Search Results (2,130)

Lymphomas remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among patients living with HIV. Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy has led to a reduction in the incidence of AIDS-related lymphomas (ARL) and an overall improvement in prognosis, these malignancies continue to pose a considerable clinical challenge. Beyond the inherent complexity of lymphoma treatment itself, the management of comorbidities, particularly infections, represents a therapeutic obstacle. Here, we review the published evidence on ARL complicated by COVID-19. Despite the fact that nearly 800 million confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported so far, only five cases of ARL and COVID-19 have been published, among whom most patients experienced a mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with only one case progressing to severe COVID-19 that required oxygen therapy and prolonged hospitalization. Additionally, we present another case of a 49-year-old male patient with newly diagnosed ARL, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, complicated by prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although initially asymptomatic, the patient subsequently experienced transient respiratory failure. Despite administration of molnupiravir, both SARS-CoV-2 antigen and RT-qPCR tests remained positive for a minimum of 113 days. The prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection, in conjunction with other opportunistic infections, impeded the delivery of adequate chemotherapy dose intensity and contributed to disease progression and ultimately the patient’s death. This case and review of the literature underscores the diversity of the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with ARL and highlights the associated challenges in delivering optimal anti-lymphoma therapy in those patients. Full article

Current ringing in dual-active bridge (DAB) converters significantly degrades efficiency and reliability, particularly due to resonant interactions in the magnetic tank impedance network. We propose a novel impedance resonant channel shaping technique to suppress the ringing by systematically modifying the converter’s equivalent impedance model. The method begins with establishing a high-fidelity network representation of the magnetic tank, incorporating transformer parasitics, external inductors, and distributed capacitances, where secondary-side components are referred to the primary via the turns ratio squared. Critical damping is achieved through a rank-one modification of the coupling denominator, which is analytically normalized to a second-order form with explicit expressions for resonant frequency and damping ratio. The optimal series–RC damping network parameters are derived as functions of leakage inductance and winding capacitance, enabling precise control over the effective damping factor while accounting for core loss effects. Furthermore, the integrated network with the damping network dynamically shapes the impedance response, thereby attenuating ringing currents without compromising converter dynamics. Experimental validation confirms that the proposed approach reduces peak ringing amplitude by over 60% compared to the conventional snubber-based methods, while maintaining full soft-switching capability. Full article

The adverse propagation environment in underground coal mine tunnels caused by enclosed spaces, rough surfaces, and dense scatterers severely degrades reliable wireless signal transmission, which further impedes the deployment of IoT applications such as gas monitors and personnel positioning terminals. However, the conventional power enhancement solutions are infeasible for the underground coal mine scenario due to strict explosion-proof safety regulations and battery-powered IoT devices. To address this challenge, we propose singular value decomposition-based Lagrangian optimization (SVD-LOP) to minimize transmit power at the mining base station (MBS) for IRS-assisted coal mine wireless communication systems. In particular, we first establish a three-dimensional twin cluster geometry-based stochastic model (3D-TCGBSM) to accurately characterize the underground coal mine channel. On this basis, we formulate the MBS transmit power minimization problem constrained by user signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) target and IRS phase shifts. To solve this non-convex problem, we propose the SVD-LOP algorithm that performs SVD on the channel matrix to decouple the complex channel coupling and introduces the Lagrange multipliers. Furthermore, we develop a low-complexity successive convex approximation (LC-SCA) algorithm to reduce computational complexity, which constructs a convex approximation of the objective function based on a first-order Taylor expansion and enables suboptimal solutions. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed SVD-LOP and LC-SCA algorithms achieve transmit power peaks of $20.8\mathrm{dBm}$ and $21.4\mathrm{dBm}$, respectively, which are slightly lower than the $21.8\mathrm{dBm}$ observed for the SDR algorithm. It is evident that these algorithms remain well below the explosion-proof safety threshold, which achieves significant power reduction. However, computational complexity analysis reveals that the proposed SVD-LOP and LC-SCA algorithms achieve $\mathcal{O}\left(N^3\right)$ and $\mathcal{O}\left(N^2\right)$ respectively, which offers substantial reductions compared to the SDR algorithm’s $\mathcal{O}\left(N^7\right)$. Moreover, both proposed algorithms exhibit robust convergence across varying user SNR targets while maintaining stable performance gains under different tunnel roughness scenarios. Full article

