Search Results (206)

Monocular depth estimation (MDE) is a cornerstone of computer vision and is applied to diverse practical areas such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, etc., yet even the latest methods suffer substantial errors in high-dynamic-range (HDR) scenes where over- or under-exposure erases critical texture. To address this challenge in real-world autonomous driving scenarios, we propose the Exposure-Aware Single-Step Diffusion Framework for Monocular Depth Estimation (EASD). EASD leverages a pre-trained Stable Diffusion variational auto-encoder, freezing its encoder to extract exposure-robust latent RGB and depth representations. A single-step diffusion process then predicts the clean depth latent vector, eliminating iterative error accumulation and enabling real-time inference suitable for autonomous vehicle perception pipelines. To further enhance robustness under extreme lighting conditions, EASD introduces an Exposure-Aware Feature Fusion (EAF) module—an attention-based pyramid that dynamically modulates multi-scale features according to global brightness statistics. This mechanism suppresses bias in saturated regions while restoring detail in under-exposed areas. Furthermore, an Exposure-Balanced Loss (EBL) jointly optimises global depth accuracy, local gradient coherence and reliability in exposure-extreme regions—key metrics for safety-critical perception tasks such as obstacle detection and path planning. Experimental results on NYU-v2, KITTI, and related benchmarks demonstrate that EASD reduces absolute relative error by an average of 20% under extreme illumination, using only 60,000 labelled images. The framework achieves real-time performance (<50 ms per frame) and strikes a superior balance between accuracy, computational efficiency, and data efficiency, offering a promising solution for robust monocular depth estimation in challenging automotive lighting conditions such as tunnel transitions, night driving and sun glare. Full article

The detection of gamma-ray burst GRB 221009A has attracted significant attention due to its record brightness and first-ever detection of multi-TeV $\mathit{\gamma }$-rays from a GRB. Located at redshift $z=0.151$, this event is relatively nearby by GRB standards yet remains cosmologically distant, making the survival of multi-TeV photons surprising. The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory detected photons with energies up to ∼13 TeV during the early afterglow phase, challenging standard EBL models. We investigate whether several theoretical frameworks can explain this anomalous emission: reduced EBL opacity due to cosmic voids along the line of sight, novel emission mechanisms within the GRB environment, secondary $\mathit{\gamma }$-ray production through cosmic-ray cascades, and new physics scenarios involving Lorentz invariance violation or axion-like particles. Our analysis reveals areas of consensus regarding the exceptional nature of this event, while highlighting ongoing theoretical tensions about the dominant physical processes. We discuss the limitations of current models and identify specific observational signatures that future multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observations could provide to discriminate between competing explanations. The continued study of similar events with next-generation facilities will be crucial for resolving these theoretical challenges and advancing our understanding of extreme particle acceleration processes in astrophysical environments. Full article

Robotic-assisted surgery has gradually established its role in uro-oncological cases that demand a high level of precision, optimising surgeon ergonomics and decreasing fatigue whilst maintaining optimal clinical outcomes. With the novel Hinotori surgical robot (Medicaroid Corporation (Kobe, Hyogo, Japan)) launched in Japan back in 2019, it has now demonstrated its use case across various clinical series of different surgeries. We sought to narratively synthesise the initial feasibility of the Hinotori robotic system in urology. A systematic, comprehensive literature search was conducted across various databases from September 2024 to October 2024. Relevant keywords within the scope of this study were generated for a more accurate search. After exclusion and removal of duplicates, a total of nine articles were included for review. Among the included studies, one study reported data solely on radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, two studies reported on robotic-assisted nephroureterectomy for renal tumours, two studies reported on partial nephrectomy performed for renal masses, two studies reported on radical nephrectomy carried out for renal malignancies and one study reported on robotic-assisted adrenalectomy for adrenal cancer. Lastly, one study collectively reported on outcomes pertaining to partial nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, vesicourethral anastomosis and pelvic lymph node dissection in a porcine model, as well as partial nephrectomy, radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection in cadavers. The current literature supports its non-inferiority to the well-established Da Vinci system, with no major drawbacks or concerns identified when comparing parameters such as intraoperative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), perioperative events (transfusions, conversion to open surgery), length of hospital stay and major postoperative complications. Future studies involving larger cohorts and more complex surgical cases are essential to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Hinotori system. The new Hinotori robotic system offers unique three-dimensional features as a non-inferior robotic platform alternative that has proven clinically safe thus far in its use. Larger scale studies and randomised trials are eagerly awaited to assess and validate more holistically its clinical utility. Full article

