A document by Marco Antônio Veloso de Albuquerque. Click on the document to view its contents.

Superficial femoral artery spontaneous pseudoaneurysm revealing pleiomorphic vascular wall sarcoma.Kamal Majeda, Kaleem Mohammad Basharata, Hajar M.Anas Nassania, Suha Turkmena.a Hamad medical corporation, emergency department. Doha Qatar.Keywords: femoral artery, leiomyosarcoma, pulmonary embolism, Neoplasms, Vascular tissue.All authors contributed to the management of the patient, participated in writing and editing the manuscript, they all declared having no conflict of interest and did not receive any funding.Corresponding author: Dr Kamal Majed , Hamad medical corporation, Emergency department, Doha QatarOrcid ID : 0000-0003-0961-9013

Renewable electrically driven water splitting technology is a crucial approach to obtaining clean hydrogen energy. However, the slow kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) significantly limit the overall efficiency. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) was first employed to design and verify the feasibility of introducing Cu to enhance conductivity, thereby improving catalytic performance. Subsequently, the NiFeCu electrocatalyst with a Cu-rich dendritic structure was synthesized via a magnetic field-assisted electrodeposition strategy. Numerical simulations by COMSOL and Fluent reveal the role and mechanism of the magnetic field, especially the ”magnetic diffusion effect” of improving the diffusion coefficient of Cu ions by reducing the radius of hydrated Cu2+ ions and the viscosity of the solution. Thermodynamic calculations show that the magnetic Gibbs free energy of the reaction process increases by 170 kJ mol−1 when a 0.5 T magnetic field is applied, proving that the magnetic field can accelerate the reaction. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis further confirmed that the Cu-rich structure donates electrons to Ni and Fe, optimizing the adsorption of intermediates. When the current density is 10 mA cm−2, the HER and OER overpotentials of NiFeCu-0.5 are 44 and 188 mV in 1 M KOH, and only 1.48 V ultra-low battery voltage is needed for overall water splitting. This research provides a new idea for designing high catalytic activity bifunctional catalysts and opens up a new direction for applying magnetic fields in material preparation and structural optimization.

Fish nursery areas need to be determined at the appropriate spatial scale with an understanding of how juvenile fish are distributed across combinations and arrangements of habitat types within seascapes. A seascape approach allows the influence of seabed type, patch sizes, boundaries and habitat combinations on species distributions to be understood. This study investigated the influence of seascape ecology and species co-occurrence patterns on the distribution of three juvenile gadoids, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and whiting (Merlangius merlangus), while also accounting for the interactions between species as latent variables. We used 757 stereo baited remote underwater video (SBRUV) deployments between 2021 and 2023 across two sea lochs and adjacent bays on the north and west coasts of Scotland to gather relative abundance data. A joint species distribution model was used to determine the seascape drivers of 10 fish species as well as using an unobserved random variable to understand how species co-occurrences influence individual species distributions. Atlantic cod, haddock and whiting distributions were driven by distinct ecological factors yet had limited areas of overlap. Atlantic cod and haddock were most abundant in areas with a diverse mix of habitats. However, whiting were most abundant in areas with lower habitat diversity. Consistently higher relative abundance of all species near habitat patch boundaries indicates that edge effects and access to multiple habitat types are critical determinants of nursery habitat. Despite their distinct distributions explained by environmental variables, species-to-species co-occurrence patterns were very similar across the three species. This may be indicative of similar ecological roles and biological interactions or similar response to an unrecorded variable. The inclusion of how species respond to seascape structures is valuable because it gives a greater level of understanding of what juvenile fish need in nursery areas at the relevant spatial scale.