This study presents a multiphysics simulation approach to optimize graphite-buffered bilayer anodes for enhanced energy density in lithium-ion batteries, assessing the electrochemical impact of diverse inner-layer materials, including silicon, hard carbon, lithium titanate (LTO), and metallic lithium, in pure and graphite-composite forms. A coupled finite-element model implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2 was used to integrate spherical lithium diffusion, charge conservation, and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation kinetics. The evaluated anode structure consisted of a 60 µm-thick bilayer: a 30 µm graphite surface layer coupled with a 30 µm inner layer of alternative active materials. Simulations were performed using an NMC622 cathode, LiPF₆ in EC:EMC electrolyte, at room temperature, under a charge rate of 1 C, considering realistic particle sizes (graphite: 2.5 µm; Si: 0.1 µm; hard carbon: 2.5 µm; LTO: 0.2 µm; Li metal: 0.5 µm), and evaluated over 2000 cycles. The hard carbon/graphite configuration exhibited a capacity fade of 5.8% compared with 7.1% in pure graphite. Additionally, the SEI thickness decreased to 0.20 µm (from 0.25 µm), the overpotential dropped to −17 mV (from −59 mV), and the electrolyte consumption was reduced to 20.8% (from 42.9%). The analysis highlights hard carbon and LTO inner layers as optimal trade-offs between capacity and cycle stability, whereas silicon and lithium metal significantly increased the initial capacity but accelerated SEI formation and impedance growth. These findings demonstrate the graphite-buffered bilayer’s potential to decouple interfacial degradation from high-capacity materials, providing valuable guidelines for the design of advanced lithium-ion battery anodes. Full article

This paper presents the design and experimental evaluation of a compact microstrip patch antenna and a 4 × 4 phased antenna array system tailored for Wi-Fi 6E applications, U-NII-5 band. A single inset-fed microstrip patch antenna was first optimized through full-wave simulations, achieving a resonant frequency of 5.96 GHz with a measured return loss of −17.5 dB and stable broadside radiation. Building on this element, a corporate-fed 4 × 4 array was implemented on an FR4 substrate, incorporating stepped-impedance transmission lines and λ/4 transformers to ensure equal power division and impedance matching across all ports. A 4-bit digital phase shifter, controlled by an ATmega328p microcontroller, was integrated to enable electronic beam steering. Simulated results demonstrated accurate beam control within ±28°, with directional gains above 13 dBi and minimal degradation compared to the broadside case. Over-the-air measurements validated these findings, showing main lobe steering at 0°, ±15°, +33° and −30° with peak gains between 7.8 and 11.5 dBi. The proposed design demonstrates a cost-effective and practical solution for Wi-Fi 6E phased array antennas, offering enhanced beamforming, improved spatial coverage, and reliable performance in next-generation wireless networks. Full article

This review summarizes recent advances in multifunctional metamaterials (MF-MMs) for electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption. MF-MMs overcome the key limitations of conventional absorbers—such as narrow bandwidth, limited functionality, and poor environmental adaptability—offering enhanced protection against EM security threats in radar, aerospace, and defense applications. This review focuses on an integrated structure-material-function co-design strategy, highlighting advances in three-dimensional (3D) lattice architectures, composite laminates, conformal geometries, bio-inspired topologies, and metasurfaces. When synergized with multicomponent composites, these structural innovations enable the co-regulation of impedance matching and EM loss mechanisms (dielectric, magnetic, and resistive dissipation), thereby achieving broadband absorption and enhanced multifunctionality. Key findings demonstrate that 3D lattice structures enhance mechanical load-bearing capacity by up to 935% while enabling low-frequency broadband absorption. Composite laminates achieve breakthroughs in ultra-broadband coverage (1.26–40 GHz), subwavelength thickness (<5 mm), and high flexural strength (>23 MPa). Bio-inspired topologies provide wide-incident-angle absorption with bandwidths up to 31.64 GHz. Metasurfaces facilitate multiphysics functional integration. Despite the significant potential of MF-MMs in resolving broadband stealth and multifunctional synergy challenges via EM wave absorption, their practical application is constrained by several limitations: limited dynamic tunability, incomplete multiphysics coupling mechanisms, insufficient adaptability to extreme environments, and difficulties in scalable manufacturing and reliability assurance. Future research should prioritize intelligent dynamic response, deeper integration of multiphysics functionalities, and performance optimization under extreme conditions. Full article

Continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring is essential for the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension. Recently, interest in continuous BP estimation systems and algorithms has grown. Various physiological signals reflect BP variations from different perspectives, and combining multiple signals can enhance the accuracy of BP measurements. However, research integrating electrocardiogram (ECG), photoplethysmography (PPG), and impedance cardiography (ICG) signals for BP monitoring remains limited, with related technologies still in early development. A major challenge is the increased system complexity associated with acquiring multiple signals simultaneously, along with the difficulty of efficiently extracting and integrating key features for accurate BP estimation. To address this, we developed a BP monitoring system that can synchronously acquire and process ECG, PPG, and ICG signals. Optimizing the circuit design allowed ECG and ICG modules to share electrodes, reducing components and improving compactness. Using this system, we collected 400 min of signals from 40 healthy subjects, yielding 4390 records. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the system’s performance in BP estimation. The results demonstrated that combining pulse wave analysis features with the XGBoost model yielded the most accurate BP predictions. Specifically, the mean absolute error for systolic blood pressure was 3.76 ± 3.98 mmHg, and for diastolic blood pressure, it was 2.71 ± 2.57 mmHg, both of which achieved grade A performance under the BHS standard. These results are comparable to or better than existing studies based on multi-signal methods. These findings suggest that the proposed system offers an efficient and practical solution for BP monitoring. Full article

Audio systems with unbalanced connections are susceptible to interference from ground loops, which manifests as hum and noise. This paper introduces and evaluates a novel passive Audio Interference Suppressor in Analog Audio Interface (AISAAI) designed to mitigate this problem. The AISAAI circuit is inserted between an audio device’s rectifier ground and its protective earth terminal, creating an optimized impedance path that reduces interference while ensuring safety. This approach is analyzed within a proposed Analog Audio Interconnection System (AAIS) framework. Experimental results show that common-mode voltages from protective earth potential differences are the primary source of interference. The optimized AISAAI suppressor achieves a consistent 15–30 dB reduction in measured audio interference across the audio band, regardless of the interconnect cable characteristics. This study confirms AISAAI as an effective solution for reducing ground loop noise in unbalanced audio systems and underlines the usefulness of the AAIS model for systemic analysis. Full article

Precise object detection is fundamental to robust indoor navigation and localization. However, the practical deployment of deep learning-based detectors on mobile platforms is frequently impeded by their extensive parameter counts, substantial computational overhead, and prolonged inference latency, rendering them impractical for real-time and GPU-independent applications. To overcome these limitations, this paper presents Nav-YOLO, a highly optimized and lightweight architecture derived from YOLOv8n, specifically engineered for navigational tasks. The model’s efficiency stems from several key improvements: a ShuffleNetv2-based backbone significantly reduces model parameters; a Slim-Neck structure incorporating GSConv and GSbottleneck modules streamlines the feature fusion process; the VoV-GSCSP hierarchical network aggregates features with minimal computational cost; and a compact detection head is designed using Hybrid Convolutional Transformer Architecture Search (HyCTAS). Furthermore, the adoption of Inner-IoU as the bounding box regression loss accelerates the convergence of the training process. The model’s efficacy is demonstrated through a purpose-built Android application. Experimental evaluations on the VOC2007 and VOC2012 datasets reveal that Nav-YOLO substantially outperforms the baseline YOLOv8n, achieving mAP50 improvements of 10.3% and 5.0%, respectively, while maintaining a comparable parameter footprint. Consequently, Nav-YOLO demonstrates a superior balance of accuracy, model compactness, and inference speed, presenting a compelling alternative to existing object detection algorithms for mobile systems. Full article

