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In preclinical research, histology images are produced using powerful optical microscopes to digitize entire sections at cell scale. Quantification of stained tissue relies on machine learning driven segmentation. However, such methods require multiple additional information, or features, which are increasing the quantity of data to process. As a result, the quantity of features to deal with represents a drawback to process large series or massive histological images rapidly in a robust manner. Existing feature selection methods can reduce the amount of required information but the selected subsets lack reproducibility. We propose a novel methodology operating on high performance computing (HPC) infrastructures and aiming at finding small and stable sets of features for fast and robust segmentation of high-resolution histological images. This selection has two steps: (1) selection at features families scale (an intermediate pool of features, between spaces and individual features) and (2) feature selection performed on pre-selected features families. We show that the selected sets of features are stables for two different neuron staining. In order to test different configurations, one of these dataset is a mono-subject dataset and the other is a multi-subjects dataset to test different configurations. Furthermore, the feature selection results in a significant reduction of computation time and memory cost. This methodology will allow exhaustive histological studies at a high-resolution scale on HPC infrastructures for both preclinical and clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 37-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of left hip pain. Pretherapeutic imaging demonstrated a 4 cm osteoblastoma located in the intertrochanteric region of the proximal femur, surrounded by extensive bone marrow edema. After multidisciplinary meeting, percutaneous cryoablation was decided and performed under computed tomography guidance using three cryoprobes to match the exact size and shape of the tumor, resulting in complete resolution of symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up demonstrated resolution of the bone marrow edema pattern and ingrowth of fat at the periphery of the ablation zone consistent with long-term healing of the tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary epiphyseal subacute osteomyelitis (PESAO) caused by Mycobacterium species in young children is poorly recognized. We aimed to define the spectrum of this uncommon condition and to propose a novel diagnostic approach. We performed a systematic review of the literature on the PubMed website by selecting all reports of isolated infantile PESAO caused by Mycobacterium species since 1975. We identified 350 citations, of which 174 were assessed for eligibility based on title and abstract. The full text of 81 eligible citations was screened, and relevant data of 15 children under 4 years of age with mycobacterial PESAO were extracted. These data were pooled with those from our Institution. Data from 16 children were reviewed. The median age was 16 ± 7 months and the male:female ratio 1.7. The knee was the most common infection site (94%). The diagnosis of mycobacterial disease was delayed in all cases (range, 2 weeks to 6 months), and initially presumed by histology in 15 children (94%). Microbiologically proven diagnosis was confirmed by bone cultures in 8 of the 15 children (53%), and by specific PCR in 2 of the 3 culture-negative bone specimens (67%). Three children experienced long-term orthopedic complications despite surgical drainage and prolonged antimycobacterial regimens. All recently reported cases came from high-burden tuberculosis areas. Mycobacterium species contribute to the burden of infantile PESAO in endemic tuberculosis areas and may cause growth disturbances. We argue in favor of the early recognition of mycobacterial disease by specific molecular assays in children with infantile PESAO living in high-burden areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an anatomico-radiologic study of humerus, femur, and tibia from a case of total congenital afibrinogenemia. Juxtatrabecular hemorrhages occur mainly in metaphyses and seem to be related to normal lines of stress. They may lead to the formation of intraosseous cysts and to a remodelling of bone trabeculae. The radiologic lesions in a second case, diagnosed as congenital dysfibrinogenemia, are similar to those found in Case 1 (femoral trabeculae remodelling) but also resemble some alterations described in hemophilia (pseudotumor of the right iliac bone). Anatomic study of the lesions in Case 2 was not possible. The significance of these observations could be better defined by a more extended skeletal study (radiologic and when feasible anatomic) of patients with congenital clotting defects and especially with inherited disorders of the fibrinogen molecule. It would also be worthwhile investigating manifest or latent hemostatic disorders (particularly at the fibrinogen level) in patients with solitary or aneurysmal bone cysts, and even with bone infarct or unexplained trabecular remodelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present molecular beam epitaxy growth of tensile-strained HgTe/CdTe thin films for realization of three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator structures. The growth temperature is investigated by looking at crystal quality using high-resolution x-ray diffraction, being found to be much lower than the usual surface temperature for low-cadmium-fraction HgCdTe material. The strain status of HgTe is checked as a function of thickness, and the first indication of strain relaxation is found to appear for thickness well below the critical thickness expected for this system. Surface and interface morphology are also investigated, and well-defined interfaces as well as atomically flat surfaces are demonstrated. Finally, transmission electron microscopy is used to image the material structure of a HgCdTe/HgTe/HgCdTe stack suitable for electronic transport experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preoperative diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) has been described as an efficient method to differentiate good and poor responders to chemotherapy in osteosarcoma patients. A DW-MRI performed earlier during treatment could be helpful in monitoring chemotherapy. Objective: To assess the accuracy of DW-MRI in evaluating response to chemotherapy in the treatment of osteosarcoma, more specifically at mid-course of treatment. Materials and methods: This study was carried out on a prospective series of adolescents treated for long-bone osteosarcoma. MR examinations were performed at diagnosis (MRI-1), at mid-course of chemotherapy (MRI-2), and immediately before surgery (MRI-3). A DW sequence was performed using diffusion gradients of b0 and b900. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC1, ADC2, ADC3, respectively), their differentials (ADC2 − ADC1 and ADC3 − ADC1), and their variation (ADC2 − ADC1/ADC1 and ADC3 − ADC1/ADC1) were calculated for each of these three time points. Results: Fifteen patients were included. Patients with no increase in ADC showed a poor response to chemotherapy on their histology results. At mid-course, the three calculated values were significantly different between good and poor responders. ADC2 − ADC1 enabled us to detect, with 100% specificity, four out of seven of the poor responders. There was no significant difference in the values at MRI-3 between the two groups. Conclusion: DW-MRI performed both at baseline and mid-course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an efficient method to predict further histological response of osteosarcoma. This method could be used as an early prognostic factor to monitor preoperative chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Synovial cysts represent an uncommon and probably underestimated pathological entity of the degenerative lumbar spine. The authors report a retrospective analysis of the clinical presentation, radiological studies and operative findings in 77 patients surgically treated for symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts at their institution. Materials and method. Between January 1992 and June 1998, a total of 77 patients presenting with symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts were operated on in the author’s department. Operative procedure, complications, results and pathological findings were correlated with preoperative assessment. There were 41 men and 36 women with an average age of 63 years (range 44–90 years). Results. On the basis of their symptom complex on presentation, two populations were identified: patients who presented with a single radicular pain (group I = 51 patients), and patients who presented with bilateral neurogenic claudication (group II = 26 patients). Neurological examination on presentation demonstrated motor deficit (12%), sensory loss (26%) and reflex changes (35%). Degenerative disc disease and facet joint osteoarthritis was a frequent finding in patients with pre-operative MRI. Facet joint orientation was >45° in 76.6% of patients. Preoperative spondylolisthesis was found in 48% on radiological studies. All the patients were treated surgically with resection of the cyst. No fusion was performed as a first line procedure. However subsequent fusion was necessary in one patient who developed