In Mazzaella laminarioides, a red alga commonly found along Chilean rocky coasts, three genetic lineages, named North, Center, and South, have been previously described based on organellar sequences, presenting distinct levels of genetic divergence. However, the coarse sampling strategy and the type of molecular markers used limited the understanding of where, when, and how the lineages interact. Here we present the results obtained for six nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial COI acquired for 29 localities positioned between the 28°S and the 43°S, allowing us the first time to study precisely the position of the contact zones between the three lineages. We also tested for signals potentially related to introgression between lineages using phylogenetic network reconstruction and sequences of eight nuclear loci. Our results show that the three genetic lineages of M. laminarioides already represents highly genetically isolated sibling species. Indeed, the level of admixture estimated with STRUCTURE detected only a few introgressed individuals, even when lineages are located a few kilometers apart. The transition zone detected between North and Center corresponds to a more or less continuous rocky platform of only 5km in length located at 32°48’S. Contrastingly, a mosaic of Center-South sampling sites is observed in an area extending over some 225 kilometers between 37°S and 38°S, generating three transition zones between these two lineages, all centered on sandy beaches. We propose that a complex history of earthquakes, coastal uplift, and subsequent recolonization events is at the origin of this Center and South mosaic. We propose that these results reflect the contrasting levels of reproductive isolation that have been established between the lineages. The split between the North and Center/South lineages being much older than the Center-South one, intrinsic barriers may have already developed between North and Center, while the limitation of gene flow between Center and South still largely relies on extrinsic barriers.

We present a computationally simple yet efficient method for planning global trajectories in deterministic dynamic environments of arbitrary dimensions and complexity. The method leverages morphological operations on a discrete Minkowski spacetime and constructs cognitive maps that encode the earliest arrival time at each point. We established a solid theoretical foundation, ensuring the approach's applicability in risk-critical missions. The method is illustrated using simulations of terrestrial robots and flying drones, resulting in efficient yet conservative solutions that closely mimic the behavior of biological agents.

This work evaluates the radiative cooling potential of cement for the use in photonic metaconcrete, capable of energy savings and reduction of CO2 emissions. In particular, we present a comparative study of the optical and radiative properties of primary clinker products (alite and belite), as well as typical sulfate additives such as CaSO4 and gypsum, across the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared ranges. The dielectric response, emissivity and reflectance were obtained using first-principles calculations, specifically density functional theory (DFT), together with the GW and the Bethe–Salpeter equation (BSE) methods. This advanced computational approach identified strongly anisotropic excitons within the electronic band gaps of the cement phases. Our findings revealed that both oxygen and silicon or oxygen and sulfur bonds play a central role in thermal emission within the atmospheric transparency window. The combination of selective emissivity and high solar reflectivity suggests that cement-based nanocomposites are promising candidates for radiative cooling applications. Furthermore, the reflectance measurements indicate an electronic band gap of 5.24 eV. Overall, this work advances our understanding of the optical and thermal behaviour of cementitious materials, and provides insights into the design of energy-efficient photonic concrete composites.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Background: Gait impairments impact independence and quality of life of persons with Parkinson’s disease(PD). The application of external and internal cueing strategies can improve gait but not every person benefits equally from the same strategy. It remains unclear i) which patient characteristics mediate cueing efficacy, ii) how cueing efficacy changes over time, iii) which patient characteristics are associated with long-term compliance and iv) what the neural correlates of cueing are. Methods: The UNITE-PD study is a collaboration between the Radboud University Medical Center(NLD), KU Leuven(BEL), Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center(ISR) and IRCCS Policlinico San Martino(ITA). The study consists of a joint prospective cohort project and four site-specific projects. We here describe the joint project, with the site-specific projects included as supplementary materials. All participants undergo a baseline assessment, consisting of extensive clinical testing and an objective gait assessment with and without external and internal cueing. Responders and non-responders to the strategy will be followed for six months. Responders will be instructed to apply the effective cueing strategies, as much as possible in daily life using a mobile cueing application which tracks compliance. At six months post-baseline, responders and non-responders return to the lab, during which the baseline protocol will be repeated to quantify the change in efficacy of the cueing strategies over time. Discussion: The UNITE-PD study will identify the relationship between patient characteristics, cueing efficacy, compliance and the underlying mechanisms of cueing. This knowledge will help refining personalized rehabilitation and identifies new avenues for neuroscientific inquiry in this domain.

