Evaluation of ERIM optically processed SEASAT SAR data

The results of three studies on the radiometric and geometric properties of optically processed SEASAT SAR imagery are summarized. The accuracy with which the image scale can be predicted based upon a knowledge of the SAR platform and recording system parameters and the processor characteristics was evaluated. The considerations involved in making radiometric measurements from image films, the use of point targets for calibrating the effects of Doppler spectrum shifts on the radiometric calibration of the SAR image data over extended swath lengths was evaluate

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Pedobiologia- International Journal of Soil Biology

jo u rn al homepage: www.elsevier.de/pedobi Impacts of emerald ash borer-induced tree mortality on leaf litter arthropods an

Захист від недобросовісної конкуренції у медичній сфері: проблеми правововго регулювання

Кожна людина має право на здорові умови життя, але напевно ще жодному не вдавалось уникнути звернень до лікарень, аптек, та інших організацій медичної сфери. Метою даної статті є дослідження захисту від недобросовісної конкуренції у медичній сфері в Україні та інших країнах та розроблення наукових рекомендацій щодо вдосконалення українського законодавства щодо врегулювання відносин щодо здійснення господарювання в медичній сфері

Block-Diagonalization and f-electron Effects in Tight-Binding Theory

We extend a tight-binding total energy method to include f-electrons, and apply it to the study of the structural and elastic properties of a range of elements from Be to U. We find that the tight-binding parameters are as accurate and transferable for f-electron systems as they are for d-electron systems. In both cases we have found it essential to take great care in constraining the fitting procedure by using a block-diagonalization procedure, which we describe in detail.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Physiological consequences of abnormal connectivity in a developmental epilepsy

Objective Many forms of epilepsy are associated with aberrant neuronal connections, but the relationship between such pathological connectivity and the underlying physiological predisposition to seizures is unclear. We sought to characterize the cortical excitability profile of a developmental form of epilepsy known to have structural and functional connectivity abnormalities. Methods We employed transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with simultaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) recording in 8 patients with epilepsy from periventricular nodular heterotopia and matched healthy controls. We used connectivity imaging findings to guide TMS targeting and compared the evoked responses to single-pulse stimulation from different cortical regions. Results Heterotopia patients with active epilepsy demonstrated a relatively augmented late cortical response that was greater than that of matched controls. This abnormality was specific to cortical regions with connectivity to subcortical heterotopic gray matter. Topographic mapping of the late response differences showed distributed cortical networks that were not limited to the stimulation site, and source analysis in 1 subject revealed that the generator of abnormal TMS-evoked activity overlapped with the spike and seizure onset zone. Interpretation Our findings indicate that patients with epilepsy from gray matter heterotopia have altered cortical physiology consistent with hyperexcitability, and that this abnormality is specifically linked to the presence of aberrant connectivity. These results support the idea that TMS-EEG could be a useful biomarker in epilepsy in gray matter heterotopia, expand our understanding of circuit mechanisms of epileptogenesis, and have potential implications for therapeutic neuromodulation in similar epileptic conditions associated with deep lesions

Phospholamban immunostaining is a highly sensitive and specific method for diagnosing phospholamban p.Arg14del cardiomyopathy

Phospholamban (PLN) p.Arg14del cardiomyopathy is associated with an increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and severe heart failure and a poor prognosis from late adolescence. It can be diagnosed in whole heart specimens, but rarely in right ventricular biopsy specimens, by PLN immunohistochemistry showing PLN-containing aggregates concentrated in cardiomyocytes in dense perinuclear aggresomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PLN immunohistochemistry can be used to diagnose PLN p.Arg14del cardiomyopathy using apical left ventricular myocardial specimens harvested during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. At that stage, a genetic diagnosis, which may guide treatment and referral of family members for further investigation, is frequently not established yet. Included were myocardial specimens from 30 diverse genetic cardiomyopathy cases with known variants (9 carriers of the pathogenic PLN p.Arg14del variant, 18 cases with other pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in cardiomyopathy-related genes, and 3 with only variants of unknown significance). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed typical dense perinuclear globular PLN-positive aggregates, representing aggresomes, in all nine PLN p.Arg14del cases. In 20 non-PLN cases, PLN-staining was absent. In one non-PLN case, one of the two independent observers misinterpreted PLN staining of heavily wrinkled nuclear membranes of cardiomyocytes as perinuclear PLN aggregates. In this genetic cardiomyopathy cohort, PLN Immunohistochemical analysis in LVAD biopsies was found to be a highly sensitive (100%) and specific (95%) method for demonstration of PLN protein aggregates in PLN p.Arg14del cardiomyopathy. In clinical practice, PLN immunohistochemical analysis of LVAD specimens can be of incremental value in the diagnostic workup of this cardiomyopathy, even more so if genetic analysis is not readily available

Quantitative cross-species extrapolation between humans and fish: The case of the anti-depressant fluoxetine