symptomatic spondylolisthesis. Mean follow-up period was of 45 months ranging from 18 to 105 months. Only one recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. An excellent or good functional outcome was seen in 97.4% of cases, and 89% of the patients with motor deficit recovered. Conclusions. Surgical resection of lumbar synovial cysts is an effective treatment associated with very low morbidity. Synovial cysts are associated with increased grade and frequency of facet joint asteoarthritis but not with increased grade or frequency of degenerative disc disease compared with patients without cysts. In the author’s opinion, at the present time, there is no reliable criterion which allows the development of a symptomatic spinal instability to be predicted in patients with a preoperative spondylolisthesis and therefore fusion as a first line procedure is still debatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liposarcoma (LPS) is the second most common kind of soft tissue sarcoma, and a heterogeneous malignant tumor derived from adipose tissue. Up to now, the prognostic value of BAG1 or BAG2 in LPS has not been defined yet. Expression profiling data of LPS patients were collected from TCGA and GEO database. Survival curves were plotted to verify the outcome differences of patients based on BAG1 or BAG2 expression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze the prognostic ability of BAG1 or BAG2. Chaperone's regulators BAG1 and BAG2 were identified as prognostic biomarkers for LPS patients, which exhibited distinct expression patterns and survival outcome prediction performances. Patients with high BAG2 expression and/or low BAG1 expression had worse prognosis. Enrichment analysis showed that BAG1 was involved in negative regulation of TGF-β signaling. Low expression of BAG1 was associated with high abundance of regulatory T cells (Tregs). The 2-gene signature model further confirmed the improved risk assessment performance of BAG1 and BAG2: high risk patients displayed poor prognosis. BAG1 and BAG2 are supposed to be potential prognostic biomarkers for LPS and have impacts on liposarcomagenesis and immune infiltration in distinctive manners, which may function as potential therapy targets (BAG1 agonists/BAG2 inhibitors) for LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This research developed a prognostic model for OS patients based on the Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) signature. Background: The mTORC1 signaling pathway has a critical role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and tumorigenesis and development through the regulation of cell growth, metabolism and autophagy. However, the mechanism of action of this signaling pathway in Osteosarcoma (OS) remains unclear. Objective: The datasets including the TARGET-OS and GSE39058, and 200 mTORC1 genes were collected. Methods: The mTORC1 signaling-related genes were obtained based on the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) database, and the single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was utilized in order to calculate the mTORC1 score. Then, the WGCNA were performed for the mTORC1-correlated gene module, the un/multivariate and lasso Cox regression analysis were conducted for the RiskScore model. The immune infiltration analysis was performed by using the ssGSEA method, ESTIMATE tool and MCP-Count algorithm. KM survival and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve analysis were performed by using the survival and timeROC package. Results: The mTORC1 score and WGCNA with β = 5 screened the mTORC1 positively correlated skyblue2 module that included 67 genes, which are also associated with the metabolism and hypoxia pathways. Further narrowing of candidate genes and calculating the regression coefficient, we developed a useful and reliable RiskScore model, which can classify the patients in the training and validation set into high and low-risk groups based on the median value of RiskScore as an independent and robust prognostic factor. High-risk patients had a significantly poor prognosis, lower immune infiltration level of multiple immune cells and prone to cancer metastasis. Finally, we a nomogram model incorporating the metastasis features and RiskScore showed excellent prediction accuracy and clinical practicability. Conclusion: We developed a useful and reliable risk prognosis model based on the mTORC1 signaling signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acorn production in oaks (Quercus spp.) shows considerable inter-annual variation, known as masting. The effects of pollen sourced from trees within or outside the stand on acorn production were investigated in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in an ancient mixed woodland during two moderate masting years. Comparisons were made between natural pollination, hand pollinations with out-of-stand pollen, in-stand pollen or a 1:1 combination of the two pollen sources, and for bagged flowers left unpollinated. After all treatments, > 85% of the flowers or developing acorns were aborted between May and August of both years. When flowers were protected with pollen bags and no pollen added, no acorns were produced. In contrast, hand pollination with out-of-stand pollen produced the most acorns both years and significantly more than within-stand pollen or natural pollination in 2022. Hand pollination with out-of-stand or within-stand pollen provided significantly more acorns than natural pollination in 2023. In 2022, hand pollination with a 1:1 mixture of out-of-stand and within-stand pollen yielded an intermediate number of mature acorns between those for the out-of-stand and within-stand pollination treatments. The study provides clear evidence of maternal choice during acorn development in pedunculate oak and of the benefits of pollen supplementation. It also confirms that pedunculate oak is a fruit-maturation masting species; abortion of pollinated flowers and immature acorns determines a mast year (rather than the number of flowers produced) at this site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pancreatic surgery for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) with surgical indications was postponed or canceled. Patients with PNET patients who underwent pancreatic surgery during the COVID-19 restriction period (3 years) were compared with a similar cohort of patients who underwent surgery in the previous 3 years. Data on patients' characteristics, waiting time, and surgical and pathology outcomes were evaluated. During the study period, 370 patients received surgery for PNETs, 205 (55%) during the first period, and 165 (45%) during the pandemic. A lengthening of the waiting list (182 [IQR 100–357] vs. 60 [40–88] days, p < 0.001) and increased use of anti-tumor medical treatments (any therapy, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, and somatostatin analogs; all p < 0.001) was found. During the pandemic, surgery occurred after a median of 381 days [IQR 200–610] from diagnosis (vs. 103 [IQR 52–192] of the pre-COVID-19 period, p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences in tumor size and grading distribution were found between the two periods (both p > 0.05), yet only a modest increase of the median Ki67 values in cases operated during the pandemic (4% vs. 3%, p = 0.03). Lastly, these latter patients experienced less major postoperative complications (13% vs. 24%, p = 0.007). During COVID-19, the surgical waiting list of PNET patients was drastically extended, and bridge therapies were preferred. This did not result in more advanced cases at final pathology. PRRT and SSA are valid alternative therapies for PNETs when surgery is not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of elemental chromium for the archaeological weapons from the pits of Qin terracotta warriors in China has been highly controversial. Although previous studies have highlighted that the chromium on the surface of weapon originated from the contamination of surrounding lacquer, the exact origin of chromium in the lacquer remains unclear. In this work, the measurement by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) firstly confirmed that the elemental chromium was indeed contained in the archaeological Qin original lacquer. Nevertheless, the amount of elemental chromium in the Qin lacquer was as low as 0.0759 μg/mg, disclosing that it was impossible to artificially add extra refined chromium-containing substance to the lacquer in the preparation of the terracotta warriors. The soil from the archaeological site of Qin lacquer was found to have a chromium amount of 0.0660 μg/mg by ICP-MS. After the hygrothermal and soil-buried aging cycles for the lab-prepared lacquer, the surface and depth elemental analyses by time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF–SIMS) showed a gradient distribution of elemental chromium from the surface to interior of aged lacquer, indicating the migration and enrichment behavior of elemental chromium from the burial soil towards the lacquer. To explore the migration mechanism of elemental chromium, fluorescence imaging technique was employed in combination with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations. The results revealed that catechol-containing fragments were formed during hygrothermal and soil-buried aging of lacquer and consequently coordinated with chromium ions, inducing the migration of elemental chromium towards the