Abstract Background Bipartite navicular bone is a relatively uncommon pathological condition, characterized by splitting of the navicular bone into two parts. Patients with this anomaly typically present with chronic pain at the dorsomedial aspect of their foot and a flatfoot deformity. This study aimed to describe the imaging findings related to the presence of this uncommon anatomical variant. Results Magnetic resonance imaging was done for all 24 patients with bilateral involvement in four patients, yielding 28 feet. On MRI, separation of the navicular bone with unequal size of the two fragments was observed in all examined feet and secondary talonavicular degenerative osteoarthrosis identified in 16 feet. Bone marrow edema was seen at the parent navicular bone in 10 feet, while the lateral fragment showed bone marrow edema in 18 feet. Ten patients, with bilateral involvement in four of them, yielding a total of 14 feet did MDCT studies which were reviewed. Separation of the navicular bone into two parts by oblique cleft with unequal size of the two fragments in all examined feet. Comma-shaped appearance of the main navicular bone with medial translation relative to the talar head was identified in 8 feet. Secondary talonavicular degenerative osteoarthrosis was observed in 10 feet. Plain X-ray of the symptomatic foot was reviewed in eight patients yielding a total number of 12 examined feet due to bilateral involvement in four patients. On AP view, the lateral bone fragment was obscured in all examined feet. On lateral view, an irregular bone separated from the dorsal aspect of the navicular bone was identified in 10 feet, while failure of identification of the cleft between the two fragments on the lateral view in 2 feet but was nicely demonstrated on oblique view. Irregularity in the talonavicular joint space was observed in 8 feet. Conclusions Bipartite navicular bone is rare anatomic variant that causes mid-foot pain and osteoarthritic changes around the navicular bone. In cases where pathology in relation of the presence of this anatomical variant is suspected, detailed clinical correlation and careful assessment with MRI and MDCT will play an important role.

• Book : 56(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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Abstract Background The autoimmune thyroid diseases consists of two main clinical presentations: Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. in the absence of classic triad of Graves’ disease including goiter, ophthalmopathy, and dermopathy, differentiating Graves’ disease from thyroiditis can be clinically difficult. Thyroid ultrasound with gray-scale and color Doppler are the most helpful imaging modalities to differentiate normal thyroid parenchyma from diffuse thyroid disease. Also, SWE is a promising non-invasive technique in assessment of gland stiffness. Methods We studied 48 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease consists of 47 females and 1 male along with 48 healthy control group, with a mean age 35.7 ± 9.2 years (20–53 years). All of our patients and control individual underwent conventional ultrasound, color Doppler, SWE examinations and the obtained results were correlated with clinical and laboratory findings. Results The results showed the good evaluating ability of gray-scale ultrasound (regarding echogenicity and total gland volume), Doppler examination (Superior and inferior thyroid arteries showed statistically significant higher peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity (PSV, EDV) in cases compared to controls with p values < 0.05) in the assessment of patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases as well as in the differentiation between chronic thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. Moreover, we found that applied shear wave elastography of the whole gland can also significantly predict autoimmune thyroiditis with sensitivity 81.3% and specificity 94%. Conclusion Gray-scale ultrasound, Doppler parameters as well as elastography had a significant diagnostic value in detection and evaluation of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

• Book : 56(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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Background: Neuropathic pain is a condition of complex nature arising from damage to or dysfunction of the sensory nervous system. Conventional treatment options (like antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and opioids) frequently have limited efficacy and substantial side effects. Thereat, increasing attention is being paid to botulinum toxin therapy (BTT) as a promising option for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Purpose: To develop the Ukrainian national consensus statement on the use of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) to treat neuropathic pain through the review of available literature, compilation of experience of Ukrainian specialists, and formulation of relevant practical recommendations. Methods: Our working group reviewed the current literature (including randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and personal clinical observations related to the use of BoNT to treat painful neuropathic syndromes. Results: BoNT demonstrated high efficacy in the treatment of neuropathic pain, particularly in postherpetic neuralgia, painful diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, post-amputation pain, trauma sequelae, spinal cord injury and other conditions. Its major pain relief mechanisms include modulation of neuronal activity, blocking the release of pain neuromediators, and neuroplastic effects. The optimal dosage amount was found to vary from 50 to 300 units, depending on the affected area, with mostly subcutaneous or intradermal BoNT injections used. Conclusion: BTT is a safe promising treatment option for neuropathic pain and can be used either alone or in combination with other pain relief modalities. Our working group developed practical recommendations on BoNT indications, doses and injection techniques in painful neuropathic syndromes which can be implemented into clinical practice to improve patients’ quality of life.