The human auditory system rapidly encodes auditory regularities. Evidence comes from the oddball paradigm, in which frequent (standard) sounds are occasionally replaced with a rare (deviant) sound. Deviants relative to standards typically elicit signs of prediction error (e.g., MMN and P3a). It is, however, less clear whether deviants, which also bear predictive information but are encountered less often than standards, might inform auditory prediction. To investigate this, naïve participants listened to sound sequences constructed according to a new, modified version of the oddball paradigm: two kinds of deviants differing in their probability of repetition, yield the sound actually following a deviant either conditionally likely or unlikely. As this sound is either the same deviant (repetition) or a standard (no repetition), it is either unlikely or likely with respect to the global stimulus probability at the same time. In an active deviant detection task, we replicated previous behavioural findings, demonstrating that predictive information carried by deviants (conditional probability) is extracted when behaviourally relevant. Our analyses further reveal that respective effects at the level of response times increase with time. However, in a passive listening setting both MMN and P3a were confined to violations of rules based on global probability, while not being sensitive to conditional probability. Though some sensitivity to conditional probability had been observed in a previous study, these effects were tiny compared to those of global probability. Thus, the auditory system seems to mainly rely on rules that are encountered frequently (standard regularity), at least during passive listening.

The direct response of stomata to temperature (DRST, the response with the leaf-to-air vapor gradient, Δ w, held constant) is poorly studied due to the difficulty of keeping Δ w constant while changing leaf temperature. Most published data suggest a positive response, though the mechanisms behind such a response are unknown. We propose that a hydraulic mechanism should contribute to the DRST, wherein temperature decreases the viscosity of water, increasing hydraulic conductance and thereby increasing leaf water potential, which in turn drives stomatal opening. Because the sensitivity of leaf water potential to changes in hydraulic conductance should be proportional to transpiration rate and hence to Δ w, this mechanism predicts a stronger positive DRST at higher Δ w than at lower Δ w. We tested this prediction by measuring the DRST at two different values of Δ w, in six diverse angiosperm species. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that a hydraulic mechanism contributes to the DRST, though the response varies widely across species, and in three of six species the effect of Δ w was far stronger than predicted from theory, suggesting a role for other mechanisms.

Background and Purpose: The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-induced cardiomyopathy involves cardiac fibrosis that leads to diastolic dysfunction. We established that replacement of lost substance P (SP) that occurs in T2DM reduces cardiac fibrosis and decreases inflammation in T2DM mice and non-human primates. This study aimed to identify the specific anti-fibrotic SP receptor. Experimental Approach: Age-matched male wild type (WT) and Lepr db/db mice at 12 weeks of age were treated with either saline or the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) agonist, GR73632 (300 μg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. The hearts were assessed for cardiac function, fibrosis, mast cells and macrophage phenotype. Mouse cardiac fibroblast cultures were treated with high glucose and GR73632 to assess collagen release and signaling pathways. Proteomics analysis was conducted to assess the cardiac proteomic profile between WT and Lepr db/db mice, and the effects of GR73632. Key Results: NK-1R activation decreased cardiac fibrosis, improved diastolic function, decreased mast cell numbers and promoted an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype in Lepr db/db mice. NK-1R activation reduced collagen I production in high glucose treated mouse cardiac fibroblasts. NK-1R activation increased Smad7, whilst decreasing P65 phosphorylation (NF-κB) and CCL2 chemokine release. Proteomic analysis revealed a distinct proteome profile between WT and Lepr db/db mouse hearts. Conclusion and Implications: The NK-1R is the anti-fibrotic SP receptor and improves diastolic function in the diabetic heart. This likely involves direct effects on cardiac fibroblasts. This study provides a potential target for treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

IntroductionJuvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE), defined by disease onset before the age of 18 [1], accounts for 15-20% of all SLE cases and is characterized by a more aggressive disease course, higher rates of major organ damage, and a twofold higher mortality rate compared to adult-onset SLE [2-4]. While renal, hematologic, and cutaneous manifestations are common, jSLE can also present with atypical and life-threatening complications that create significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Acute pancreatitis is a recognized but uncommon complication of jSLE, occurring in approximately 4.2% of patients and associated with high fatality rates, often linked to underlying vasculitis or immune dysregulation [5]. Similarly, significant peripheral nervous system involvement is rare, with pure axonal motor polyneuropathy being an infrequently detailed pattern compared to sensory or central nervous system manifestations [6]. Furthermore, the coexistence of jSLE with other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), remains a rare clinical scenario, though one that is mechanistically plausible due to shared genetic susceptibility factors, including HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 haplotypes [7].The simultaneous or rapidly sequential development of this specific triad—acute pancreatitis, axonal motor polyneuropathy, and T1D—in a single patient represents an exceptionally rare clinical convergence that has not been previously described in the literature. This constellation of severe complications underscores an extreme disease phenotype and poses a formidable challenge in distinguishing primary disease activity from treatment-related toxicities. In this report, we detail the case of a 14-year-old female who presented with this life-threatening triad during a severe jSLE flare to highlight the complex management required and to emphasize the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for multiple, concurrent systemic attacks in this vulnerable population.

A document by Pantea Bozorg Savoji. Click on the document to view its contents.

Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Resection of Thoracic Hemivertebra in a Child: A Case Report Highlighting Technical Feasibility and the Critical Importance of StabilizationPeng Zhang 1, Chengyun Wang2, Zijie Sun1, Zhangyong Tan1, Kefeng Xu1, Genyang Jin1, Qi Liu21Department of Orthopedics, The 904th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA, Wuxi, China;2Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries owing to the abundant availability of sodium resources and the limited supply of lithium raw materials. However, the development of high-performance anode materials remains a critical challenge owing to the relatively low initial coulombic efficiencies (ICEs) and limited reversible capacities of conventional carbon-based anodes. Herein, hard carbon (HC) from mangrove wood is synthesized via controlled carbonization and its electrochemical performance is systematically investigated. HC prepared by carbonization at 1200 °C (MWHC-1200) exhibits the best performance, delivering a high reversible capacity of 266.6 mAh g−1 and an ICE of 75%. Pitch-derived soft carbon coatings (containing 5, 10, or 15 wt% pitch) are applied to HC synthesized at the optimal carbonization temperature to further enhance Na⁺ storage performance. Notably, the composite containing 10 wt% pitch (PC-10) exhibits the best electrochemical performance, delivering a high reversible capacity of 291.5 mAh g−1, an ICE of 82%, a capacity retention of 90.4% after 200 cycles, and an excellent rate capability. These improvements are attributable to suppressed irreversible reactions and enhanced interfacial stability. This study offers a simple yet effective approach for improving the electrochemical properties of biomass-derived hard carbon, and provides insight into the designs of practical SIB anodes.

The global surging demand for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries necessitates efficient recycling strategies to ensure environmental sustainability and resource conservation. While direct regeneration is considered sustainable, its widespread adoption is hindered by three critical challenges: (1) heterogeneous and unquantifiable lithium loss across waste streams, (2) abnormal particle growth during high-temperature restoration, and (3) limited economic returns arising from the low-value elements and complex process. Here, we report a universal and scalable “x→0→1” normalization strategy. All spent LixFePO4 is first reset to Li-free olivine FePO4 (x→0) via mechanochemical delithiation, eliminating batch-specific variability. Benefited from the olivine FePO4 with pre-existing Li⁺ diffusion channels and non-equilibrium kinetics, subsequent ultrafast heating resynthesis (UHR) restores stoichiometric LFP (0→1) in just 35 seconds, effectively suppressing particle coarsening while cutting energy/time consumption by >99% compared to furnace sintering. This approach accommodates diverse degradation levels and their mixture, yielding regenerated LFP with consistent capacity, superior rate capability (84.3 mAh g-1 at 10 C) and cycling stability (89.1% retention after 1,000 cycles at 10 C), outperforming fresh commercial LFP (73.3 mAh g-1, 66.6%). Beyond regeneration, flash upcycling to lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) further enhances energy density to 549 Wh kg-1. Techno-economic analysis confirms strong profitability (LFP: 4.87 $ kg-1 cell, LMFP: 10.99 $ kg-1 cell), low energy demand (6.56 MJ kg-1 cell), and reduced emissions (2.95 kg CO2-eq kg-1 cell). Our strategy therefore establishes a general and robust platform for closed-loop cathode recycling and upcycling.

