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While interactions between neural crest and placode cells are critical for the proper formation of the trigeminal ganglion, the mechanisms underlying this process remain largely uncharacterized. Here, by using chick embryos, we show that the microRNA (miR)-203, whose epigenetic repression is required for neural crest migration, is reactivated in coalescing and condensing trigeminal ganglion cells. Overexpression of miR-203 induces ectopic coalescence of neural crest cells and increases ganglion size. By employing cell-specific electroporations for either miR-203 sponging or genomic editing using CRISPR/Cas9, we elucidated that neural crest cells serve as the source, while placode cells serve as the site of action for miR-203 in trigeminal ganglion condensation. Demonstrating intercellular communication, overexpression of miR-203 in the neural crest in vitro or in vivo represses an miR-responsive sensor in placode cells. Moreover, neural crest-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs), visualized using pHluorin-CD63 vector, become incorporated into the cytoplasm of placode cells. Finally, RT-PCR analysis shows that small EVs isolated from condensing trigeminal ganglia are selectively loaded with miR-203. Together, our findings reveal a critical role in vivo for neural crest-placode communication mediated by sEVs and their selective microRNA cargo for proper trigeminal ganglion formation.

ABSTRACTIn line with internationally defined goals of sustainable development, European agricultural policies today have a far-sighted vision for rural areas. Using a case study approach, this paper explores how receptive rural farms in Sicily are to a long-term vision of development. The study focuses on three key factors of a long-term vision, that is, digitalisation, innovation and sustainability, to examine not only whether farms have invested in these areas but also how they perceive their role in the post-pandemic era. Empirical results provide insights into the concentration of farms in the central inland areas of Sicily without any real long-term vision of development. Nevertheless, the analysis also shows that some of them do have a positive attitude to change.

Water scarcity in many regions of the world and global demographic growth make the desalination of seawater and/or brackish an effective solution to meet the growing demand for fresh water. Nowadays, reverse osmosis has the largest share of the global installed desalination capacity. The impelling need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been pushing the search for sustainable technologies to produce the electricity needed to power reverse osmosis plants. Among solar technologies, little attention has been paid to the possibility of powering reverse osmosis with electricity from the dish-Stirling solar concentrator. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper assesses the energy-saving potential of a reverse osmosis plant coupled with a cogenerative dish-Stirling concentrator on a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. A model of the integrated systems was developed based on data measured on a real dish-Stirling concentrator. Moreover, the variation of the energy consumption of the reverse osmosis plant with the temperature of the feedwater solution was also accounted for. Hourly simulations showed that almost 36% of the annual water demand could be covered by driving the plant using electricity from the concentrator, and the solar fraction of the electricity consumed by the reverse osmosis plant accounted for 48%. Finally, economic and environmental analyses revealed that the levelized cost of water of €1.08 per cubic meter of fresh water, consistent with the literature, and the system could avoid emitting 34.16 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year.

Background: Endovascular intervention is now the primary line of therapy for arterial injury brought on by pelvic trauma since it can significantly reduce considerable morbidity associated with surgery and can swiftly access and control bleeding sites. Despite international guidelines and widespread awareness of the role of angioembolization in clinical practice, robust evidence comparing the outcomes of angioembolization in hemodynamically stable and unstable patients is still lacking. This study aims to directly compare the outcomes of angioembolization for the treatment of pelvic traumatic arterial injury in patients with hemodynamic stability vs. hemodynamic instability. Methods: In our multicenter retrospective investigation, we analyzed data from consecutive patients who underwent, from January 2020 to May 2023, angioembolization for traumatic pelvic arterial injury. Results: In total, 116 angioembolizations were performed. Gelatin sponges (56.9%) and coils (25.9%) were the most widely used embolic agents. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 91.4%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of technical success, clinical success, procedure-related complication rate, or 30-day bleeding-related mortality. Conclusions: Angioembolization is an effective and safe option for the management of traumatic pelvic arterial lesions even in hemodynamically unstable patients, despite technical variations such as greater use of prophylactic angioembolization.