• Book : 31()
• Pub. Date : 2025
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AbstractWe present an artificial neural network model that reconstructs >30 keV electron flux measurements near the geomagnetic equator from low‐Earth‐orbit (LEO) observations, exploiting the global coherent nature of the high‐energy trapped electrons that constitute the radiation belts. To provide training data, we analyze magnetic conjunctions between one of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Van Allen Probes. These conjunctions occur when the satellites are connected along the same magnetic field line and allow for a direct comparison of satellites' electron flux measurements for one integral energy channel, >30 keV and over 76,000 such conjunctions have been identified. For each conjunction, we fit the equatorial pitch angle distribution (PAD) parameterized by the function . The resulting conjunction data set contains the POES electron flux measurements, L and magnetic local time coordinates, geomagnetic activity Auroral Electrojet index, and C and N coefficients from the PAD fit for each conjunction. We test combinations of input variables from the conjunction data set and achieve the best model performance when we use all the input variables during training. We present our model's prediction for the out‐of‐sample data that agrees well with observations, giving R2 > 0.70. We demonstrate the ability to nowcast and reconstruct equatorial electron flux measurements from LEO without the need for an in‐situ equatorial satellite. The model can be expanded to include existing LEO data and has the potential to be used as a basis of future real‐time radiation‐belt monitoring LEO constellations.

• Book : 23(3)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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Abstract Precise diagnostic on the electron beam parameters is a very valuable tool and essential in the operation of synchrotron light sources. One possible option is to employ the emitted synchrotron radiation for non-destructive measurements. A tool, which has been used in many ring-based synchrotron light sources is Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting (TCSPC). It allows to measure the arrival time distribution of the emitted photons and, by that, reveals the filling pattern, i.e., the charge distribution onto the electron bunches stored in the storage ring. At MAX IV, two TCSPC setups were installed and the analysis was extended to also allow for the measurement of the longitudinal profiles of the individual bunches. The analysis is available as a Tango device in the accelerator control system and continuously provides, for example, the bunch length of each bunch as well as the bunch profiles and phases. This improved the diagnostic capabilities significantly, for example, in the presence of Landau cavities, which are becoming increasingly more common in new fourth-generation synchrotron light sources.

• Book : 20(03)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.P03011-P03011
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The purpose of this study article is to provide a detailed examination of the performance of exergy electric panels, exergy efficiency panels and exergy solar panels under the climatic circumstances of the Utrecht region in the Netherlands. The study explores the performance of these solar panels in terms of both their energy efficiency and their exergy efficiency. Additionally, the study investigates critical factors such as solar radiation, module internal temperature, air temperature, maximum power, and solar energy efficiency. Environmental factors have a considerable impact on panel performance; temperature has a negative impact on efficiency, whereas an increase in solar radiation leads to an increase in energy and exergy output. These findings offer significant insights that can be used to increase the utilization of solar energy in locations that have a temperate oceanic climate, particularly in the context of the climatic conditions of the Utrecht region. The usefulness of the linear regression model in machine learning was validated by performance measures such as R2, RMSE, MAE, and MAPE. Furthermore, an R2 value of 0.94889 was found for the parameters that were utilized. Policy makers, researchers, and industry stakeholders who seek to successfully utilize solar energy in the face of changing climatic conditions may find this research to be an important reference.