Background/Objectives: Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in cirrhotic patients impacts mortality rates and quality of life. CSPH increases the risk of systemic decompensation and could predispose to the deterioration of portal hypertension (PH)–gastric complications, such as portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and portal hypertensive polyps (PHPs). In the management of CSPH with high-risk varices, endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is effective in preventing variceal bleeding. However, this procedure has several drawbacks, ranging from its inability to treat PH to the potential development of significant PH–gastric complications. The aim of our study is to evaluate endoscopic changes in PHG, PHPs, and gastric varices before and after the obliteration of esophageal varices, highlighting the potential risks of EBL. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated forty-four patients who underwent EBL for esophageal varices in emergency and elective settings, according to Baveno VII guidelines. We assessed the presence and severity of PHG, the status of gastric varices, and the number of PHPs before and after the eradication of esophageal varices. We used Fisher’s exact test and t-tests to compare the endoscopic and clinical-laboratory data statistically. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study found that after the eradication of varices, there was a significant worsening of PHG in 28 patients (63%) compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). The condition remained stable in 14 patients (31%). However, it is worth noting that 90% of the patients exhibited severe PHG at baseline. Additionally, the absence of ascites and the non-administration of beta blockers at baseline were independent risk factors for worsening PHG (p < 0.05). Along with the deterioration of PHG, three patients (7%) developed gastric varices, all classified as type 1 gastroesophageal varices, and in two patients (4.5%), PHPs were formed. In particular, out of these two cases, the number of PHPs increased from one to two compared to the baseline. Conclusions: Our study underscores the association of EBL with a general worsening of PH–gastric complications and the protective effect of beta blockers in this context. Despite these promising results, future studies are needed to assess whether the worsening of PH–gastric complications is sustained over time and whether it is associated with a deterioration in clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Such evidence could help guide a more informed therapeutic decision between EBL and beta blockers. Full article

Selenium stress can adversely affect plants by inhibiting growth, impairing oxidative stress resistance, and inducing toxicity. In this experiment, we investigated the effect of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL; 2.0 mg/L), a brassinosteroid (BR), on alleviating selenium stress in peach trees by analyzing its impact on biomass, selenium accumulation, and the expression of selenium metabolism-related genes in peach seedlings. The results demonstrated that 24-EBL could effectively mitigate biomass loss in peach seedlings exposed to selenium stress. Compared to the Se treatment alone, the 24-EBL+Se treatment resulted in a significant 16.55% increase in root selenium content and a more pronounced 30.39% increase in selenium content in the aboveground parts. Regarding the subcellular distribution, the cell wall was the primary site of Se deposition, accounting for 42.3% and 49.8% in the root and aboveground parts, respectively, in the Se treatment. 24-EBL further enhanced Se distribution at this site, reaching 42.9% and 63.2% in root and aboveground parts, respectively, in the 24-EBL+Se treatment. The 24-EBL+Se treatment significantly increased the contents of different chemical forms of Se, including ethanol-soluble, water-soluble, and salt-soluble Se. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results indicated that the Se treatment promoted the expression of organic Se assimilation genes (SATs, OAS-TL B, and OAS-TL C), and 24-EBL application further increased their expression. Meanwhile, the Se-only treatment up-regulated the organic Se metabolism gene CGS1. Consequently, we propose that 24-EBL alleviates Se stress in peach seedlings by enhancing Se uptake and assimilation, and by adjusting subcellular distribution and chemical forms. Full article