Traditional antibiotic therapy has encountered significant challenges for clinical treatment of infections for multiple reasons, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and poor efficacy against biofilms, demanding research into alternative therapeutic agents. Because of their unique antimicrobial mechanisms as well as their target specificity, diversity, exponential self-amplification, and anti-biofilm activity, combined with recent advances in genomics and synthetic biology, bacteriophages have attracted increased interest as potential alternatives or therapeutic adjuncts to antibiotics. However, obstacles such as phage-host specificity, bacterial resistance, and the selection of optimal phages, amongst other factors, impede clinical adoption of phage therapy. Here, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools have the opportunity to revolutionize phage therapy by enhancing scalability, efficiency and precision of these therapies. This article highlights potential key applications of ML/AI in the study, development and deployment of phage therapy. Full article

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health challenge caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with drug resistance, treatment toxicity, and treatment adherence challenges continuing to impede control efforts. The objective of this review is to explore current advancements in TB treatment, for both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB, focusing on pharmacologic regimens, diagnostics, and adjunctive therapies. For drug-sensitive TB, a 4-month rifapentine–moxifloxacin regimen has been proven to be non-inferior to the traditional 6-month standard, while optimized pyrazinamide dosing or faropenem substitution may improve culture conversion and reduce adverse events. In drug-resistant TB, regimens such as the bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin have demonstrated efficacy with substantially shorter treatment duration; however, incidents of hepatotoxicity and linezolid-related neuropathy require careful monitoring. Adjunctive therapies, such as metformin, N-Acetylcysteine, aspirin, and statins, show promising effects in modulating host immunity and reducing long-term lung damage. Advances in diagnostics, including whole genome sequencing and CRISPR-based methods, are enabling rapid detection of resistance mutations and directed therapy. Vaccine development has advanced beyond the BCG vaccine to explore vaccines with enhanced immunogenicity or ones that are safe for immunocompromised patients. Implementation strategies such as video directly observed therapy are improving adherence; additionally, community-based, technology-supported interventions significantly improve TB knowledge and compliance. An integrated approach that combines optimized pharmacologic regimens, host-directed therapies, advanced diagnostics, and patient-centered public health strategies is essential to reduce TB incidence, long-term morbidity, and mortality. Full article

Background: Basketball is a high-intensity, multidirectional sport involving frequent jumping, sprinting, and rapid changes of direction, which may expose the musculoskeletal system to varying and potentially asymmetric mechanical demands. The mechanical loading associated with basketball-specific movements may also serve as a consistent osteogenic stimulus, potentially leading to side-specific adaptations in body composition and bone characteristics. Long-term participation in basketball may lead to functional and structural asymmetries between the lower and upper limbs, potentially increasing the risk of injury and impacting performance. This study aimed to investigate structural and functional asymmetries in male basketball players using body composition, health, and performance-related measures. Methods: Thirty-eight right-handed basketball players (age: 21.1 ± 2.8 years; body mass: 86.2 ± 9.2 kg; height: 1.91 ± 8.3 cm) were assessed in a single testing session. The evaluation included bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), single-leg countermovement rebound jumps (CMRJs), and handgrip strength testing. Results: Significant interlimb differences were observed in lean mass and the phase angle for both the arms and legs. Performance differences favored the left leg in terms of maximum jump height (12.0 ± 17.5%, p = 0.001) and reactive strength index (RSI), whereas the right arm exhibited greater grip strength than the left (6.4 ± 5.9%, p = 0.001). DXA analysis revealed significant asymmetries in bone parameters, including bone mineral density (BMD) of the trochanter (1.81 ± 5.51%, p = 0.031, dz = 0.37), total hip (1.41 ± 4.11%, p = 0.033, dz = 0.36), and total arms (–1.21 ± 2.71%, p = 0.010, dz = 0.43), as well as bone mineral content (BMC) in total arms (–2.16 ± 5.09%, p = 0.012) and total legs (1.71 ± 3.36%, p = 0.002, 0.54). Conclusions: These findings suggest that basketball may induce both functional and structural adaptations, likely due to repetitive unilateral loading and sport-specific movement patterns. However, individual variability and the use of diverse assessment methods may complicate the detection and interpretation of asymmetries. Coaches and practitioners should monitor and address such asymmetries to reduce injury risk and optimize performance. Full article