• Book : 18(6)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.1318-1318
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Abstract We investigate loosely bound composite states made of dark matter, where the binding energy for constituent particles is considerably less than the constituent mass. We focus on models of nuclear and molecular dark matter, where constituents are separated by length scales larger than the inverse constituent mass, just like nuclei and atoms in the Standard Model. The cosmology, structure, and interactions at underground experiments are described. We find that loosely bound composites can have a very large cross section for scattering with nuclei that scales with nucleon number like ∼ A 4. For some couplings, these composites produce extremely soft (≪ keV) individual atomic recoils while depositing a large amount of total recoil energy (≫ keV) in a single passage through a detector, implying an interesting new class of signatures for low threshold direct detection.

• Book : 2025(03)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.013-013
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Fusion reactors produce high-energy neutrons through the Deuterium-Tritium (DT) reaction. The long-term performance verification and structural integrity assessment of the breeding blanket under continuous plasma operation are essential for the development of Demonstration fusion power reactor (DEMO) breeding blankets.The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) has been planning the construction of a test facility called the Integrated Breeding Test Facility (IBTF) that uses a linear accelerator as the neutron source. A solid beryllium target has been considered to generate fusion-like neutrons. A conceptual design of the Tritium Breeding Unit (TBU), which is a key component of the breeding blanket, has been carried out. This study evaluated tritium production under fusion-like conditions using factors such as the position and thickness of the graphite block, the thickness of the first wall, and the radial length of the breeding zone. The results showed that increasing graphite block thickness and optimizing the dimensions of the TBU enhanced tritium production. However, these changes affected the structural integrity of the TBU. The side wall of the TBU experienced membrane plus bending stress, which exceeded the Level C and D acceptance criteria under the assumption of In-Box LOCA. Measures were investigated to ensure structural integrity while improving tritium production of the TBU.

• Book : 57(4)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.3-30
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AbstractGut microbiota has a close connection to different thyroid disorders, yet research on its links to subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) remains limited and insufficient. In this study, we explored the potential relationship between the gut microbiota and SCH, as well as dyslipidemia in SCH mice. The SCH mouse model was induced using methimazole. The composition of the gut microbiota from mice was then analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. An antibiotic disruption experiment was used to assess how gut microbiota imbalance impacts thyroid function. The SCH mouse models were constructed and accompanied by significant dyslipidemia. The results revealed no significant differences in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio or α‐diversity in gut microbiota from SCH and control mice, and in β‐diversity, there was a noticeable but small difference between the groups. 14 differential genera between the two groups identified through LEfSe analysis were significantly correlated with serum lipid levels. Furthermore, the results of the antibiotic disruption experiment demonstrated that gut microbiota imbalance exacerbated the hypothyroidism in mice. The present results suggest that subclinical hypothyroidism has not yet caused significant changes in gut microbiota homeostasis, but gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating thyroid function and is closely associated with dyslipidemia in SCH. This study could help understand the relationship between gut microbiota and SCH, and offer new perspectives on dyslipidemia management in SCH.

• Book : 39(5)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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AbstractGroundwater–lake water exchange in flow‐through lakes which includes both groundwater discharge into the lake and lake water seepage into the aquifer, is crucial for sustaining lake wetland ecosystems; however, these two processes are rarely addressed simultaneously by tracer methods. In this study, radon (222Rn) is used as a tracer to estimate both groundwater inflow and outflow in flow‐through lakes in the Poyang Lake area, using a combination of a 222Rn mass‐balance model and a 222Rn production‐decay model. The results reveal that the 222Rn flux from lake water seepage into the aquifer cannot be neglected in the 222Rn mass‐balance model for flow‐through lakes. The velocity of groundwater discharging into the flow‐through lake was determined to be 23 ± 13 cm/d based on the 222Rn mass‐balance model, while the velocity of the lake water seepage into the ground was estimated to be 22 ± 14 cm/d using the 222Rn production‐decay model. A valid point dilution test was used to estimate the groundwater Darcy velocity near the flow‐through lake as 24 cm/d, which closely matches to the results obtained using the 222Rn method. The results from 222Rn production‐decay model enhance the accuracy of groundwater discharge estimation derived from the 222Rn mass‐balance model. This study demonstrates both processes of groundwater–lake water exchange (groundwater discharge into the lake and lake water seepage into the ground) in a flow‐through lake can be estimated using only 222Rn (dual 222Rn models: mass‐balance model and production‐decay model).

• Book : 61(3)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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