lacquer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial tension isotherms were determined and interpreted for ACORGA CLX-50. The hydration of extractant molecules in aqueous solution and at hydrocarbon/water interfaces was studied by molecular modelling. The usefulness of this technique to interpret the adsorption behavior was demonstrated. The interfacial kinetics was considered and relationships for various models of interfacial mechanism were derived and discussed. Despite its high hydrophobicity, ACORGA CLX 50 strongly adsorbs at the hydrocarbon/water interfaces and thus decreases effectively the interfacial tension. This high interfacial activity of ACORGA CLX 50 can be explained by the formation of hydrates. The interfacial tension isotherm can be well matched with the Szyszkowski equation. Molecular modelling suggests that ACORGA CLX 50 adsorbs at the hydrocarbon/water interface probably as a tetrahydrate containing two water molecules bonded to the same carbonyl oxygen atom (e.g., at position 3), one water molecule bonded to the oxygen atom of the second alkoxyl group (i.e., at position 5 when the hydration of carbonyl oxygen at position 3 is previously considered) and, finally, one water molecule bonded with the pyridine nitrogen atom. Positions 3 and 5 are equivalent. It is also shown that when the extraction of copper takes place in the kinetic regime, the reaction order with respect to ACORGA CLX 50 can change depending on the limiting step and the range of extractant concentration considered. Thus, a decrease of the extractant concentration from 10−5M to 3·10−3M causes a fall of the order with respect to ACORGA CLX 50 from 1 to 0 and 2 to 1 when the formation of the intermediate 1∶1 and final 2∶1 complexes are considered to be the limiting step, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security requirements of new applications such as cloud computing, big data, and the Internet of Things have promoted the development and application of security protocols such as secure multi-party computation, fully homomorphic encryption, and zero-knowledge proof. In order to meet these demands, there is a need for new symmetric ciphers that minimize multiplications in F 2 n or F p , where p is prime. One construction that addresses this demand is Partial SPN (P-SPN) construction, where the S-box layer is only applied to a portion of the state in each round. And there have been several research on the construction over the past years. The key to the design of P-SPN construction lies in the linear layers, but systematic exploration in this direction has been lacking in the existing work. In this work, we first establish a lower bound on the dimension of the maximal invariant subspace without active S-boxes for a generic P-SPN scheme. Subsequently, we concentrate on the linear layers of P-SPN construction. Through a meticulous examination of intriguing and beneficial characteristics for various matrices, we showcase that the security of a P-SPN scheme against invariant subspace attack depends on the degree of the minimal polynomial of the matrix. Inadequate choices of the matrices allow for large invariant subspaces that navigate any number of rounds without activating any S-boxes. A comprehensive proof for the Conjecture 1 proposed by Keller and Rosemarin is presented, which not only further improves the lower bound on the dimension of the maximal invariant subspace for the P-SPN rounds of STARKAD permutation, but also implies a lower bound on the dimension of the maximal invariant subspace for block matrices with special blocks. For a block circulant matrix with special blocks, a better annihilating polynomial exists and a lower bound on the dimension of the maximal invariant subspace can be identified. For circulant matrices and block circulant matrices with circulant blocks, we introduce methods to ascertain the range or exact value of the minimal polynomial degree. This determination advances the exploration of the invariant subspaces in these matrices. Especially if the number of S-Boxes in a P-SPN scheme is 1, we can attain the exact value of the dimension for the maximal invariant subspace. All the cases discussed here are invariant subspaces with inactive S-boxes. Our work intends to provide concise cryptanalytic methods for new proposals following P-SPN or HADES design principles. In addition, we derive a way to make sure that a circulant matrix C is resistant to invariant subspace attack with inactive S-boxes, thus providing design criteria for the construction of such matrices in the design of P-SPN schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-genetic sources of phenotypic variation, such as the epigenome and the microbiome, could be important contributors to adaptive variation for species with low genetic diversity. However, little is known about the complex interaction between these factors and the genetic diversity of the host, particularly in wild populations. Here, we examine the skin microbiome composition of two closely-related mangrove killifish species with different mating systems (self-fertilising and outcrossing) under sympatric and allopatric conditions. This allows us to partition the influence of the genotype and the environment on their microbiome and (previously described) epigenetic profiles. We find the diversity and community composition of the skin microbiome are strongly shaped by the environment and, to a lesser extent, by species-specific influences. Heterozygosity and microbiome alpha diversity, but not epigenetic variation, are associated with the fluctuating asymmetry of traits related to performance (vision) and behaviour (aggression). Our study identifies that a proportion of the epigenetic diversity and microbiome differentiation is unrelated to genetic variation, and we find evidence for an associative relationship between microbiome and epigenetic diversity in these wild populations. This suggests that both mechanisms could potentially contribute to variation in species with low genetic diversity. Species with low genetic diversity have limited capacity to adapt to environmental change. This study finds that the skin microbiome and non-genetic (epigenetic) modifications of the DNA represent additional sources of variation that could help low diversity fish survive environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent environmental change exacerbates living conditions especially in coastal areas due to increases of frequency and intensity of typhoons. A storm surge early warning system (SEWS) can be a useful non-structural measure to protect the public living in coastal areas. The establishment of sea levels for the SEWS has a critical role. Thorough ground surveying is desired to establish sea levels by finding the most vulnerable point. Meanwhile, remote sensing techniques have been addressed for the coastal vulnerability especially with UAV photogrammetry. Therefore, a UAV photogrammetry procedure is proposed for a SEWS to estimate the alarming sea levels in the current study combining historical tide data for storm surge events. The procedure is comprised of five steps: 1) UAV surveying of the target area and producing the DSM data; 2) definition of the vulnerable points with DSM and ground surveying; 3) estimation of the inundation area from the DSM with sea level rising; 4) analysis of the precedent storm surge events; and 5) estimation of sea levels with the inundation area and historical sea levels of the vulnerable points. Wolpo Beach in South Korea was employed, since its coastal area has been damaged from storm surge events. Results indicated that the UAV-based procedure can be a useful method to establish sea levels for the SEWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess in situ the impact of effluents originating from an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farm on a nearby slender sea pen (Virgularia mirabilis) field. We evidenced (1) the presence and persistence of emamectin residues (i.e. a common chemotherapeutants used for treating ectoparasites in salmons) in V. mirabilis tissue 56 days after treatment and (2) lethal and sublethal responses of V. mirabilis to effluents discharged by the salmon farm. Particularly, sea pens near the fish farm exhibited significant overproduction of mucus, contraction of polyps' tentacles, and disappearance of associated fauna. Furthermore, sea pens located directly underneath the farm showed substantial tissue necrosis and, in the most severe case, complete tissue loss and mortality. Our results suggest that lethal damages on sea pens occur directly below the farm, and that sublethal effects are visible up to 500 m from the farm. However, the presence of V. mirabilis below the studied farm, which has been active for more than twenty years, suggests that V. mirabilis population possesses the capacity to recover from the impacts of the farm, thereby preventing the complete disappearance from the area. In this context, it would be particularly interesting to run a temporal survey following the health state of V. mirabilis during an entire production cycle to have a more precise overview of fish farm impacts on this species, including during and after the post-production fallowing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term historical data and their interpretation are crucial aspects of understanding any kind of variation that exists as a result of changing environmental behaviour. The focus of the study is to characterize