In paediatric oncology, imaging biomarkers play an increasing role in diagnostic imaging and research. They can be used for prediction, detection, staging, and grading of diseases, as well as for assessment of response to treatment. Imaging biomarkers are complementary to tissue-based biomarkers, enabling a more personalised approach in oncology care. In this white paper by the European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) Oncology Taskforce and European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Paediatrics Committee, an overview is given of the current knowledge on the use of imaging biomarkers in general and per tumour group.

Tracking dynamic changes in plant leaves using deep learning models represents a new approach to plant trait analysis. Combining deep learning techniques with botany and agronomy can be of great significance in the future. This indeed marks a crucial step towards addressing the increasingly prevalent problems in agriculture, especially considering that the issue of food scarcity represents a real problem we might face in the coming period. In this paper, we present an adaptation of the Speedy Measurement of Arabidopsis Rosette Traits (SMART) program - a robust, parameter-free system for plant image segmentation and trait extraction. Our goal was to optimize performance on a diverse dataset that differs significantly in characteristics from the one originally used to evaluate SMART. To this end, we replaced the traditional feature extraction methods with a custom-designed semantic segmentation approach. This modification enabled significantly improved results on our target dataset. Furthermore, the enhanced model offers promising potential for future applications, particularly in estimating plant developmental stages.

This paper presents a discrete-time sliding mode voltage controller for a DC-DC boost converter. A disturbance estimator is integrated into the controller, ensuring a fast dynamic response and robustness against matched disturbances and parametric uncertainties, such as input voltage fluctuations, load variations and internal nonlinear dynamics that affect system performance. The disturbance estimator improves the rejection of unmeasured perturbations using only local measurements, without requiring additional sensors or complex adaptive structures. A cascade control scheme is adopted, with an inner inductor current loop and an outer voltage regulation loop. Both controllers utilize disturbance-compensated discrete-time sliding mode control strategies. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of the method, comparing it to the optimized discrete-time proportional integral (DT PI) cascade controller, demonstrating precise voltage regulation and tight performance under disturbances.

While traditional sampling-based path planning approaches for robotic manipulators, such as RRT (Rapidly-Exploring Random Trees) and PRM (Probabilistic Roadmaps), provide feasible solution paths, convex optimization-based techniques offer some additional features. Some of these methods unfortunately require a representation of the manipulator’s configuration space as a set of convex volumes, which can be challenging to obtain due to the high dimensionality and complexity of the configuration space. This work presents an algorithm for computing convex volumes in the manipulator’s configuration space, called GBur-IRIS. The algorithm combines the structure known as the generalized bur of free C-space with the convex volume-inflating algorithm IRIS (Iterative Regional Inflation by Semidefinite Programming). It follows a simple iterative procedure. First, it computes a generalized bur. Then, it encloses the bur in an ellipsoid. Finally, it uses this ellipsoid to initialize the IRIS algorithm. The paper provides a detailed description of the algorithm and shows an extensive simulation study. This study is conducted on several robotic manipulators and environments, and the results are discussed and compared with existing approaches from the literature.

High-throughput plant phenotyping using RGB imaging offers a scalable and non-invasive solution for monitoring plant growth and extracting various traits. However, achieving accurate segmentation across experiments remains a challenging task due to image variability usually caused by shifts in pot positions. This study introduces a customized image stabilization method to align pots consistently across time-series images of Arabidopsis thaliana, enhancing spatial consistency. A large-scale RGB dataset was collected and prepared, with 4,000 manually annotated images used to train multiple encoder–decoder deep learning models. Various CNN-based encoders were paired with well-known decoders, including U-Net, $\mathbf{U}^{2}$-Net, PANet, and DeepLabv3. Stabilization significantly improved performance of models, with the $EffNetB1 +\mathbf{U}^{2}$-Net encoder-decoder combination achieving the highest precision score of 0.95 and Intersection over Union of 0.96. These results demonstrate the value of spatial consistency and offer a robust, scalable pipeline for automated plant segmentation in indoor phenotyping systems.

