This study evaluates the feasibility and technical success rate of real-time virtual sonography (RVS) for prone contrast-enhanced breast MRI sequences during second-look examinations. Usually, additional supine MRI sequences are acquired for coregistration. This single-center retrospective study was performed in a cohort of female patients who underwent contrast-enhanced prone breast MRI followed by second-look ultrasound for MRI-detected incidental lesions. RVS was used to coregister supine ultrasound and prone MRI data without requiring additional supine MRI studies. Lesion localization success, as well as lesion visibility, fusion quality, and histopathological correlation through ultrasound-guided biopsy, were assessed. A covariate analysis of factors affecting lesion localization was performed. A total of 103 female patients (mean age 48.3 ± 11.0 years) with 125 MRI-detected breast lesions were included. Of the lesions, 91.2% were successfully localized using RVS, including a high proportion of non-mass enhancements (41.6%). Ultrasound-guided biopsy was performed in 57.6% of cases, confirming malignancy in 31.9% of those. Covariate analysis identified higher breast volume as the only factor significantly associated with reduced RVS coregistration success (odds ratio 0.993, p = 0.035). RVS represents an advanced imaging approach in breast diagnostics, offering a promising solution to overcome the limitations of standalone modalities and potentially enhance diagnostic accuracy. We showed that prone MRI studies may be sufficient for RVS-based coregistration of breast lesions, potentially rendering additional supine MRI acquisitions unnecessary. This study demonstrates that real-time virtual sonography with contrast-enhanced MRI in the prone position is a feasible and effective method for localizing MRI-detected breast lesions on second-look ultrasound without the need for additional supine MRI. This approach can optimize diagnostic workflows and reduce imaging burden while maintaining high localization rates. RVS localizes MRI-detected breast lesions in the prone position without requiring additional supine MRI for co-registration. Successful localization was achieved in 91.2%, including 41.6% non-mass enhancements, with higher breast volume as the only detrimental factor. RVS enables accurate lesion localization without supine MRI, streamlining workflows, lowering imaging costs, and improving biopsy access. RVS localizes MRI-detected breast lesions in the prone position without requiring additional supine MRI for co-registration. Successful localization was achieved in 91.2%, including 41.6% non-mass enhancements, with higher breast volume as the only detrimental factor. RVS enables accurate lesion localization without supine MRI, streamlining workflows, lowering imaging costs, and improving biopsy access.

Testing muonic fifth forces is difficult because muons are scarce in ordinary matter. However, they are abundant in neutron stars. We show that this population responds coherently to electromagnetic fluctuations induced by proton and electron collisions, emitting the fifth-force mediator and cooling the star. This energy loss constrains $g_{X\mu}\lesssim 10^{-13}$ for scalars with $m_\phi\lesssim 100$ keV and vectors with $10^{-5}\,\mathrm{eV}\lesssim m_V\lesssim 100$ keV, far more strongly than SN 1987A cooling. Vector forces at smaller $m_V$ deplete muons, suppressing the coherent response. Cooling from incoherent muon scattering still constrains $g_{V \mu}\lesssim 2.5\times 10^{-12}$ for $1.3\times 10^{-7}\,\mathrm{eV}\lesssim m_V\lesssim 10^{-5}$ eV. Together, these bounds provide the most sensitive probes of muonic interactions across a broad range of parameters.

Neutron stars (NSs) are powerful factories for new particles with masses up to the 100~keV range. These compact stars contain significant amounts of protons, electrons, and muons. We deduce the emission rates for new scalar, vector, and pseudoscalar bosons coupling to electrons and muons. For muonic vector bosons, in addition to direct emission from leptons in incoherent scatterings with the medium, a competing channel is the coherent excitation of the lepton population electromagnetically induced by incoherent hadronic scatterings - an effective in-medium coupling. For muonic scalar bosons, emission from the effective in-medium coupling to electrons is always dominant due to their relativistically boosted emission. Pseudoscalars can only be emitted through incoherent leptonic scatterings. If protons are superconducting, the scalar and vector energy loss rates scale as $T^4$, the pseudoscalar ones as $T^6$, to be compared with $T^8$ for neutrino losses by the modified Urca (MUrca) process. For normal-conducting protons, the damping of transverse photons implies instead scalings with a power $T^{11/3}$ for scalars, and $T^{17/3}$ for pseudoscalars; vectors, emitted by nonrelativistic protons in the nonsuperconducting regime, still scale as $T^4$. Our results can be used to constrain the leptophilic coupling strengths through observed NS cooling ages.

