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Background: Carotid revascularization procedures, such as carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS), can lead to restenosis. Monitoring restenosis onset through biomarkers is crucial in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate inflammation biomarkers in CEA and CAS to determine their predictive value for restenosis risk postprocedure., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical records of patients with carotid stenosis who underwent CEA or CAS over 1 year at the vascular surgery departments of an interuniversity center. Eligible asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis (70%-99%) underwent revascularization. Differences between preprocedural and early postprocedural inflammation indices were assessed, and restenosis risk was evaluated using receiver operating curve analysis and logistic regression., Results: The cohort comprised 100 patients, 68 undergoing CEA and 32 undergoing CAS. Significant values were observed for inflammation ratios post-CEA: neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) (P = 0.036), platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR) (P = 0.009), monocytes to lymphocytes ratio (MLR) (P < 0.001), systemic inflammation index (SII) (P = 0.024), systemic immune response index (SIRI) (P = 0.003), and aggregate inflammation response index (AISI) (P < 0.001). At 12-month follow-up, 12% of patients experienced restenosis; 50% were men and 50% women. Women showed a higher restenosis rate (26.1% vs 7.8%). Preintervention NLR (odds ratio {OR} [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 13.38 [1.88 to 95.44], P = 0.010) and SIRI (OR [95% CI] = 10.22 [2.65 to 39.43], P = 0.001) remained significantly associated with restenosis after adjusting for sex and smoking., Conclusions: The study provided a predictive model for restenosis, identifying preintervention NLR and SIRI as independent predictors of restenosis at 12-month follow-up., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The development and calibration of a measurement system designed for assessing the performance of the avalanche photodiodes (APDs) used in the Compton scattering polarimeter of the CUSP project is discussed in this work. The designed system is able to characterize the APD gain GAPD and energy resolution across a wide range of temperatures T (from -20 °C to +60 °C) and bias voltages Vbias (from 260 V to 410 V). The primary goal was to experimentally determine the GAPD dependence on the T and Vbias in order to establish a strategy for stabilizing GAPD by compensating for T fluctuations, acting on Vbias. The results demonstrate the system capability to accurately characterize APD behavior and develop feedback mechanisms to ensure its stable operation. This work provides a robust framework for calibrating APDs for space environments. It is essential for the successful implementation of spaceborne polarimeters such as the Compton scattering polarimeter foreseen aboard the CUbeSat Solar Polarimeter (CUSP) mission under development to perform solar flare X-ray polarimetry.

Crystal defects, traditionally viewed as detrimental, are now being explored for quantum technology applications. This study focuses on stacking faults in silicon and germanium, forming hexagonal inclusions within the cubic crystal and creating quantum wells that modify electronic properties. By modeling defective structures with varying hexagonal layer counts, we calculated the formation energies and electronic band structures. Our results show that hexagonal inclusions in Si and Ge exhibit a direct band gap, changing with inclusion thickness, effectively functioning as quantum wells. We find that Ge inclusions have a direct band gap and form type-I quantum wells. This research highlights the potential of manipulating extended defects to engineer the optoelectronic properties of Si and Ge, offering new pathways for advanced electronic and photonic device applications.

Carotid stenosis is characterized by the progressive narrowing of the carotid arteries due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, which can lead to stroke and death as major complications. Numerous biomarkers allow for its study and characterization, particularly those related to "omics" sciences. Through the most common research databases, we report representative studies about carotid stenosis biomarkers based on genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in a narrative review. To establish a priority among studies based on their internal validity, we used a quality assessment tool, the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA). Genes, transcriptomes, proteins, and metabolites can diagnose the disease, define plaque connotations, predict consequences after revascularization interventions, and associate carotid stenosis with other patient comorbidities. It also emerged that many aspects determining the patient's psychological and social sphere are implicated in carotid disease. In conclusion, when taking the multidisciplinary approach that combines human sciences with biological sciences, it is possible to comprehensively define a patient's health and thus improve their clinical management through precision medicine.

We introduce a data-driven potential aimed at the investigation of pressure-dependent phase transitions in bulk germanium, including the estimate of kinetic barriers. This is achieved by suitably building a database including several configurations along minimum energy paths, as computed using the solid-state nudged elastic band method. After training the model based on density functional theory (DFT)-computed energies, forces, and stresses, we provide validation and rigorously test the potential on unexplored paths. The resulting agreement with the DFT calculations is remarkable in a wide range of pressures. The potential is exploited in large-scale isothermal-isobaric simulations, displaying local nucleation in the R8 to β-Sn pressure-induced phase transformation, taken here as an illustrative example., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Metalloproteinases (MPs) are zinc-dependent enzymes with proteolytic activity and a variety of functions in the pathophysiology of human diseases. The main objectives of this review are to analyze a specific family of MPs, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in the most common chronic and complex diseases that affect patients' social lives and to better understand the nature of the associations between MMPs and the psychosocial environment. In accordance with the PRISMA extension for a scoping review, an examination was carried out. A collection of 24 studies was analyzed, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of MMP and their connection to the manifestation of social aspects in human disease. The complexity of the relationship between MMP and social problems is presented via an interdisciplinary approach based on complexity paradigm as a new approach for conceptualizing knowledge in health research. Finally, two implications emerge from the study: first, the psychosocial states of individuals have a profound impact on their overall health and disease conditions, which implies the importance of adopting a holistic perspective on human well-being, encompassing both physical and psychosocial aspects. Second, the use of MPs as biomarkers may provide physicians with valuable tools for a better understanding of disease when used in conjunction with "sociomarkers" to develop mathematical predictive models.

In this paper, we address the unique nature of fully textured, high surface-to-volume 3C-SiC films, as produced by intrinsic growth anisotropy, in turn generated by the high velocity of the stacking fault growth front in two-dimensional (111) platelets. Structural interpretation of high resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy data is carried out for samples grown in a hot-wall low-pressure chemical vapour deposition reactor with trichlorosilane and ethylene precursors, under suitable deposition conditions. By correlating the morphology and the X-ray diffraction analysis we also point out that twinning along (111) planes is very frequent in such materials, which changes the free-platelet configuration.