The study aimed to evaluate the audiologic profile of preschool children with hearing loss, i.e., to determine the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss, amplitude of otoacoustic emissions, and word recognition performance. This retrospective study included 260 children examined in a secondary healthcare setting. For statistical data analysis, we used the Chi-square test with a level of significance p < 0.05. Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss was present in 93.1%, 4.6%, and 2.3%, respectively. Mild hearing loss was present in 96.1%, moderate in 2.3%, and severe hearing loss in 1.6%. Type B tympanogram was the most common (p = 0.00001). The mean amplitude of otoacoustic emissions was -7.6 dB in sensorineural hearing loss and 12.3 dB in normal hearing. The maximum word recognition score was frequently obtained at presentation levels of 25-40 dB SL (p = 0.009). The majority of children had mild conductive hearing loss with normal word recognition ability.

OBJECTIVE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia (SCZ) are highly heritable and linked to disruptions in fetal neurodevelopment. Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), are considered a key pathway of interest. Yet, it is unclear whether: (i) genetic susceptibility to neurodevelopmental conditions associates with DNAm patterns already at birth; (ii) DNAm patterns are unique or shared across conditions, and (iii) neonatal DNAm patterns can be leveraged to enhance genetic prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes. METHODS We conducted epigenome-wide meta-analyses of genetic susceptibility to ASD, ADHD, and schizophrenia (measured with polygenic scores [PGSs]) and cord blood DNAm in four European population-based cohorts (npooled=5,802; 50.2% female). We estimated DNAm pattern overlap between PGSs using heterogeneity statistics. Further, we built methylation profile scores for each PGS to test incremental variance explained over genetic data alone in 130 developmental outcomes from birth to 14 years. RESULTS In probe-level analyses, SCZ-PGS associated with neonatal DNAm at 246 loci (p<9x10-8), predominantly in the major histocompatibility complex, supporting an early-origins perspective on schizophrenia. Functional characterization confirmed strong genetic effects, blood-brain concordance and enrichment for immune-related pathways. 8 loci were identified for ASD-PGS (mapping to FDFT1 and MFHAS1), and none for ADHD-PGS. Differentially methylated regions were detected across PGSs (130-166 regions). Overall, DNAm signals were largely distinct between conditions. Incorporating neonatal DNAm data in genetic prediction models nominally increased explained variance for several cognitive and motor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Genetic susceptibility for neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly schizophrenia, is detectable in cord blood DNAm in the general population.

Objectives The primary objective of this study was to examine the potential association between glutathione S-transferases (GSTT1/GSTM1) deletion polymorphisms and the development of apical periodontitis (AP) in a population of patients at two university centers: the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. Materials and Methods The study involved 200 patients with AP in the experimental and 250 healthy individuals without AP in the control group. As a source of genomic DNA, sterile buccal swabs were taken from each patient. Genotyping of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms was conducted using multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The risk of AP development with regard to the genotypes was evaluated based on odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) that were calculated via unconditional logistic regression. Results There were significant differences in demographic characteristics between the investigated groups (p = 0.446, p = 0.154, respectively). GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions were associated with a 3.05-fold and 5.69-fold risk (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 2.07–4.49, OR = 5.69, 95% CI = 3.66–8.86, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) for the AP development. The co-occurrence of both deletions posed a significantly higher risk for AP development (OR = 52.76. 95% CI = 18.20–152.94, P < 0.001). Conclusions The carriers of null GSTT, null GSTM, and double null GSTT/GSTM genotypes are more susceptible to AP development in the populations examined at the two centers.