precipitation properties in the middle subdivision of the Mahanadi River basin (MRB). An eigen-based technique, also known as the maximum loading value approach, and gridded precipitation data with a resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° are presented to analyze the spatiotemporal properties of precipitation at different timeslot intervals. The meteorological data (gridded precipitation for 117 years from 1901 to 2017) has a special "k" field for spatial and temporal modes of spatial pattern analysis, which aids in the recognition of precipitation properties. The identified characteristics of the exclusive timeslot periods have been assessed for any dispersion as a function of annual precipitation. To cross-validate the identified patterns for distinctness and pairwise comparison, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov's D test was used. Southwest Mahanadi does not experience much variation in pattern size (± 3–5%), with a maximum variance of 39.09% during timeslot 2 (1940–1978). Similarly, the southeast Mahanadi observed a continuous increase in pattern size and was above 10% with a maximum variance of 28.53% during timeslot 3 (1979–2 017). While north-eastern Mahanadi experienced a continuous and significant decrease of > 14% of the total variance, with a maximum (42.48%) during timeslot 1 (1901–1939) and a minimum (28.14%) during timeslot 3 (1979–2017). There is no spatial pattern variability from summer to any of the timeslot intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ningdong coalfield has played a pivotal role in advancing local economic development and meeting national energy. Nevertheless, mining operations have engendered ecological challenges encompassing subterranean water depletion, land desertification, and ground subsidence, primarily stemming from the disruption of coal seam roof strata. Consequently, the local ecosystem has incurred substantial harm. Water-preserved coal mining presently constitutes the pivotal technology in mitigating this problem. The primary challenge of this technique lies in identifying critical aquifer layers and understanding the heights of water-conducting fracture zones. To obtain a precise comprehension of the seepage patterns within the upper coal seam aquifer during mining, delineate the extent of water-conducting fracture zones, non-invasive geophysical techniques such as time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (TL-ERT), magnetic resonance sounding (MRS), and spontaneous potential (SP) have been employed to monitor alterations within the shallow coalfield's aquifer throughout the mining process in the Ningdong coalfield. By conducting meticulous examinations of fluctuations in resistivity, moisture content, and self-potential within the superjacent strata during coal seam extraction, the predominant underground water infiltration strata were ascertained, concurrently enabling the estimation of the development elevation of water-conducting fracture zones. This outcome furnishes a geophysical underpinning for endeavors concerning local water-preserved coal mining and ecological rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE has shown efficacy in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). Personalised dosimetry is crucial to optimise treatment outcomes and minimise adverse events. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the tumour-absorbed dose (TAD) estimated from [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE SPECT/CT and the therapeutic response. Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with advanced well-differentiated NETs grades 1–3 who underwent PRRT and exhibited greater uptake than liver on pre-therapeutic [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT. Target lesions were selected based on the RECIST 1.1 and PERCIST 1.0 criteria using [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE SPECT/CT and pre-therapeutic contrast-enhanced CT scans. For anatomical image analysis, the sum of the longest diameter (SLD) of the target lesions was measured using the RECIST 1.1 criteria for patient-based analysis and the longest diameter (LD) of the target lesion using the RECIST-L criteria for lesion-based analysis. Standardised uptake values (SUVs) were measured on SPECT/CT images, and TADs were calculated based on the SUVs. Dosimetry was performed using a single SPECT/CT imaging time point at day 4–5 post-therapy. Statistical analyses were conducted to investigate correlations and determine the target lesion responses. Results: Twenty patients with primary tumour sites and hepatic metastases were included. Fifty-five target lesions, predominantly located in the pancreas and liver, were analysed. The cumulative TAD (lesion-based analysis: r = 0.299–0.301, p = 0.025–0.027), but not the cycle 1 SUV (lesion-based analysis: r = 0.198–0.206, p = 0.131–0.147) or cycle 1 TAD (lesion-based analysis: r = 0.209–0.217, p = 0.112–0.126), exhibited a significant correlation with the change in LD of the target lesion. Binary logistic regression analysis identified the significance of the cumulative TAD in predicting disease control according to the RECIST-L criteria (odds ratio = 1.031–1.051, p = 0.024–0.026). Conclusions: The cumulative TAD estimated from [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE SPECT/CT revealed a significant correlation with change in LD, which was significantly higher for the cumulative TAD than for the cycle 1 SUV or TAD. A higher cumulative TAD was associated with disease control in the target lesion. However, considering the limitations inherent to a confined sample size, careful interpretation of these findings is required. Estimation of the cumulative TAD of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE therapy could guide the platform towards personalised therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laryngeal chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor that mostly affects the cricoid cartilage. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between the various treatments of this pathology as there are no official guidelines for this pathology. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the pathology database of nine French tertiary care centers was conducted. Outcomes of patients treated by total laryngectomy were compared with those treated by more conservative approaches (endoscopic debulking, median thyrotomy, partial laryngectomy). Two Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were performed: one to assess the overall survival rate and the other to assess laryngeal preservation over time. Results: A total of 43 patients were enrolled: 12 with total laryngectomy as the initial treatment, and 31 who initially underwent laryngeal-preserving treatment. With conservative treatment, laryngeal function was preserved in 96% and 75% of patients at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Conservative treatment did not reduce the overall survival rate. Conclusion: These results suggest that laryngeal preservation should be considered as the initial treatment in cases of laryngeal chondrosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acorn production in oak (Quercus spp.) shows considerable inter-annual variation, known as masting, which provides a natural defence against seed predators but a highly-variable supply of acorns for uses such as in commercial tree planting each year. Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases have been very widely reported to influence plant growth and seed or fruit size and quantity via the ‘fertilisation effect’ that leads to enhanced photosynthesis. To examine if acorn production in mature woodland communities will be affected by further increase in CO2, the contents of litter traps from a Free Air Carbon Enrichment (FACE) experiment in deciduous woodland in central England were analysed for numbers of flowers and acorns of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) at different stages of development and their predation levels under ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations. Inter-annual variation in acorn numbers was considerable and cyclical between 2015 and 2021, with the greatest numbers of mature acorns in 2015, 2017 and 2020 but almost none in 2018. The numbers of flowers, enlarged cups, immature acorns, empty acorn cups, and galls in the litter traps also varied amongst years; comparatively high numbers of enlarged cups were recorded in 2018, suggesting Q. robur at this site is a fruit maturation masting species (i.e., the extent of abortion of pollinated flowers during acorn development affects mature acorn numbers greatly). Raising the atmospheric CO2 concentration by 150 μL L−1, from early 2017, increased the numbers of immature acorns, and all acorn evidence (empty cups + immature acorns + mature acorns) detected in the litter traps compared to ambient controls by 2021, but did not consistently affect the numbers of flowers, enlarged cups, empty cups, or mature acorns. The number of flowers in the elevated CO2 plots’ litter traps was greater in 2018 than 2017, one year after CO2 enrichment began, whereas numbers declined in ambient plots. Enrichment with CO2 also increased the number of oak knopper galls (Andricus quercuscalicis Burgsdorf). We conclude that elevated CO2 increased the occurrence of acorns developing from flowers, but the putative benefit to mature acorn numbers may have been hidden by excessive pre- and/or