Pollination by insects is a key contribution to many crops, with managed honeybees being “hired” to support pollination services in agricultural and natural habitats. The aim of this work was to contribute data to the scientific literature on Bosnia and Hercegovina that addresses an important aspect of local food sustainability through natural but managed pollination services that the European honeybee Apis mellifera provides, and to provide insights into existing agricultural subsidies. To our knowledge this is the first pollination management overview based on a standardized approach in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We analyzed results from Europe-wide online questionnaire, administered under COST Action project “Super B “, and compiled data from available sources on pollination service subsidies. The data on beekeeping practices and perceptions of pollination structure were collected using a questionnaire with 178 items grouped into twenty-seven thematic sections and were provided by 109 beekeepers. The study examines beekeeper perceptions and motivations for crop pollination in relation to their demographic characteristics and technological practices. Beekeepers’ perception of mass flowering crops showed a lack of trust in intensive agriculture driven by perceived risks of pesticide contamination and bee mortality. Agri-environment management and subsidy systems at the global and EU level were compared with local policy frameworks, with the intention to promoting more visible and compensated pollination practices in the country. The findings highlight the need for locally adapted and structured recognition of pollination service as well as better options for constructive engagement in pollination services through adequate subsidies. The collected data can serve as a starting point for structuring pollination services and as a step toward improving the pollinator potential of bees, addressing pollination needs, and enhancing local practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the broader agricultural pollination service market.

DNA barcoding has become a cornerstone for species identification and biodiversity monitoring, enabling applications from ecological research to conservation and environmental policy. The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) provides global coordination, but national nodes are essential for implementing barcoding at scale, building local capacity and translating scientific advances into practice. This paper synthesises experiences from 20 countries (17 in Europe), drawing on a survey and a workshop conducted under the Horizon Europe Biodiversity Genomics Europe project. We examine how national nodes are initiated, governed and sustained and identify common challenges, such as defining scope, securing funding, harmonising methods and engaging stakeholders. Most nodes were initiated by research communities and operate as informal networks with heterogeneous governance and staffing models. Key priorities include constructing comprehensive DNA barcode reference libraries, aligning activities with biomonitoring needs and promoting FAIR and CARE data principles. We highlight strategies for capacity building, methodological standardisation and stakeholder engagement, alongside approaches for diversifying funding and strengthening communication. Based on these insights, we present ten practical recommendations to guide the establishment and long-term success of national DNA barcoding nodes. Strengthening these infrastructures will enhance Europe’s ability to deliver robust DNA-based biodiversity monitoring, underpin metabarcoding and metagenomic studies and contribute to global efforts in species discovery, conservation and environmental management.

As a part of the Gene Bank of the Republic of Srpska, within the Institute of Genetic Resources, University of Banja Luka, field collections of autochhthonous fruit and grape varieties serve as a valuable resource for diverse scientific research, experimental studies, measurements, and long-term monitoring. In ripening season of 2024, we counducted research on traditional autochthonous apple varieties. From field collections, we selected 3 apple accsessions with good yield potential, for sampling. The apple varieties included in this study were Bjeličnik, Vidovka žuta and Kanada Švabica.  After color analyses was done, we concucted analyses of antioxidant potential in samples. Methods used for color were the LAB digital color positioning system and for antioxidant potential, it was determined using the DPPH free radical sequencing method. Results showed that EC50 value of 18.60 mg/mL places 'Vidovka žuta' at the top of the studied varieties for antioxidant potential. 'Bjeličnik' is interesting variety in the pomology of Republika Srpska, named for its characteristic pale, almost white skin (EC50 =24.19 mg/mL). Kanada švabica showed EC50 of 31.87 mg/mL, and suggests a lower relative antioxidant potency compared to 'Vidovka žuta' and 'Bjeličnik'. Color showed that Bjeličnik is also significantly lighter than the others, confirming its phenotype as the "white" apple of the collection. Yellowness (b*) indicated that Vidovka žuta and Kanada švabica are statistically similar in their yellow intensity, while Bjeličnik is significantly less yellow. Traditional apples are a rich source of dietary antioxidants. The high uniformity in 'Bjeličnik' and the superior potency of 'Vidovka žuta' justify their use in breeding programs targeting increased functional value in modern apple cultivars.