OBJECTIVES The presence of altered sagittal cervical balance and faulty posture has been observed in individuals with neck pain. However, there is a lack of literature investigating the relationship between radiological thoracic inlet alignment and clinical sagittal cervico-thoracic posture. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate these clinico-radiological associations, analyze their correlation with pain variables, and explore the diagnostic significance of thoracic inlet parameters for chronic neck pain (CNP). METHODS 88 subjects (N = 44 each in CNP and Control group) were recruited. T1 Slope (T1S), Thoracic inlet angle (TIA), Neck tilt (NT) were assessed on lateral cervical radiograph, and Craniovertebral angle (CVA), High thoracic angle (HTA), Sagittal head angle (SHA) were photographically analysed. Pain was quantified in terms of intensity and functional disability. Craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) assessed the deep neck flexors (DNF) performance. RESULTS After normality check, between-group comparisons utilized Unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. CNP group had lower T1S, and higher TIA, NT. The TIA had significant correlation with CVA and HTA (rs = -0.32, -0.30 respectively) in asymptomatic group, but not in CNP subjects. Patients with severe pain/disability had weaker DNF. Symptomatic group showed age-related declines in SHA, CVA and CCFT. Logistic regression revealed T1S (<26.36°) and NT (>47.41°) had diagnostic significance for CNP. CONCLUSION Neck pain corresponded with distinct postural, radiological, and clinical alterations compared to controls. Thoracic inlet parameters (primarily TIA) influenced cervicothoracic posture in asymptomatic individuals, but pain disrupted these associations, highlighting the complex interplay between alignment, posture, and symptomatology.

This research analyses the influence of welding parameters in pulsed TIG welding on the electrical response of the welding power source, and consequently on heat input and weld geometry. In the experiment, we varied pulse frequency and the proportion of base current. By measuring welding current and arc voltage, we analysed the response of welding power source, determined heat input, and examined weld geometry. The results show that, particularly at higher pulse frequencies, the welding power source fails to follow the intended pulse shape and fails to achieve set values of welding current. This directly affects heat input and weld geometry. Increasing pulse frequency up to 5 kHz results in higher weld penetration depths and weld width, mainly due to higher heat input.

Occlusive cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is associated with worse patient outcome. The net clinical benefit of acute revascularization measures has to be weighed against the likelihood of spontaneous recanalization. Our aim was to assess the hitherto un-addressed impact of spontaneous recanalization on stroke risk in patients with occlusive CeAD. MRI verified CeAD patients with initially occlusive CeAD within cohort study that did not undergo acute revascularization measures were assessed. Follow-up data derived from clinical routine and study specific assessments. Outcomes of interest were occurrence of (i) recanalization and (ii) ischemic stroke upstream of CeAD-related occlusion. Adjusted logistic regression analysis addressed the impact of recanalization on said outcomes. 97/328 (29.6%) patients had occlusive CeAD and did not undergo acute revascularization treatment. Upon follow-up, 56/97 (57.7%) showed spontaneous recanalization of initially occlusive CeAD. Female sex (OR 0.41[0.18, 0.97]; P = 0.043) and internal carotid artery dissection (OR 0.33[0.14, 0.78]; P = 0.012) were the only factors independently associated with recanalization. Within a median follow-up of 8.2 (1.58, 12.8) years, a total of 18/97 (18.6%) patients suffered ischemic stroke upstream of the initially CeAD-affected vessel. After adjusting for confounders, spontaneous recanalization was independently associated with lower rates of cerebral ischemia upon follow-up (OR 0.28[0.09, 0.90]; P = 0.032), most notably also independent of type of antithrombotic treatment. Spontaneous recanalization in occlusive CeAD is associated with lower rates of stroke upon follow-up. These results indicate that persistent CeAD-related occlusion remains a risk-factor for recurrent ischemic events, thus calling for future trials addressing optimal medical treatment. N/A. Lukas Mayer-Suess.

