our opinion, the present findings strengthen previous research highlighting decreased vitamin D levels in bipolar patients and support the role of this pleiotropic hormone in BDs. Nevertheless, further studies should follow to corroborate the data of this preliminary study and to address the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of MDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro- and nanomechanical resonators play a prominent part in many sensing and signal processing platforms due to their capability to pervasively couple with a wide variety of physical systems. Particularly relevant is their embedding in advanced optomechanical setups, which has recently pioneered optically cooled mechanical oscillators toward the quantum regime. A frequently adopted experimental scheme exploits a thin, highly tensioned Si 3 N 4 nanomembrane where the membrane's vibrations are dispersively coupled to the optical mode of a Fabry–Pérot cavity. A significant effort has been done into realizing high-quality factor membranes, considering that low mechanical loss represents a benchmark to operate in the elusive quantum regime. In this article, we compare two state-of-the-art SiN resonators, realized exploiting the dilution of the material's intrinsic dissipation and efficient solutions to fully isolate the membrane from the substrate. In particular, we examine and discuss the interplay between the edge and distributed dissipation and propose an analytical approach to evaluate the total intrinsic loss. Also, our analysis delves into the sensitivity of the devices to a point-like force and a uniform-density force field. These results provide meaningful guidelines for designing new ultra-coherent resonating devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]