District heating networks are well-established technologies to efficiently cover the thermal demand of buildings. Recent research has been devoting large efforts to improve the design and management of these systems for integrating low-temperature heat coming from distributed sources such as industrial processes and renewable energy plants. Passing from a centralized to a decentralized approach in the heat supply, it is important to develop indicators that allow an assessment of the rational use of the available heat sources in supplying heating networks, and a quantification of the effect of inefficiencies on the unit cost of heat. To answer these questions, Exergy Cost Theory is here proposed. Thanks to the unit exergetic cost of heat, energy managers can (i) quantify the effects of thermodynamic inefficiencies occurring in the production and distribution on the final cost of heat, (ii) compare alternative systems for heat production, and (iii) monitor the performance of buildings’ substation over time. To show the capabilities of the method, some operating scenarios are compared for a cluster of five buildings in the tertiary sector interconnected by a thermal grid, where heat is produced by a cogeneration unit, an industrial process, and distributed heat pumps. Results suggest that moving from the centralized production of heat based on fossil fuels to a decentralized production with air-to-water heat pumps, the unit cost of heat can be decreased by almost 30% thanks to the improvement of thermodynamic efficiency. In addition, the analysis reveals a great sensitivity of unit exergetic cost to the maintenance in substations. The developed tool can provide thermodynamic-sound support for the design, operation, and monitoring of innovative district heating networks.

Inflammation-based scores are biomarkers of the crosstalk between the tumor microenvironment and the immune response. Investigating the intricate relationship between the tumor stromal microenvironment, biomarkers, and the response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is essential for early identification of TACE refractoriness or failure, providing insights into tumor biology and facilitating personalized therapeutic interventions. This study addresses a dearth of recent literature exploring the prognostic significance of the preoperative LMR in individuals from western countries diagnosed with stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing drug eluting microspheres TACE (DEM-TACE) or conventional TACE (cTACE). This international multi-center retrospective analysis included consecutive patients with stage B HCC who underwent TACE from January 2017 to June 2023. The study evaluated the ability of the preoperative LMR to predict complete response (CR), objective response (OR), sustained response duration (SRD) exceeding 6 months, successful downstaging at 6 months, progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months, and overall survival (OS) at 6 months. The study population included 109 HCC patients and it was divided into low LMR (LMR < 2.24) and high LMR (LMR ≥ 2.24) groups, according to ROC curve analysis to select the optimal LMR cut-off value. High LMR was associated with lower Hepatitis C prevalence, higher absolute lymphocyte count, and a trend toward lower alpha-fetoprotein. The group with high LMRs exhibited superior CR rates (14.9% vs. 0%), overall OR (43.2% vs. 14.3%), and better PFS at 6 months (75.7% vs. 45.7%). The LMR, specifically categorized as

Computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy is one of the oldest and most widely known minimally invasive percutaneous procedures. Despite being conceptually simple, this procedure needs to be performed rapidly and can be subject to meaningful complications that need to be managed properly. Therefore, knowledge of principles and techniques is required by every general or interventional radiologist who performs the procedure. This review aims to contain all the information that the operator needs to know before performing the procedure. The paper starts with the description of indications, devices, and types of percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsies, along with their reported results in the literature. Then, pre-procedural evaluation and the practical aspects to be considered during procedure (i.e., patient positioning and breathing) are discussed. The subsequent section is dedicated to complications, with their incidence, risk factors, and the evidence-based measures necessary to both prevent or manage them; special attention is given to pneumothorax and hemorrhage. After conventional CT, this review describes other available CT modalities, including CT fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT. At the end, more advanced techniques, which are already used in clinical practice, like fusion imaging, are included.

District Heating Network is identified as a promising technology for decarbonizing urban areas. Thanks to the surplus of heat available from distributed renewable energy plants, a typical heat consumer of the network could become an energy producer during the day (typically referred to as a “prosumer”). Most of the models for thermal grids developed during past years usually assumed a centralized production of the consumed heat. The increasing presence of prosumers will require accurate dynamic modelling to monitor the changes induced in the thermohydraulic parameters of the network. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper aims at developing a model of a thermal grid with prosumers in the TRNSYS environment. The model allows for the dynamic monitoring of the main thermohydraulic parameters of the network. To show these capabilities, a ring-shaped network serving a cluster of 10 residential users located in Palermo (Italy) was assumed as the case study. Different scenarios are investigated based on the presence of solar collectors, prosumers along the network, and cooling by an absorption chiller. The achievable energy and emissions savings are calculated. The results of the study show that even only decreasing the operating temperature can significantly reduce heat losses via the network pipes. In particular, a temperature drop from 100 °C to 80 °C can reduce heat losses by 27.1%. Furthermore, the heat losses can be decreased by up to 52.8% when the network temperature is lowered from 100 °C to 60 °C. Additionally, the presence of prosumers and the solar field could lead to a 31.3% reduction in the energy produced by the centralized plant and a 17.6% reduction in energy consumed for pumping.