In this work, we demonstrate high-efficiency 385 nm AlGaN-based near-ultraviolet micro light emitting diode (NUV-Micro LED) arrays. The epi structure is prepared using a novel AlN-inserted superlattice electrical blocking layer which enhances hole spreading in the p-type region significantly. The NUV-Micro LED arrays in this work comprise 228 chips in parallel with wavelengths at 385 nm, and each single chip size is 15 × 30 μm². Compared with conventional bulk AlGaN-based EBL structures, the NUV-Micro LED arrays that implemented the new hole spreading enhanced superlattice electrical blocking layer (HSESL-EBL) structure proposed in this work had a remarkable increase in light output power (LOP) at current density, increasing the range down from 0.02 A/cm² to as high as 97 A/cm². The array’s light output power is increased up to 1540% at the lowest current density 0.02 A/cm², and up to 58% at the highest current density 97 A/cm², measured under room temperature (RT); consequently, the WPE is increased from 13.4% to a maximum of 30.18%. This AlN-inserted HESEL-EBL design significantly enhances both the lateral expansion efficiency and the hole injection efficiency into the multi quantum well (MQW) in the arrays, improving the concentration distribution of the holes in MQW while maintaining good suppression of electron leakage. The array’s efficiency droop has also been greatly reduced. Full article

This study presents a novel approach to mitigate electron overflow in deep ultraviolet (UV) AlGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by integrating engineered quantum barriers (QBs) with a concave shape and an optimized AlGaN superlattice (SL) electron blocking layer (EBL). The concave QBs reduce electron leakage by lowering the electron thermal velocity and mean free path, enhancing electron capture in the active region. The SL EBL further reduces electron overflow without compromising hole transport. At a wavelength of ~253.7 nm, the proposed LED demonstrates a 2.67× improvement in internal quantum efficiency (IQE) and a 2.64× increase in output power at 150 mA injection, with electron leakage reduced by ~4 orders of magnitude compared to conventional LEDs. The efficiency droop is found to be just 2.32%. Full article

Background/Objectives: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has become the primary approach for treating bladder cancer, replacing the traditional open procedure. The robotic approach, when combined with ureterocutaneostomy (UCS), offers significant advantages for octogenarians, who are at increased risk for perioperative complications. Methods: This observational, prospective, multicenter analysis is based on data from the Italian Radical Cystectomy Registry (RIC), collected from January 2017 to June 2020 across 28 major urological centers in Italy. We analyzed consecutive male and female patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion via the open, laparoscopic, or robot-assisted technique. Inclusion criteria: patients aged 80 years or older, with a WHO Performance Status (PS) of 2–3, an American Society of Anesthesiologist score ≥3, a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥ 4, and a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min. Results: A total of 128 consecutive patients were included: 41 underwent RARC with UCS (Group 1), 65 open RC (ORC) with UCS (Group 2), and 22 laparoscopic RC (LRC) with UCS (Group 3). The cystectomy operative time was longer in robotic surgeries, while the lymph node dissection time was shorter. RARC with UCS showed statistically significant advantages in terms of lower median estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion rate, and length of hospital stay (LOS) compared to open and laparoscopic procedures. Intra- and postoperative complications were also lower in the RARC groups. Conclusions: Robotic cystectomy in high-volume referral centers (≥20 cystectomies per year) provides the best outcome for fragile patients. Beyond addressing the baseline pathology, RARC with UCS may represent a leading option, offering oncological control while reducing complications in this vulnerable age group. Full article

Background: Liver resection of a caudate lobe is a challenging procedure in both open and minimally invasive approaches. The reason is mainly related to its anatomical position: segment 1 (S1) lies on the inferior vein cava, behind the main and the left portal veins, and below the hepatic veins. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the results of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) versus open liver resection (OLR) for S1 resection. Methods: Available literature up to June 2024 was retrieved from the Medline and Embase databases. A systematic review with a meta-analysis was carried out to investigate the safety and efficacy of LLR for the S1 segment. Results: Six studies including 292 patients (LLR: n = 132; OLR: n = 160) were selected for the meta-analysis. The OLR cohort showed higher estimated blood loss (EBL) (MD: 140.1, 95% CI 49.3–130.8; p = 0.011) and longer length of hospital stay (MD: 3, 95% CI 1.8–4.2; p = 0.001). No differences in severe postoperative morbidity, overall morbidity, R1 resection rates, transfusion rates, operative time, and duration of Pringle maneuvers were shown. Conclusion: LLR for lesions located in S1 is safe and effective and may be associated with lower EBL and shorter length of stay than OLR. Further larger prospective studies are needed to confirm such results. Full article