Abstract Parabens, often used as preservatives in consumer products, have raised concerns due to their endocrine-disrupting properties. The aim of this study was to quantify the levels of methyl and propyl paraben in adult urine samples and to assess potential health risks. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), methyl and propyl parabens were detected in 20 participants at different concentrations. Methylparaben was more prevalent than propylparaben. Risk assessment was performed by calculating the estimated daily intake (EDI) and the hazard quotient (HQ), with HQ values indicating no significant health risk for the participants. Although current exposure levels appear to be safe, the long-term effects of chronic exposure remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further research. This preliminary study provides insight into paraben exposure in adults and contributes to the growing literature on the safety and prevalence of parabens.

OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this study is to detect and quantify the presence of Sildenafil (SDF) and Tadalafil (TDF) in dietary supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, the study seeks to utilize these findings to inform relevant authorities, enabling further testing in reference laboratories and prompting the necessary actions to remove these adulterated products from the market. METHODS Using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), 20 samples were analysed for the PDE-5 inhibitors. RESULTS The analysis revealed that seven of the samples contained either SDF or TDF, with mean concentrations ± standard deviation (SD) ranging from 2,075.57 ± 0.47 µg/g to 33,808.857 ± 99.43 µg/g, and TDF concentrations ranging from 24.16 ± 0.11 µg/g to 3,994.66 ± 6.95 µg/g. CONCLUSION These findings indicate a significant health risk posed by the adulteration of these products. The widespread presence of these active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in products falsely labelled as natural underscores the urgent need for stringent regulatory oversight and enhanced quality control measures to protect consumer safety. This study adds to the growing body of evidence concerning the adulteration of dietary supplements and emphasizes the critical importance of regulatory compliance and monitoring in safeguarding public health.

OBJECTIVE The optimal management of patients with asymptomatic (AsxCS) and symptomatic (SxCS) carotid stenosis is controversial and includes intensive medical management (i.e., best medical therapy [BMT]) with/without an additional carotid revascularization procedure (i.e., carotid endarterectomy [CEA], transfemoral carotid artery stenting [TFCAS] or TransCarotid Artery Revascularization [TCAR]). The aim of this international, expert-based, multispecialty Delphi Consensus document was to reconcile the conflicting views regarding the optimal management of AsxCS and SxCS patients. METHODS A three-round Delphi Consensus process was performed including 63 experts from Europe (n=37) and the United States (n=26). A total of 6 different clinical scenarios were identified involving patients with either AsxCS or SxCS. For each scenario, 5 treatment options were available: (i) BMT alone, (ii) BMT plus CEA, (iii) BMT plus TFCAS, (iv) BMT plus TCAR, or (v) BMT plus CEA/TFCAS/TCAR. Differences in treatment preferences between U.S. and European participants were assessed using Fisher's Exact Test, and odds ratios were used to quantify the magnitude and direction of association. Consensus was achieved when >70% of the Delphi Consensus participants agreed on a therapeutic approach. RESULTS Most participants concurred that BMT alone is not adequate for the management of a 70-year-old fit male or female patient with 80-99% AsxCS (52/63; 82.5% and 45/63; 71.5%, respectively). In contrast, most panelists would opt for BMT alone for an 80-year-old male AsxCS patient with several co-morbidities (48/63; 76.2%). The majority of participants would opt for BMT plus a carotid revascularization procedure for an 80-year-old male SxCS patient with a recent ipsilateral cerebrovascular event, an ipsilateral 70-99% SxCS and a 5-year predicted risk of ipsilateral ischemic event of 10% (54/63; 85.7%), 15% (59/63; 93.6%), or 20% (63/63; 100%). The opinion of U.S.-based participants varied from that of Europe-based respondents in some scenarios. CONCLUSIONS The panel agreed that BMT alone is insufficient for most patients with SxCS, and that select subgroups of AsxCS patients may also benefit from revascularization, especially when high-risk features are present. Patients should be stratified according to their predicted stroke risk, as well as their individual clinical/anatomical/imaging features and should be treated accordingly.