Abstract The detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with ovarian cancer is crucial to establish the correct therapeutic planning (debulking surgery versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy). Often, however, the nodules of peritoneal carcinomatosis are very small in size or have a reticular appearance that can mimic the fat stranding that is typical of acute inflammation conditions. Our hypothesis is that the use of dual-layer spectral computed tomography with its applications, such as virtual monoenergetic imaging and Z-effective imaging, might improve the detection and the characterisation of peritoneal nodules, increasing sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy, as recently described for other oncological diseases.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term effectiveness of a high-power (150 W) microwave ablation (MWA) device for tumor ablation in the lung, liver, and kidney. Methods Between December 2021 and June 2022, patients underwent high-power MWA for liver, lung, and kidney tumors. A retrospective observational study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The MWA system utilized a 150-W, 2.45-GHz microwave generator (Emprint™ HP Ablation System, Medtronic). The study assessed technical success, safety, and effectiveness, considering pre- and post-treatment diameter and volume, lesion location, biopsy and/or cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) usage, MWA ablation time, MWA power, and dose-area product (DAP). Results From December 2021 to June 2022, 16 patients were enrolled for high-power MWA. Treated lesions included hepatocellular carcinoma (10), liver metastasis from colon cancer (1), liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer (1), squamous cell lung carcinoma (2), renal cell carcinoma (1), and renal oncocytoma (1). Technical success rate was 100%. One grade 1 complication (6.25%) was reported according to CIRSE classification. Overall effectiveness was 92.8%. Pre- and post-treatment mean diameters for liver lesions were 19.9 mm and 37.5 mm, respectively; for kidney lesions, 34 mm and 35 mm; for lung lesions, 29.5 mm and 31.5 mm. Pre- and post-treatment mean volumes for liver lesions were 3.4 ml and 24 ml, respectively; for kidney lesions, 8.2 ml and 20.5 ml; for lung lesions, 10.2 ml and 32.7 ml. The mean ablation time was 48 minutes for liver, 42.5 minutes for lung, and 42.5 minutes for renal ablation. The mean DAP for all procedures was 40.83 Gcm 2 . Conclusion This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the new 150 W MWA device. Additionally, it shows reduced ablation times for large lesions.

Planet formation is strongly influenced by the composition and distribution of volatiles within protoplanetary disks. With JWST, it is now possible to obtain direct observational constraints on disk ices, as recently demonstrated by the detection of ice absorption features toward the edge-on HH 48 NE disk as part of the Ice Age Early Release Science program. Here, we introduce a new radiative transfer modeling framework designed to retrieve the composition and mixing status of disk ices using their band profiles, and apply it to interpret the H _2 O, CO _2 , and CO ice bands observed toward the HH 48 NE disk. We show that the ices are largely present as mixtures, with strong evidence for CO trapping in both H _2 O and CO _2 ice. The HH 48 NE disk ice composition (pure versus polar versus apolar fractions) is markedly different from earlier protostellar stages, implying thermal and/or chemical reprocessing during the formation or evolution of the disk. We infer low ice-phase C/O ratios around 0.1 throughout the disk, and also demonstrate that the mixing and entrapment of disk ices can dramatically affect the radial dependence of the C/O ratio. It is therefore imperative that realistic disk ice compositions are considered when comparing planetary compositions with potential formation scenarios, which will fortunately be possible for an increasing number of disks with JWST.