Given the significance of safeners and their potential to emit harmful substances into the environment, it is essential to develop suitable analytical methods for detecting these compounds. This study presents a molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor designed for the sensitive and rapid detection of fenclorim (FM), a type of safener. Titanium carbide nanomaterials (Ti₃C₂T_x) were electrochemically deposited onto the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to enhance electron transfer. Subsequently, molecularly imprinted polymers were fabricated through the electropolymerization of catechol in the presence of FM. The electrochemical behavior of each modified electrode was investigated using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimized experimental conditions, the MIP/Ti₃C₂T_x/GCE sensor demonstrated a linear relationship with FM concentration ranging from 5 to 300 nM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.56 nM (S/N = 3). Additionally, the sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity, stability, and reproducibility for FM detection and was successfully utilized for quantifying FM in real water samples. Full article

Background: According to the Lyon Consensus 2.0, acid exposure time (AET) greater than 6% is considered definitive evidence of pathological reflux, while mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) serves as supportive evidence. Given the limitations in diagnostic accuracy when MNBI and AET are used separately, this study aimed to evaluate the MNBI/AET ratio as a potential novel parameter and determine its optimal cut-off value for improving diagnostic performance. Methods: We assessed patients with typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms who completed standardized reflux questionnaires and underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, high-resolution esophageal manometry, and 24 h multichannel intraluminal impedance–pH monitoring. Diagnoses were established based on the Lyon Consensus 2.0 and Chicago Classification v4.0 frameworks. Results: A total of 213 patients were included. Based on the Lyon Consensus 2.0, 66 patients (31%) were diagnosed with definite gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), 58 (27%) showed no evidence of reflux, and 89 (42%) had borderline or supportive findings. The cut-off value for MNBI to differentiate between patients with definitive reflux and those without reflux was ≤3040 Ω (AUC [95% CI]: 0.902 [0.836–0.948]; p < 0.001; sensitivity = 87.88%; specificity = 84.48%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that an MNBI/AET ratio of ≤624 (95% CI: ≤607.5–≤624.28) most effectively distinguished patients with definitive GERD from those without reflux (AUC = 0.970; 95% CI: 0.937–0.988), demonstrating high sensitivity (98.5%) and specificity (98.3%). Conclusions: An MNBI/AET ratio ≤ 624 effectively differentiates patients with definitive GERD from those without reflux and may serve as a novel diagnostic parameter. Incorporating this ratio into clinical practice could enhance diagnostic accuracy for pathological reflux. Full article

In the development of tight gas reservoirs in Chuanzhong BJC Gas Field of the Sichuan Basin, running horizontal casing in ultra-long open-hole section faces challenges. These include large friction prediction errors and high casing buckling risks. These challenges significantly impede both the efficiency and safety of field development. Traditional static segmented friction models fail to accurately predict friction coefficients. The reason is that they cannot track dynamic changes in wellbore inclination, azimuth, and dogleg severity in real time. To address this bottleneck, this study develops a technical system termed AI-based dynamic friction inversion-segmented process optimization. Clustering algorithms are used to divide regions. These regions have low, medium, and high friction characteristics. The simulated annealing algorithm dynamically corrects friction coefficients. Meanwhile, the segmented processes of float collars and drilling fluid density are optimized. Verification was conducted on well J108-2H, which features an open-hole section of 4060.9 m and a horizontal-to-vertical ratio (HD/TVD) of 1.88. Results show that this system significantly reduces the mean absolute percentage error of friction coefficient prediction. It also greatly improves the accuracy of casing running feasibility assessment. As a result, the casing in well J108-2H was run smoothly and efficiently. The research results provide an innovative solution for the safe and efficient development of ultra-long open-hole sections in unconventional gas reservoirs. Full article