post-dispersal predation. There was no evidence that elevated CO2 altered masting behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following White Paper will discuss the appropriateness of gadolinium administration in MRI for musculoskeletal indications. Musculoskeletal radiologists should consider the potential risks involved and practice the judicious use of intravenous contrast, restricting administration to cases where there is demonstrable added value. Specific nuances of when contrast is or is not recommended are discussed in detail and listed in table format. Briefly, contrast is recommended for bone and soft tissue lesions. For infection, contrast is reserved for chronic or complex cases. In rheumatology, contrast is recommended for early detection but not for advanced arthritis. Contrast is not recommended for sports injuries, routine MRI neurography, implants/hardware, or spine imaging, but is helpful in complex and post-operative cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to simulate the rainfall-runoff process of mountain torrents in the Shou River Basin located in the southern part of Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province. The basin encountered a significant flood disaster on August 20, 2019, resulting in substantial human and economic losses, as well as limited hydrological data availability. This research employs a unidirectional coupling approach by integrating the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) with the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to accurately simulate rainfall-runoff processes. To account for the non-uniform distribution of precipitation within mountainous watersheds, high-precision rainfall data generated by WRF are extracted and utilized as input for the SWMM model. The quantitative comparison between the evolution of spatial distribution of rainstorms and hourly precipitation processes demonstrates that the WRF model effectively captures dynamic changes in rainstorms. Analysis results indicate a trend of rainfall center movement from midstream to downstream, with sub-watersheds' superimposed effect on rainfall response leading to increased flood peak response, duration, and destructive power. This study provides an effective method and reference for predicting and assessing mountain flood disasters in data-scarce areas such as the Shou River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting the speaking modes of human is an important cue in many applications, including detecting active/inactive participants in video conferencing, monitoring students' attention in classrooms or online, analyzing students' engagement in live video lectures, and identifying drivers' distractions. However, automatically detecting speaking mode from a video is challenging due to the low resolution of the images, noise, illumination change, and unfavorable viewing conditions. This paper proposes a deep learning-based ensemble technique (called V-ensemble) to identify speaking modes, i.e., talking and non-talking, considering low-resolution and noisy images. This work also introduces an automatic algorithm for the video stream-to-image frame acquisition and develops three datasets for this research (LLLR, YawDD-M, and SBD-M). The proposed system integrated mouth region extraction and mouth state detection modules. A multi-task cascaded neural network (MTCNN) is used to extract the mouth region. Eight popular deep learning approaches, such as ResNet18, ResNet35, ResNet50, VGG16, VGG19, CNN, InceptionV3 and SVM have been investigated to select the best models for the mouth state prediction. Experimental results with a rigorous comparative analysis showed that the proposed ensemble classifier achieved the highest accuracy on three datasets: LLLR (96.80%), YawDD-M (96.69%) and SBD-M (96.90%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of human event recognition using visual data in smart environments has emerged as a fruitful and successful area of study, with extensive research and development efforts driving significant advancements. These advancements have not only provided valuable insights, but also led to practical applications in various domains. In this context, human actions, activities, interactions, and behaviors can all be considered as events of interest in smart environments. However, when it comes to smart classrooms, there is a lack of unified consensus on the definition of the term "human event." This lack of agreement presents a significant challenge for educators, researchers, and developers, as it hampers their ability to precisely identify and classify the specific situations that are relevant within the educational context. The aim of this paper is to address this challenge by conducting a systematic literature review of relevant events in smart classrooms, with a focus on their applications in assistive technology. The review encompasses a comprehensive analysis of 227 published documents spanning from 2012 to 2022. It delves into key algorithms, methodologies, and applications of vision-based event recognition in smart environments. As the primary outcome, the review identifies the most significant events, classifying them according to single person behavior, or multiple-person interactions, or object-person interactions. It also examines their practical applications within the educational context. The paper concludes with a discussion on the relevance and practicality of vision-based human event recognition in smart classrooms, particularly in the post-COVID era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the feasibility of utilizing steel concentrically X-bracing rigidly connected to shear link to retrofit seismically defected reinforced concrete (RC) frames. It involves examining the lateral behavior of two hypothetical frames strengthened using this proposed system, a single story-single bay RC frame, and a five-story RC office building. For the former, both elastic and inelastic push-over analyses were performed to examine the lateral behavior of strengthened and original RC frames, while the original and strengthened five-story frames were analyzed under the action of monotonically increasing lateral loads and nonlinear time histories. In detailing the strengthening scheme, procedure complying with the capacity design concept was adopted whereby the shear links were detailed to yield prior to RC frames structural elements to reduce the demand on them. The stiffnesses, strengths, and plastic hinging formation patterns for original and strengthened frames under the action of different loading conditions were determined and evaluated. Story shears and maximum story displacements were recorded and examined. It was concluded that this system is feasible for seismically strengthening the defected RC frames. Guidelines for detailing this scheme were provided within the context of this research study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine neoplasia represents an increasingly broad spectrum of disorders. Endocrine neoplasms range from incidental findings to potentially lethal malignancies. In this paper, we cover the impact of pathology in the interpretation of the clinic-pathological, genetic, and radiographic features underpinning these neoplasms. We highlight the critical role of multidisciplinary interactions in structuring a rational diagnostic and efficient therapeutic plan and emphasize the role of histopathological input in decision-making. In this context, standardized pathology reporting and second opinion endocrine pathology review represent relevant tools to improve the overall diagnostic workup of patients affected by endocrine tumors in every specific scenario. In fact, although a relevant proportion of cases may be correctly identified based on clinical presentation and biochemical/imaging investigations, a subset of cases presents with atypical findings that may lead to an inappropriate diagnosis and treatment plan based on a wrong pathological diagnosis if all pieces of the puzzle are not correctly considered. Pathologists have a responsibility to actively guide clinicians before and during surgical procedures to prevent unnecessary interventions. In all areas of endocrine pathology, pathologists must understand the complexity of tissue preservation and assay sensitivities and specificities to ensure the optimal quality and interpretation of diagnostic material. Finally, pathologists are central actors in tumor tissue biobanking, which is an expanding field in oncology that should be promoted while adhering to strict ethical and methodological standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little progress has been made in the treatment and prognosis of osteosarcoma in the past 40 years. Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in the progression of osteosarcoma. This study aims to determine immune-associated prognostic biomarkers for osteosarcoma patients. With the help of analytical tools including ESTIMATE, differential gene expression, LASSO, and univariate cox and multivariate cox regression analysis, osteosarcoma gene expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were investigated. Following the establishment of a prognostic risk score model, internal and external validations using the GEO and TARGET databases were carried out. A total of 44 and 55 samples respectively in the GSE21257 and the TARGET databases were included. Our analysis found 93 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the high and low-ImmuneScore groups. Through univariate cox and LASSO analysis, ALOX5AP was identified as an indicator of TME in osteosarcomas. ALOX5AP was then used to construct a prognostic risk model. Internal and external verification revealed that higher expression of ALOX5AP was correlated with lower risk. Through the CIBERSORT algorithm, the level of CD8 T cells was found to negatively correlate with the risk score. This study revealed that ALOX5AP is an indicator for predicting high CD8 lymphocyte infiltration and "hot" tumor microenvironment in osteosarcomas. Thus, ALOX5AP has the potential to act as a biomarker for effective immunotherapies in osteosarcoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to establish a competitive risk model nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival in patients with osteosarcoma. Methods: Patient data was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database in the United States. A sub-distribution proportional hazards model was used to analyze independent risk factors affecting cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in osteosarcoma patients. Based on these risk factors, a competitive risk model was constructed to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) in osteosarcoma patients. The reliability and accuracy of the nomogram were evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and calibration curves. Results: A total of 2900 osteosarcoma patients were included. The analysis showed that age, primary tumor site, M stage, surgery, chemotherapy, and median household income were independent risk factors influencing CSM in patients. The competitive risk model was constructed to predict CSS in osteosarcoma patients. In the training and validation sets, the C-index of the model was 0.756 (95% CI 0.725–0.787) and 0.737 (95% CI 0.717–0.757), respectively, and the AUC was greater than 0.7 for both. The calibration curves also demonstrated a high consistency between the predicted survival rates and the actual survival rates, confirming the accuracy and reliability of the model. Conclusion: We established a competitive risk model to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year CSS in osteosarcoma patients. The model demonstrated good predictive performance and can assist clinicians and patients in making clinical decisions and formulating follow-up strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune microenvironment of osteosarcoma (OS) has been reported to play an important role in disease progression and prognosis. However, owing to tumor heterogeneity, it is not ideal to predict OS prognosis by examining only infiltrating immune cells. This work aimed to build a prognostic gene signature based on similarities in the immune microenvironments of OS patients. Public datasets were used to examine the correlated genes, and the most consistent dominant infiltrating immune cell type was identified. The LASSO Cox regression model was used to establish a multiple-gene risk prediction signature. A nine-gene prognostic signature was generated from the correlated genes for M0 macrophages and then proven to be effective and reliable in validation cohorts. Signature comparison indicated the priority of the signature. Multivariate Cox regression models indicated that the signature risk score is an independent prognostic factor for OS patients regardless of the Huvos grade in all datasets. In addition, the results of the association between the signature risk score and chemotherapy sensitivity also showed that there was no significant difference in the sensitivity of any drugs between the low- and high-risk groups. A GSEA of GO and KEGG pathways found that antigen processing- and presentation-related biological functions and olfactory transduction receptor signaling pathways have important roles in signature functioning. Our findings showed that M0 macrophages were the dominant infiltrating immune cell type in OS and that the new gene signature is a promising prognostic model for OS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unbalanced composition of gut microbiota in fish is hypothesized to play a role in promoting bacterial infections, but the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between bacterial groups in relation to fish health are not well understood. We report that pathogenic species in the Piscirickettsia, Aeromonas, Renibacterium and Tenacibaculum genera were all detected in the digesta and gut mucosa of healthy Atlantic salmon without clinical signs of disease. Although Piscirickettsia salmonis (and other pathogens) occurred in greater frequencies of fish with clinical Salmonid Rickettsial Septicemia (SRS), the relative abundance was about the same as that observed in healthy fish. Remarkably, the SRS-positive fish presented with a generalized mid-gut dysbiosis and positive growth associations between Piscirickettsiaceae and members of other taxonomic families containing known pathogens. The reconstruction of metabolic phenotypes based on the bacterial networks detected in the gut and mucosa indicated the synthesis of Gram-negative virulence factors such as colanic acid and O-antigen were over-represented in SRS positive fish. This evidence indicates that cooperative interactions between organisms of different taxonomic families within localized bacterial networks might promote an opportunity for P. salmonis to cause clinical SRS in the farm environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of a dynamical downscaling of ERA5 Reanalysis recently performed over Italy through the COSMO-CLM model at a convection-permitting scale (0.02°) over the period 1989–2020. Results are analysed against several independent observational datasets and reanalysis products. The capability of the downscaling to realistically represent the climatology for 2 m temperature and precipitation is analysed over the whole peninsula and subdomains. Hourly precipitation patterns, orography effects, and urban climate dynamics are also investigated, highlighting the weaknesses and strengths of the convection-permitting model. In particular, gains in performances are achieved in mountainous areas where the climate characteristics are correctly represented, as are the hourly precipitation characteristics. Losses in performances occur in coastal and flat areas of the Italian peninsula, where the convection-permitting model performance does not seem to be satisfactory, as opposed to complex orographic areas. The adopted urban parameterisation is demonstrated to simulate heat detection for two Italian cities: Rome and Milan. Finally, a subset of extreme climate indicators is evaluated, finding: (i) a region-dependent response, (ii) a notable performance of the convection-permitting model over mountainous areas and (iii) discrepancies in the South, Central and Insular subdomains. Climate indicators detect extreme events at a detailed scale, becoming an important tool for turning climate data into information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in global food security, especially for low-income and food-deficit countries. The majority of aquaculture production occurs in freshwater earthen ponds and tilapia has quickly become one of the most widely adopted culture species in these systems. Tilapia are now farmed in over 140 countries facilitated by their ease of production, adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, fast growth, and high nutritional value. Typically, tilapia have been considered a hardy, disease resilient species; however, the disease is increasing with subsequent threats to the industry as their production is intensified. In this review, we discuss tilapia production, with a focus on Bangladesh as one of the top producing countries, and highlight the problems associated with disease and treatment approaches for them, including the misuse of antimicrobials. We address a key missing component in understanding health and disease processes for sustainable production in aquaculture, specifically the role played by the microbiome. Here we examine the importance of the microbiome in supporting health, focused on the symbiotic microbial community of the fish skin mucosal surface, the abiotic and biotic factors that influence the microbiome, and the shifts that are associated with diseased states. We also identify conserved taxa of skin microbiomes that may be used as indicators of health status for tilapia offering new opportunities to mitigate and manage the disease and optimize environmental growing conditions and farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since our last Special Annual Issue dedicated to the topic of ependymoma in 2009, critical advancements have been made in the understanding of this disease which is largely confined to childhood. In the era of molecular profiling, the prior classification of ependymoma based on histology has become largely irrelevant, with multiple new subtypes of this disease now being described in the newest 2021 WHO CNS Tumor Classification System. Despite our advancements in understanding the underlying biology of these tumors, the mainstays of treatment—gross total surgical resection followed by confocal radiation therapy—have continued to yield the best treatment results across multiple studies and centers. Here, we provide an update on our understanding of the advancements made in tumor biology, surgical, and oncologic management of this disease. As we move into an era