Aromatic structures are fundamental for key biological molecules such as RNA and metabolites and the abundances of aromatic molecules on young planets are therefore of high interest. Recent detections of benzonitrile and other aromatic compounds in interstellar clouds and comets have revealed a rich aromatic astrochemistry. In the cold phases of star and planet formation, most of these aromatic molecules are likely to reside in icy grain mantles, where they could be observed through IR spectroscopy. We present laboratory IR spectra of benzene and four monosubstituted benzene molecules—toluene, phenol, benzonitrile, and benzaldehyde—to determine their IR ice absorbances in undiluted aromatic ices, and in mixtures with water and CO. We also characterize the aromatic ice desorption rates, and extract binding energies and respective pre-exponential factors using temperature-programmed desorption experiments. We use these to predict at which protostellar and protoplanetary disk temperatures these molecules sublimate into the gas phase. We find that benzene and monosubstituted benzene derivatives are low-volatility with binding energies in the 5220–8390 K (43–70 kJ mol ^−1 ) range, which suggests that most of the chemistry of benzene and of functionalized aromatic molecules is to be expected to occur in the ice phase during star and planet formation.

Abstract The increasingly widespread use of computed tomography (CT) has increased the number of detected lung lesions, which are then subjected to needle biopsy to obtain histopathological diagnosis. Obtaining high-quality biopsy specimens is fundamental for diagnosis and biomolecular characterisation that guide therapy decision-making. In order to obtain samples with high diagnostic potential, fusion imaging techniques, such as fusion between positron emission tomography and CT, have been introduced to target the biopsy where there more viable neoplastic cells can be sampled. Nowadays, dual-layer spectral CT represents a novel technology enabling an increased tissue characterisation. In particular, Z-effective images, i.e., colour-coded images based on the effective atomic number of tissue components, provide a higher level of discrimination than usual imaged based on x-ray attenuation in Hounsfield units and offer the potential of a better tissue characterisation. Our hypothesis is based on the future use of data provided by spectral CT, in particular by Z-effective images, as a guide for appropriate biopsy sampling for histopathological and biomolecular characterisation in the era of patient tailored-therapy.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of positron emission computed tomography-cone beam computed tomography (PET/CT-CBCT) fusion guided percutaneous biopsy, targeted to the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and minimum standardized uptake value (SUVmin) of large lung lesions. Materials and Methods: Inside a larger cohort of PET/CT-CBCT guided percutaneous lung biopsies, 10 patients with large pulmonary lesions (diameter > 30 mm) were selected retrospectively. These patients have been subjected to double biopsy sampling respectively in the SUVmax area and in the SUVmin area of the lesion. Technical success has been calculated. For each sample, the percentage of neoplastic, inflammatory, and fibrotic cells was reported. Furthermore, the possibility of performing immunohistochemical or molecular biology investigations to specifically define the biomolecular tumor profile was analyzed. Results: Nine lesions were found to be malignant, one benign (inflammation). Technical success was 100% (10/10) in the SUVmax samples and 70% (7/10) in the SUVmin samples ( P-value: .21 ). In the first group, higher percentages of neoplastic cells were found at pathologic evaluation, while in the second group areas of inflammation and fibrosis were more represented. The biomolecular profile was obtained in 100% of cases (9/9) of the first group, while in the second group only in 33.3% of cases (2/6), with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( P-value: .011 ). Conclusion: A correlation between the standardized uptake value value and the technical success of the biopsy sample has been identified. PET/CT-CBCT guidance allows to target the biopsy in the areas of the tumor which are richer in neoplastic cells, thus obtaining more useful information for the planning of patient-tailored cancer treatments.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among women. In the past two decades, new technologies and BC screening have led to the diagnosis of smaller and earlier-stage BC (ESBC). Therefore, percutaneous minimally invasive techniques (PMIT) were adopted to treat patients unfit for surgery, women who refuse it, or elderly patients with comorbidities that could make surgery a difficult and life-threatening treatment. The target of PMIT is small-size ESBC with the scope of obtaining similar efficacy as surgery. Minimally invasive treatments are convenient alternatives with promising effectiveness, lower morbidity, less cost, less scarring and pain, and more satisfying cosmetic results. Ablative techniques used in BC are cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound (US), and laser ablation. The aim of our study is to discuss the current status of percutaneous management of BC, evaluate the clinical outcomes of PMIT in BC, and analyze future perspectives regarding ablation therapy in BC.

Abstract The use of a pocked-sized, wireless-Bluetooth ultrasound portable system with display images presented on a tablet facilitated the work of our radiologists during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to perform diagnostic and interventional procedures in bedridden patients. The device is equipped with a battery-powered probe without cables that transmits images to a tablet (or a cell phone) through a dedicated App. We hypothesise in future to extend diagnostic and low-complexity interventional procedures from hospitalised patients to at-home patients who are not able to mobilise out of bed or are difficult to transport. This domiciliary service might also reduce the overhead of hospital accesses.