In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) surgery, inadequate tumor margins are reported in up to 85% of cases, adversely affecting outcomes. In this prospective, single-center study (n = 31; NCT04191460), we evaluated the safety and imaging feasibility of cRGD-ZW800-1, a near-infrared fluorescent integrin-targeted tracer. The secondary objective was to determine whether intraoperative fluorescence imaging could identify inadequate resection margins and inform surgical decision-making. Patients received 0.01, 0.025, or 0.05 mg/kg cRGD-ZW800-1, and tracer uptake was quantified using in vivo multi-diameter single-fiber reflectance and single-fiber fluorescence spectroscopy to optimize dosing and timing. All doses were well tolerated, achieving tumor-to-background ratios exceeding 4.5, with optimal performance at 0.025 mg/kg. Fluorescence imaging detected all 23 inadequate margins, including nine undetected by conventional assessment (sensitivity 100% versus 70%), altered surgical plans in five cases, and avoided adjuvant radiotherapy in three cases. These findings demonstrate that cRGD-ZW800-1 is safe, tumor-specific, and facilitates intraoperative margin assessment in OSCC. Incomplete tumor removal during oral cancer surgery remains a major clinical challenge. Here, the authors show, in a feasibility trial, that fluorescence imaging using the integrin-targeted tracer cRGD-ZW800 is safe, achieved a patient-level sensitivity of 100%, enabled additional fluorescence-guided resections and prevented postoperative radiotherapy in some patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background Multimorbidity refers to the presence of multiple coexisting conditions, but is often underappreciated in the context of severe asthma (SA) management. We sought to identify differences in approaches to multimorbidity management in SA, variability in access to multidisciplinary team (MDT) resources, and whether physician perspectives on multimorbidity differ between SA specialists and general respiratory physicians. Methods The Severe Heterogeneous Asthma Registry, Patient-centred (SHARP) Clinical Research Collaboration circulated an online physician survey via European national respiratory societies to assess 1) available resources to address multimorbidity and 2) physician perspectives on multimorbidity in SA. Results 495 responses from 25 European countries included 48% SA specialists and 52% general respiratory physicians. SA specialists had more experience with SA patients (20% were seeing >60 patients per month) compared to general respiratory physicians. SA specialists had greater access to multidisciplinary care – including better access to MDTs, allied health professionals and referrals to external specialists, and therefore more routinely assessed comorbidities and considered them greater influences on their practice. They also considered multimorbidity to a greater degree and rated its impact on their patients’ asthma outcomes (and general health outcomes) as more substantial. Conclusions Alongside more experience of treating SA, SA specialists have increased awareness of multimorbidity and better resources to manage it. However, access to MDTs remains a significant gap for both SA specialists and general respiratory physicians. Furthermore, both groups identified a high need for further education and training about multimorbidity. These findings highlight key areas for improvement in clinical practice, resources and training.

Checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (CPI) for BRAF mutant advanced melanoma first-line results in a better long-term survival compared to targeted therapy (TT), however TT induction may benefit poor prognosis groups. The parallel-arm, randomised phase II, multicentre, feasibility CAcTUS trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03808441) randomised 21 patients to receive standard of care investigators choice TT or CPI, switching to the alternative upon progression (n = 10), or commencing TT and switching to CPI upon an ≥80% reduction of BRAF variant allele frequency (VAF) in circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA; n = 11). The study achieved its primary endpoints with 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 94-100%) of critical results provided within 7 days to inform a decision to switch and 100% of patients commencing TT achieving an ≥80% reduction of BRAF VAF (95% CI: 80-100%). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival and overall survival. No new safety signals were observed for TT/CPI. Post-hoc analysis of clinical features, circulating cytokines and chemokines at ctDNA nadir following TT induction suggested a more favourable profile prior to CPI initiation. Longitudinal ctDNA dynamics revealed ctDNA provided an early signal of CPI benefit and that rechallenge with TT following CPI progression resulted in a further ctDNA response. These data support the utility of ctDNA to guide treatment decision-making within a clinically relevant timeframe to optimise treatment scheduling strategies. Targeted therapy (with BRAF and MEK inhibitors) and immune checkpoint blockade have improved survival for patients with advanced BRAF-mutant cutaneous melanoma, however, the optimal scheduling for these treatments remain to be further refined in poor prognosis groups. Here the authors present the results of a feasibility trial to determine the role of circulating tumour DNA in guiding a switch between targeted therapy and immune therapy in patients with advanced melanoma.

Explainable AI (XAI) is crucial for fostering human trust in deep neural network (DNN) predictions, particularly in tasks like image classification. Multiple surveys exist on XAI methodologies, however, the practical usability and reproducibility of these methods remain largely unexplored. This paper addresses this gap by conducting a systematic survey of recent XAI papers published in leading computer vision and AI conferences and journals. We categorize these works, identify prevalent datasets and evaluation metrics, and analyse the associated code repositories. Our analysis reveals that almost 95% of the surveyed codebases are research prototypes rather than published releases, and a concerning majority of two‐thirds of them exhibit inconsistencies with their corresponding publications. These findings highlight the challenges in benchmarking new XAI methods against existing ones and explain the slow adoption of state‐of‐the‐art research in real‐world applications. This paper aims to underscore the importance of releasing well‐documented, readily usable code alongside XAI research to foster a more robust and reproducible ecosystem, ultimately facilitating the development and deployment of trustworthy AI systems. The results of this study are presented on an interactive website Interactive‐XAI.

Modern smart grids rely on dense measurement infrastructures, communication links, and intelligent field devices. Although this improves supervision and control, it also increases vulnerability to cyber-physical disruptions. Operators must distinguish physical incidents, such as faults or line disturbances, from malicious actions, such as false data injection or unauthorized command execution. This chapter investigates this problem using the well-known MSU/ORNL Power System Attack Dataset. The proposed method combines machine learning with genetic-algorithm-based feature selection. The objective is twofold: to classify attack and natural events accurately, and to determine whether a reduced set of physically informative PMU/IED measurements can support reliable detection. Several baseline models are evaluated, including logistic regression, RBF-SVM, XGBoost, Random Forest, and Extra Trees. The results show that tree-based ensemble models are the most effective for the considered dataset, with Extra Trees providing the strongest full-feature baseline. After feature selection, the GA + Extra Trees model reduces the clean PMU feature space from 112 attributes to an average of 27.4 attributes over five runs, while increasing macro-F1 from 0.9118 to 0.9212 and ROC-AUC from 0.9791 to 0.9837. These results indicate that many synchronized electrical measurements are redundant. A compact subset of phasor-based features can still provide accurate and interpretable anomaly detection in smart grids.

Improving pedestrian safety at urban intersections is a key challenge for achieving safer and more sustainable urban transport systems. This study develops a multi-criteria decision-making model (MCDM) for selecting the most appropriate traffic signal type at pedestrian crossings in different urban zones. Traffic conditions, illegal pedestrian crossings and the number of traffic accidents were taken into account during the modelling, as well as the characteristics of the urban environment. The research involved 66,616 pedestrians at 22 pedestrian crossings located in three urban zones: school zones, central zones, and non-central zones. The data were aggregated using Bayesian (beta-binomial) and classical statistical methods. The OPA-Group method was then used to develop the model. In the decision-making phase, the Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA) was applied as the core MCDM method. It was then extended to the OPA-Group framework to incorporate group-based evaluation in accordance with the model requirements. Additionally, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted, confirming the robustness and stability of the proposed model. The results show that traditional traffic signals are most suitable for school and non-central zones, whereas countdown traffic signals are recommended for central zones. Push-button traffic signals were identified as the least efficient solution for regulating pedestrian movement at pedestrian crossings.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315011.].