The potato is the fourth largest cultivated crop worldwide. Soil cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a significant threat to crop growth. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a significant part in enhancing plant resistance against abiotic stresses. The DWF4 (dwarf4) gene is one of the rate-limiting enzyme genes involved in the synthesis of BRs. This study employed seedlings of transgenic potatoes overexpressing the StDWF4 gene (OE) and wild-type (WT) potatoes to clarify their alleviating effect on Cd stresses. The differences in phenotype, ultrastructure, physiological indicators, and plant hormone levels of Cd²⁺-treated potatoes were analyzed. The molecular mechanism of potatoes’ response to Cd²⁺ stress was revealed by transcriptomics. Results showed that the dry weight, fresh weight, plant height, root length, and stem diameter of OE potatoes under Cd stress were significantly higher than those of WT potatoes. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the mitochondria, cell walls, and cell membranes of WT were more fragile than those of OE under Cd stress. The Cd²⁺ concentration in OE was always lower than that in WT, and both concentrations increased gradually as the duration of Cd²⁺ treatment was prolonged. The 24-epibrassionlide (EBL) content in OE was higher than that in WT. RNA-seq analysis manifested that the gene expression levels of OE and WT plants changed significantly under Cd²⁺ treatment. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily connected to the moderation of the metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. These findings indicated that overexpression of the StDWF4 gene in potatoes enhanced their alleviating effect on Cd stresses. Full article

Solving many of the pressing issues facing the world today will require a deep and integrated understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To prepare today’s K-12 students to tackle these challenges, STEM education must create opportunities to learn disciplinary content while inventing actionable solutions to messy, interdisciplinary problems. Learning frameworks, such as Project-Based Learning (PBL), Design-Based Learning (DBL), and Entrepreneurial-Based Learning (EBL), could support this reconceptualization of STEM education. New approaches are needed that leverage and integrate what works from these frameworks to better prepare students for success post-schooling. This means leveraging frameworks that emphasize practices and ways of thinking that support students to build and justify solutions that create value for users, while also creating a need for disciplinary content knowledge. This is especially necessary for mathematics, a discipline that is often treated insufficiently in interdisciplinary STEM activities. This paper introduces the Design & Pitch (D&P) Challenges in STEM Learning Framework, a novel learning framework that leverages features of PBL, DBL, and EBL, situating math learning within entrepreneurial pitch competitions. It describes the D&P Learning Framework and explores how each contributing learning framework combines to enhance students’ work, focusing their mathematical reasoning, while also empowering them to invent relevant solutions to authentic problems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Duodenal stump fistula (DSF) is one of the most feared postoperative complications in gastric cancer surgery. It has a 1.6–5% incidence rate and correlates with potentially high rates of morbidity (75%) and mortality (16–20%). The absence of duodenal stump reinforcement is considered one of the main risk factors. Our meta-analysis aimed to provide updated evidence by comparing DSF rates among patients who underwent distal or total gastrectomy for malignant gastric disease with or without reinforcement of the duodenal stump. Methods: We performed a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were used to identify articles of interest. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan Version 5.4. Results: The six included comparative studies (19,527 patients: 11,545 reinforcement group versus 7982 control group) covered an approximately 20-year study period (2005–2023). All the studies included were observational in nature. Meta-analysis of pooled results showed that, compared to the control group, the reinforcement group recorded a statistically significant lower DSF rate (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.60, p = 0.0004). Considering secondary outcomes, no statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups in terms of operative time, EBL, overall postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. Just major postoperative complications were considerably lower in the reinforcement group compared to the control group (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.99, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Duodenal stump reinforcement appears to reduce the rate of DSF after distal or total gastrectomy for malignant gastric disease. Given the significant biases among meta-analyzed studies, our results require careful interpretation. Further randomized, possibly multicenter trials may turn out to be of paramount importance in confirming our results. Full article