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Fish are an important model for the pharmacological and toxicological characterization of human pharmaceuticals in drug discovery, drug safety assessment and environmental toxicology. However, do fish respond to pharmaceuticals as humans do? To address this question, we provide a novel quantitative cross-species extrapolation approach (qCSE) based on the hypothesis that similar plasma concentrations of pharmaceuticals cause comparable target-mediated effects in both humans and fish at similar level of biological organization (Read-Across Hypothesis). To validate this hypothesis, the behavioural effects of the anti-depressant drug fluoxetine on the fish model fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) were used as test case. Fish were exposed for 28 days to a range of measured water concentrations of fluoxetine (0.1, 1.0, 8.0, 16, 32, 64 μg/L) to produce plasma concentrations below, equal and above the range of Human Therapeutic Plasma Concentrations (HTPCs). Fluoxetine and its metabolite, norfluoxetine, were quantified in the plasma of individual fish and linked to behavioural anxiety-related endpoints. The minimum drug plasma concentrations that elicited anxiolytic responses in fish were above the upper value of the HTPC range, whereas no effects were observed at plasma concentrations below the HTPCs. In vivo metabolism of fluoxetine in humans and fish was similar, and displayed bi-phasic concentration-dependent kinetics driven by the auto-inhibitory dynamics and saturation of the enzymes that convert fluoxetine into norfluoxetine. The sensitivity of fish to fluoxetine was not so dissimilar from that of patients affected by general anxiety disorders. These results represent the first direct evidence of measured internal dose response effect of a pharmaceutical in fish, hence validating the Read-Across hypothesis applied to fluoxetine. Overall, this study demonstrates that the qCSE approach, anchored to internal drug concentrations, is a powerful tool to guide the assessment of the sensitivity of fish to pharmaceuticals, and strengthens the translational power of the cross-species extrapolation

Planck pre-launch status: The optical system

Planck is a scientific satellite that represents the next milestone in space-based research related to the cosmic microwave background, and in many other astrophysical fields. Planck was launched on 14 May of 2009 and is now operational. The uncertainty in the optical response of its detectors is a key factor allowing Planck to achieve its scientific objectives. More than a decade of analysis and measurements have gone into achieving the required performances. In this paper, we describe the main aspects of the Planck optics that are relevant to science, and the estimated in-flight performance, based on the knowledge available at the time of launch. We also briefly describe the impact of the major systematic effects of optical origin, and the concept of in-flight optical calibration. Detailed discussions of related areas are provided in accompanying papers

Artificial Intelligence Reinforced Social Robotics in Patient Communication for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

Background: Effective patient communication is a cornerstone of quality healthcare. However, increasing demands on healthcare professionals (HCPs) cause a need for innovative solutions that enhance the accessibility and delivery of information to patients. Social robots are emerging as promising tools in this space, offering the ability to interact naturally with humans and assist with communication tasks. By integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), these robots can further adapt to individual needs, providing personalized and dynamic support. This study explores the potential of an AI-reinforced social robot, to serve as an information tool for rheumatology patients. Through natural language processing and machine learning, the robot aims to address common patient questions, deliver accurate medical information, and enhance health literacy.Objectives: The aim of this research is to assess the feasibility of integrating AI-reinforced social robots into clinical practice, to support communication and information exchange for patients with rheumatic diseases.Methods: The social robot was programmed with generative AI capabilities to simulate natural, conversational interactions tailored to rheumatic patient education. The robot utilized preselected evidence-based content to provide patients with information about their condition and treatment options, ensuring clinical relevance and accuracy. Patients with new or established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatology healthcare professionals (HCPs) were invited to participate in the study. The sessions were designed to simulate real-world clinical encounters to evaluate the robot's impact on communication dynamics. After interacting with the robot, participants completed the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) to assess the robot's usability and functionality. Semi-structured interviews with patients and HCPs explored subjective experiences, focusing on acceptability, perceived usefulness, and its influence on clinician-patient interactions. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, with mean UEQ scores interpreted to identify positive or negative trends in user experience. For the interviews, a deductive thematic analysis was conducted using pre-defined coding schemes. These coding schemes were developed based on a review of relevant literature and aligned within the study's objectives, ensuring they captured key aspects of communication, usability, and interaction dynamics. Codes were categorized into primary themes, with sub-codes indicating aspects of the main codes. Cross-comparisons between patient and HCP perspectives highlighted alignment and discrepancies in their experiences with the robot.Results: Patient UEQ score was mean 2.13 with values ranging from 1.7 to 2.5, indicating a positive trend in efficiency, inventiveness and acceptability. HCPs UEQ scores was mean 1.89 with all values above 1 except for item 5 (excitement of usage), which scored 0.8 (SD 1.3). In interviews, patients generally found the Social Robot both acceptable and useful in a clinical setting and appreciated the robot's ability to provide information and respond to their questions, but suggested that the robot's communication style might need to be adjusted for different educational levels. HCPs generally also viewed the robot as both acceptable and useful, particularly in areas such as patient education, triage, and routine follow-up, but expressed concerns about the robot's ability to replace human interaction, particularly in contexts where empathy and personalized care are crucial. Patients and HCPs generally found the information provided by the robot to be accurate and relevant.Conclusion: Both patients with rheumatic diseases and HCPs see the AI-reinforced Social Robot as a potentially valuable tool in a Rheumatology outpatient clinical setting, particularly for providing information and supporting patient education. However, both groups also highlighted the importance of maintaining human interaction and emphasized that the robot should complement, rather than replace, the role of healthcare professionals. While the robot's information was generally viewed as accurate and relevant, there were concerns about its complexity and the need for human oversight

Intracellular lumen extension requires ERM-1-dependent apical membrane expansion and AQP-8-mediated flux

SUMMARY Many unicellular tubes such as capillaries form lumens intracellularly, a process that is not well understood. Here we show that the cortical membrane organizer ERM-1 is required to expand the intracellular apical/lumenal membrane and its actin undercoat during single-cell C.elegans excretory canal morphogenesis. We characterize AQP-8, identified in an ERM-1 overexpression (ERM-1[++]) suppressor screen, as a canalicular aquaporin that interacts with ERM-1 in lumen extension in a mercury-sensitive manner, implicating water-channel activity. AQP-8 is transiently recruited to the lumen by ERM-1, co-localizing in peri-lumenal cuffs interspaced along expanding canals. An ERM-1[++]-mediated increase in the number of lumen-associated canaliculi is reversed by AQP-8 depletion. We propose that the ERM-1-AQP-8 interaction propels lumen extension by translumenal flux, suggesting a direct morphogenetic effect of water-channel-regulated fluid pressure