of more personalized medicine, it is critical to reflect on our historical understanding of different disease entities, to better understand the future directions of our treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I Funding: JK is financially supported by grants from the Dutch Kidney Foundation (17OKG23) and the Research Priority Area Human(e) Ai of the University of Amsterdam. i B OFP-10-009 b B Computationally-derived stromal phenotypes, along with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, are associated with progression-free survival in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma digital pathology slides b U C. Walker u *, L. van Wagensveld, J. Sanders, R.F. Kruitwagen, M.A. van der Aa, G.S. Sonke, K.K. Van de Vijver, S. Rottenberg, H.M. Horlings, A. Janowczyk * Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Switzerland B Background & objectives: b Tumour development is critically dependent on the supporting stroma and tumour-microenvironment. B Oral Free Paper Sessions b B OFP-01 | Oral Free Paper Session Digestive Diseases Pathology - GI b B OFP-01-001 b B Results of the "Uniform Noting for International application of the tumour-stroma ratio as easy diagnostic tool" (UNITED): a multicentre prospective validation study b U M. Polack u *, A.G. Roodvoets, E. Meershoek-Klein Kranenbarg, H.A. Gelderblom, V. Terpstra, G. Petrushevska, G. Gasljevic, S. Kjær-Frifeldt, E.M. de Cuba, N. Bulkmans, G.R. Vink, R. Al Dieri, R.A. Tollenaar, H.J. van Krieken, W.E. Mesker *Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands B Background & objectives: b As advised by the UICC and CAP, the prospective multicentre UNITED study was initiated to validate the tumour-stroma ratio (TSR) as prognostic independent parameter, predicting patient-related outcomes for stage II-III colon cancer (CC) patients and subsequently aid in personalized treatment. [Extracted from the article]

GW Ori is a young hierarchical triple system located in A Orionis, consisting of a binary (GW Ori A and B), a tertiary star (GW Ori C) and a rare circumtriple disk. Due to the limited data with poor accuracy, several short-period signals were detected in this system, but the values from different studies are not fully consistent. As one of the most successful transiting surveys, the transiting exoplanet survey satellite (TESS) provides an unprecedented opportunity to make a comprehensive periodic analysis of GW Ori. In this work we discover two significant modulation signals by analyzing the light curves of GW Ori’s four observations from TESS, i.e., (3.02 ± 0.15) and (1.92 ± 0.06)d, which are very likely to be the rotational periods caused by starspot modulation on the primary and secondary components, respectively. We calculate the inclinations of GW Ori A and B according to the two rotational periods. The results suggest that the rotational plane of GW Ori A and B and the orbital plane of the binary are almost coplanar. We also discuss the aperiodic features in the light curves; these may be related to unstable accretion. The light curves of GW Ori also include a third (possible) modulation signal with a period of (2.51±0.09)d, but the third is neither quite stable nor statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prediction of [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE kidney and tumor uptake based on diagnostic [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE imaging would be a crucial step for precision dosing of [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE. In this study, the population pharmacokinetic (PK) differences between [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE and [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE were assessed and subsequently [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE was predicted based on [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE imaging. Methods: A semi-physiological nonlinear mixed-effects model was developed for [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE and [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE, including six compartments (representing blood, spleen, kidney, tumor lesions, other somatostatin receptor expressing organs and a lumped rest compartment). Model parameters were fixed based on a previously developed physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE. For [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE, PK parameters were based on literature values or estimated based on scan data (four time points post-injection) from nine patients. Finally, individual [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE uptake into tumors and kidneys was predicted based on individual [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE scan data using Bayesian estimates. Predictions were evaluated compared to observed data using a relative prediction error (RPE) for both area under the curve (AUC) and absorbed dose. Lastly, to assess the predictive value of diagnostic imaging to predict therapeutic exposure, individual prediction RPEs (using Bayesian estimation) were compared to those from population predictions (using the population model). Results: Population uptake rate parameters for spleen, kidney and tumors differed by a 0.29-fold (15% relative standard error (RSE)), 0.49-fold (15% RSE) and 1.43-fold (14% RSE), respectively, for [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE compared to [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE. Model predictions adequately described observed data in kidney and tumors for both peptides (based on visual inspection of goodness-of-fit plots). Individual predictions of tumor uptake were better (RPE AUC –40 to 28%) compared to kidney predictions (RPE AUC –53 to 41%). Absorbed dose predictions were less predictive for both tumor and kidneys (RPE tumor and kidney –51 to 44% and –58 to 82%, respectively). For most patients, [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE tumor accumulation predictions based on individual PK parameters estimated from diagnostic imaging outperformed predictions based on population parameters. Conclusion: Our semi-physiological PK model indicated clear differences in PK parameters for [68Ga]Ga-HA-DOTATATE and [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE. Diagnostic images provided additional information to individually predict [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE tumor uptake compared to using a population approach. In addition, individual predictions indicated that many aspects, apart from PK differences, play a part in predicting [177Lu]Lu-HA-DOTATATE distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotheranostics with 177Lu-PSMA have changed the treatment paradigm in patients with prostate cancer, becoming the new standard in certain settings. Terbium-161 (161Tb) has been recently investigated as a potential radionuclide for radiotheranostics in various types of cancer, including metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The nuclear medicine team at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Amman, Jordan, recently published the first-in-human SPECT/CT imaging results following a well-tolerated dose of 161Tb-PSMA radioligand therapy with no treatment-related adverse events, adding to the potential of radiotheranostics in prostate cancer. Two clinical trials for 161Tb-PSMA radioligand therapy in prostate cancer are currently underway and will provide valuable insights. This review will shed light on the expanding field of radiotheranostics in prostate cancer, which is not without challenges, and will discuss how the introduction of a new therapeutic option like 161Tb-PSMA may help to combat these challenges and build on the proven success of 177Lu-PSMA-based radiotheranostics for the benefit of prostate cancer patients worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilthead seabream is among the most important farmed fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Several approaches are currently applied to assure a lower impact of diseases and higher productivity, including the exploration of the fish microbiome and its manipulation as a sustainable alternative to improve aquaculture practices. Here, using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, we explored the microbiome of farmed seabream to assess similarities and differences among microbial assemblages associated to different tissues and compare them with those in the surrounding environment. Seabream had distinct associated microbiomes according to the tissue and compared to the marine environment. The gut hosted the most diverse microbiome; different sets of dominant ASVs characterized the environmental and fish samples. The similarity between fish and environmental microbiomes was higher in seawater than sediment (up to 7.8 times), and the highest similarity (3.9%) was observed between gill and seawater, suggesting that gills are more closely interacting with the environment. We finally analyzed the potential connections occurring among microbiomes. These connections were relatively low among the host's tissues and, in particular, between the gut and the others fish-related microbiomes; other tissues, including skin and gills, were found to be the most connected microbiomes. Our results suggest that, in mariculture, seabream microbiomes reflect only partially those in their surrounding environment and that the host is the primary driver shaping the seabream