Background: Chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) remains a critical limitation of cancer therapy, with implications for morbidity and survivorship. Echocardiography is the established surveillance tool, while electrocardiography (ECG) may offer earlier, low-cost detection of subclinical cardiotoxicity. The relative diagnostic yield of these modalities is uncertain. Aim: To systematically review and compare echocardiography and ECG for early detection of CTRCD in patients receiving cancer therapy. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CENTRAL were searched through May 2025. Eligible studies included prospective or retrospective cohorts reporting echocardiographic and ECG outcomes in adults undergoing chemotherapy. Data on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), diastolic function, global longitudinal strain (GLS), and ECG abnormalities were extracted. Pooled incidence and effect estimates were calculated using random-effects models. Risk of bias was assessed with QUADAS-2. Results: Thirteen cohort studies involving 937 patients were included. The pooled incidence of echo-defined CTRCD was 10% (95% CI 7–16%), with higher rates among anthracycline-treated cohorts. Diastolic dysfunction and GLS reduction occurred in up to 40% of patients, frequently preceding a decline in LVEF. ECG abnormalities were observed in 35% (95% CI 22–49%), most commonly QTc prolongation, ST–T changes, fragmented QRS, and atrial fibrillation. Routine ECG demonstrated low sensitivity compared with echocardiography, though continuous monitoring and AI-enhanced ECG showed potential for earlier detection. Conclusions: Echocardiography remains the cornerstone for CTRCD surveillance, with GLS and diastolic indices providing early warning. ECG abnormalities are frequent but inconsistent predictors; their role may expand with continuous and AI-based approaches. A multimodal surveillance strategy integrating echo and advanced ECG may improve cardio-oncology care.

The grape berry moth (GBM) Paralobesia viteana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an important pest of grapes in Eastern North America. The insect is native to this region and co-evolved with wild grapevine hosts long before the beginning of viticulture. The geographic distribution of this pest is influenced by the distribution of its hosts and by unknown environmental factors. In agriculture, Species Distribution Models (SDMs) can help predict the effects of environmental variables and changing climate on the geographic suitability of pests and their hosts, guiding preparation for potential pest expansions. This study predicted the potential geographic distribution of GBM and two of its host plants, Vitis labrusca and Vitis riparia, across the United States (U.S.) and Canada in the current time and under two climate change scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and periods (2021-2040 and 2041-2060) using the Random Forest algorithm. The results show that habitat suitability for the three species was primarily determined by temperature and precipitation. The temperature annual range and the precipitation of the driest month were the variables with the greatest influence on GBM distribution, whereas the mean temperature of the warmest quarter contributed the most to V. labrusca and V. riparia SDMs. Shared suitable areas for GBM and its two hosts in current time predictions were 9.7% and 1.76% in the U.S. and Canada territories, respectively. In future climatic scenarios, these shared suitable areas are predicted to increase by 3.3–4.5% in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. and by 7.8–13% in Eastern Canada. These findings suggest an increase in pest pressure in the U.S. and Canada in future climatic conditions, providing the basis for proactive pest monitoring, breeding for drought and cold grapevine tolerance, and adaptive vineyard management to mitigate the risks associated with climate change.