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is classified as a Deltaretrovirus and shows close genomic and biological similarities with human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLVs). It serves as the etiological agent for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), which stands as the most prevalent neoplastic disease affecting cattle globally. Additionally, BLV has been identified as a potential zoonotic pathogen, although the risk to human health remains a subject of ongoing research. The insidious nature of BLV lies in its predominantly subclinical presentation; the majority of BLV-infected cattle show no apparent symptoms. This subclinical nature poses challenges for disease detection and control, as infected animals can remain unnoticed carriers, contributing to the silent spread of the virus within herds. This characteristic also underscores the importance of surveillance and early detection strategies to monitor BLV prevalence and mitigate its spread. Despite concerted efforts in some regions to implement eradication programs, BLV continues to maintain a high prevalence worldwide. The persistence of BLV in cattle populations highlights the need for innovative and integrated approaches to control and manage the disease effectively. The development of a BLV vaccine represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against BLV transmission. A successful vaccine can not only reduce the incidence of BLV infection but also minimize the associated economic losses linked to reduced milk production, reproductive issues, and the premature culling of infected animals. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of BLV, encompassing its origin, evolutionary patterns, epidemiology, risk factors, and control strategies, is pivotal. Such knowledge serves as the foundation for the development of effective vaccines, diagnostic tools, and control measures. Through this review, we aim to consolidate and present this multifaceted understanding of BLV, providing valuable insights and guidance for researchers, veterinarians, and policymakers involved in BLV prevention and control efforts globally. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity and abdominal adiposity are associated with worse surgical and functional outcomes in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. This exploratory study assessed whether reductions in total body fat mass (TFM) among overweight and obese PCa patients enrolled in a diet and exercise weight loss intervention prior to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) improved outcomes. Methods: In this secondary analysis of an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial (NCT01886677) conducted 2012–2015, twenty-nine patients with newly diagnosed, pathology-confirmed PCa who participated and underwent RARP were evaluated for percent change in TFM and divided into High Fat Losers who lost ≥1% TFM per week and Low Fat Losers who lost <1% TFM per week. High versus Low Fat Losers were compared on operative time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay (LOS), incidence of surgical or postoperative complications, and incontinence and impotence scores at first postoperative follow-up. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between High versus Low Fat Losers with respect to overall complications (p = 0.027); 28.6% of High Fat Losers experienced one or more complications by first postoperative follow-up, compared to 73.3% of Low Fat Losers. However, no differences were observed for each individual complication analyzed, or with respect to OT, EBL, LOS, or incontinence or impotence scores. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings implicate the potential benefit of healthy weight loss as an adjunct to surgery, and support the need for larger trials to elucidate a clearer relationship between improvements in body composition and effects on specific surgical complications and functional outcomes. Full article

Background: Thromboelastography-6s (TEG^®6s), a novel device developed to assess coagulation status, presents advantages such as less frequent calibration, ease of use, and greater stability against movements compared to the previous system (TEG5000). This is the first study in the literature to compare coagulation profiles in the early postoperative period of liver resection (LR) using conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) and TEG^®6s. Methods: Forty-six adult patients admitted to the ICU post-surgery after elective LR for malignancy were included. CCTs were used to classify patients into hypocoagulable (HCG) (platelet count < 80 × 10⁹/L, international normalized ratio ≥ 1.4, or activated partial thromboplastin time > 38 s) and normocoagulable (all other cases) groups. Mann–Whitney tests, Spearman’s correlation, and linear regression were used. Results: On ICU admission, nineteen (41.3%) patients had a hypocoagulable profile based on CCTs, but only two (10.5%) of them were rated as hypocoagulable by TEG (p = 0.165). Intraoperatively, HCG patients experienced higher estimated blood loss (EBL) (p = 0.002); they required more fluids (p = 0.019), and more of them received red blood cell transfusions (p = 0.025). They also had higher postoperative arterial lactate levels (p = 0.036). Postoperative 12 h EBL was similar in the two groups (around 150 mL). The ICU stay was longer for HCG group (p = 0.010). Weak associations were observed between TEG/CCTs measures of coagulation initiation [e.g., between R time citrated rapid TEG, and international normalized ratio (r² = 0.448; p < 0.001)], clot formation [i.e., between conventional fibrinogen value using Clauss method and α-angle citrated rapid TEG (r² = 0.542; p < 0.001)], and clot strength [e.g., between conventional fibrinogen and citrated kaolin maximum amplitude (r² = 0.484; p < 0.001)]. Conclusions: CCTs revealed hypocoagulability that was not confirmed by TEG^®6s. However, the thromboelastography coagulation profile was more consistent with the detected non-relevant postoperative bleeding. Full article