microbiome. These data provide a step forward to understand the role of the microbiome in farmed fish and farming environments, useful to enhance disease control, fish health, and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation in northeastern Algeria is irregular, often exhibiting exceptional values. Extreme precipitation events, such as annual maximum daily precipitation (AMDP), can cause major disasters. Changes in global climate have increased the frequency and intensity of AMDP in many areas. This article examines the distribution and quantile mapping of AMDP, using the data from 180 precipitation stations covering eight watersheds in northeastern Algeria between 1970 and 2014. The watersheds, from east to west, are Coastal Algiers, Soummam, El Hoddna, Coastal Constantine, Kebir Rhumel, High Plateaus Constantine, Seybouse, and Medjerdah. By applying different goodness-of-fit tests, the chi-square (χ2), Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS), Anderson–Darling test (AD), and log-likelihood ratio test, the best-fit distribution function for frequency analysis of AMDP was determined to be the generalized extreme value (GEV), with a 95% confidence level. The maximum value of AMDP for the data series generally varied between 60 and 150 mm, with higher values in the humid zone and lower values in the arid zone. The validity of the data used in this study was assessed through a series of tests, including the Wald–Wolfowitz test for independence, the Kendall test for stationarity, and the Wilcoxon test for homogeneity. Results of these tests demonstrated that a majority of the data met the conditions for independence, stationarity, and homogeneity. Results of goodness-of-fit test and graphical fit provided further support for the appropriateness of the GEV probability distribution function as the best fit for the data. Application of various goodness-of-fit tests for the first time on a significant number of stations in northeastern Algeria provided a better understanding of the uncertainties in frequency analysis and helped identify the most suitable distribution function for modeling AMDP in different climate regimes. The findings highlight the high-risk zones for extreme precipitation events and emphasize the need for increased investment in water resource infrastructure and management in order to address the challenges posed by climate change and population growth. This is particularly important in ensuring water security for agricultural and urban needs in northeastern Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma recurrence is caused by tumor cells resistance which can be initial or acquired resu-lting from therapy. Studies searching the markers that would allow predicting the level of glioblastoma cell therapy resistance are in progress. Complexity of the problem is due to a high heterogeneity of individual tumors as well as due to cellular composition in each tumor. In the present work, comparative study on the influence of temozolomide (in Temodal® form) single exposure on the well-known glioblastoma cell line A172 as well as on new line R1 was performed. Treatment of A172 (highly temozolomide-sensitive cell line) with 0.1 mM temozolomide showed that only individual cells persisted and resumed the proliferation. In R1 glioblastoma, single cells survived and resumed the proliferation upon treatment with 1.0 mM temozolomide. Populations obtained from these proliferating cells were designated as resistant ones. The presence of MGMT enzyme and the expression of genes responsible for chemotherapy resistance and tumor progression (MGMT, ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCG2), and of growth factor genes (VEGF, HGF), as well as the presence of IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines (and their encoding genes) was examined in resistant A172 and R1 cells. In A172 cells, methylated status of MGMT gene promoter and the absence of MGMT gene expression were confirmed. It was firstly shown that R1 glioblastoma was heterogeneous in methylation status of MGMT gene promoter and MGMT enzyme expression. In A172 and R1 resistant cell populations, the level of MGMT gene promoter methylation was lower than in intact cells, while MGMT gene expression was enhanced that could be clue to a greater resistance of these cells to chemotherapy. Expression of most genes connected with chemotherapy resistance and more aggressive course of the disease, as well as of growth factors genes and interleukin genes in resistant A172 cells was higher than in intact cells. In contrast, in resistant R1 cells, expression of the same genes (excluding ABCC1 and VEGF, in which the expression level changed insignificantly) was lower than in intact cells. Our results confirmed the significance of MGMT in formation of glioblastoma cell resistance to temozolomide. Prognostic value of other studied parameters is still considered ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco is a large country with complex terrain and many sparsely populated regions. With a semi-arid climate, it is highly vulnerable to floods driven by extreme precipitation, whose distribution is highly variable in space and time. Yet, this topic has received little attention. The limited availability of data has so far been the major obstacle to pursue such research in Morocco. Public gridded datasets offer good opportunities to overcome this problem. However, the use of such data should be handled with care, especially when applying extreme value theory. The present work aims at addressing this issue. First, we introduce and analyse a comprehensive set of 120 daily precipitation series which we assembled from different stakeholders in Morocco. Then, we perform quality control of the data and use extreme value statistics to infer trends and large return levels. Finally, we assess the accuracy of nine gridded satellite-based and reanalysis daily precipitation datasets using the station data. These results are intended as a first step towards a comprehensive understanding of extreme precipitation in Morocco, and can help select gridded datasets for future hydrometeorological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gills and skin microbiota and microbiome of wild fish remain far more under-investigated compared to that of farmed fish species, despite that these animal-microbe interactions hold the same ecophysiological roles in both cases. In this study, the gills and skin bacterial microbiota profiles and their presumptive bacterial metabolisms were investigated in five open-sea fishes: bullet tuna (Auxis sp.), common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), Atlantic little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) and Atlantic white marlin (Kajikia albida). Gills and skin tissues were collected from two to three individuals per species, from specimens caught by recreational trolling during summer of 2019, and their bacterial 16S rRNA gene diversity was analysed by high-throughput sequencing. The gills bacterial communities among the five species were clearly different but not the skin bacterial microbiota. The dominant operational taxonomic units belonged to the Moraxellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Staphylococcaceae and Vibrionaceae families. Despite the differences in taxonomic composition, the presumptive bacterial metabolisms between the gills and skin of the five fishes investigated here were ≥ 94% similar and were dominated by basic metabolism, most likely reflecting the continuous exposure of these tissues in the surrounding seawater., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Recent developments in genomic sequencing have led to the identification of somatic mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) in various malignancies. IDH1 R132H is the most common mutation of IDH1, which affects codon 132 and results in the conversion of amino acid residue arginine (R) to histidine (H). This study is designed to evaluate the association between the expression of IDH1 R132H and clinicopathological characteristics in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Methods: The expression pattern and clinical significance of IDH1 R132H were investigated in tissue microarrays (TMAs) of 50 LSCC tumors as well as adjacent normal tissues using immunohistochemistry. Then the exons of the 12 tumor samples with negative/weak positive staining were sequenced by applying polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The results demonstrated that the cytoplasmic expression of IDH1 R132H was downregulated in tumor cells compared to adjacent normal tissues. A statistically significant association was found between a low level of cytoplasmic expression of IDH1 R132H protein and an increase in histological grade (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.019), and lymph node involvement (p < 0.001). The exon4 sequencing results showed that only one sample was positive for IDH1 R132H mutation. IDH1 R132H expression was observed in 39 (78.0%) LSCC samples. Conclusion: These findings indicate that low cytoplasmic expression of IDH1 R132H may have clinical significance in LSCC patients and is associated with more aggressive tumor behavior and progression of the disease, which can help improve potential treatment in patients with LSCC. Further investigations are needed to understand the biological function of IDH1 R132H and larger sample size to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]