Planet formation is strongly influenced by the composition and distribution of volatiles within protoplanetary disks. With JWST, it is now possible to obtain direct observational constraints on disk ices, as recently demonstrated by the detection of ice absorption features toward the edge-on HH 48 NE disk as part of the Ice Age Early Release Science program. Here, we introduce a new radiative transfer modeling framework designed to retrieve the composition and mixing status of disk ices using their band profiles, and apply it to interpret the H2O, CO2, and CO ice bands observed toward the HH 48 NE disk. We show that the ices are largely present as mixtures, with strong evidence for CO trapping in both H2O and CO2 ice. The HH 48 NE disk ice composition (pure versus polar versus apolar fractions) is markedly different from earlier protostellar stages, implying thermal and/or chemical reprocessing during the formation or evolution of the disk. We infer low ice-phase C/O ratios around 0.1 throughout the disk, and also demonstrate that the mixing and entrapment of disk ices can dramatically affect the radial dependence of the C/O ratio. It is therefore imperative that realistic disk ice compositions are considered when comparing planetary compositions with potential formation scenarios, which will fortunately be possible for an increasing number of disks with JWST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Treatment of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAPs) is always indicated regardless of their diameters, as their risk of rupture is significantly higher than that of visceral artery aneurysms. The invasiveness of surgery and its associated complications have led to a shift in favor of radiological interventions as the initial treatment of choice. However, there are still some unanswered questions on endovascular treatment of VAPs regarding the optimal endovascular technique and the efficacy and safety outcomes. The purpose of this multicenter study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment of visceral pseudoaneurysms using Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) Copolymer-Based Non-Adhesive Liquid Embolic Agents (NALEAs). Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent endovascular embolization with EVOH-based NALEAs for visceral artery pseudoaneurysms between January 2018 and June 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: 38 embolizations were performed. Technical success was achieved in all patients. The clinical success rate was high (92.1% overall), with no significant differences between ruptured and unruptured VAPs (p = 0.679). Seven patients (18.4%) experienced procedure-related complications, related to one case of non-target embolization, four splenic abscesses due to end-organ infarction, and two femoral pseudoaneurysms. The rates of procedure-related complications, end-organ infarction, and vascular access-site complications did not significantly differ between ruptured and unruptured VAPs (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Both ruptured and unruptured visceral pseudoaneurysms can be effectively and safely treated with NALEA-based endovascular embolization. We suggest considering the use of NALEAs, particularly in specific clinical cases that highlight their advantages, including patients with coagulopathy, fragile vessels, and embolization targets that are located at a considerable distance from the microcatheter tip and are otherwise difficult to reach.

The intussusception of the small bowel is rarely encountered in adult patients and is frequently associated with a lead point that is often malignant. In a 69-year-old female patient with an episode of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, computed tomography (CT) showed a duodenal-jejunal intussusception caused by an intraluminal mass. Open polypectomy and reduction of intussusception were performed and the diagnosis of gangliocytic paraganglioma was made at pathological evaluation. It would be important to consider neoplasms like gangliocytic paraganglioma in the setting of adult small bowel intussusception.

Abstract A relationship between the gut microbiome and alcohol use disorder has been suggested. Excessive alcohol use produces changes in the fecal microbiome and metabolome in both rodents and humans. Yet, these changes can be observed only in a subgroup of the studied populations, and reversal does not always occur after abstinence. We aimed to analyze fecal microbial composition and function in a translationally relevant baboon model of chronic heavy drinking that also meets binge criteria (drinking too much, too fast, and too often), i.e., alcohol ~1 g/kg and blood alcohol levels (BALs) ≥ 0.08 g/dL in a 2-hour period, daily, for years. We compared three groups of male baboons (Papio anubis): L = Long-term alcohol drinking group (12.1 years); S = Short-term alcohol drinking group (2.7 years); and C = Control group, drinking a non-alcoholic reinforcer (Tang®) (8.2 years). Fecal collection took place during 3 days of Drinking (D), followed by a short period (3 days) of Abstinence (A). Fecal microbial alpha- and beta-diversity were significantly lower in L vs. S and C (p’s