Increasing the number of minor salivary glands from patients with Sj{\"o}gren's disease improves the diagnostic and measurement precision of the histological focus score

Objectives: Minor salivary gland (MSG) biopsy has an important role in Sjögren's disease diagnosis and research. MSGs show within-patient variation in number of lymphocytic foci per unit area, but the optimal number of MSGs required to balance reproducibility and clinical acceptability has not been determined. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations were performed to investigate impact of MSG number on (i) diagnosis based on focus score (FS) ≥1; (ii) reproducibility, defined as the extent to which 2 FS measurements obtained from 2 within-patient biopsies are the same, assuming no systematic differences have occurred in between biopsies; and (iii) smallest sample size required to detect a clinically meaningful difference in FS. Data simulation was repeated for different MSG numbers (range, 2-7). Results: Higher reproducibility was noted for every unit increase in MSG number, with the median absolute difference between 2 within-patient FS measurements decreasing from 1.05 (SD = 0.25) with 2 glands to 0.52 (SD = 0.12) with 7 glands. MSG number influenced the probability of a simulated patient receiving a FS ≥1, increasing from a median of 0.67 with 2 glands to 0.77 with ≥5 glands. MSG number influenced clinical trial sample sizes. For example, 80% statistical power to detect a 40% FS reduction required a sample size per group of 62 with 2 glands and 25 with 7 glands. Conclusions: For a diagnostic threshold of FS ≥1, a minimum of 5 glands should ideally be targeted. For continuous FS values, a larger number of MSGs (eg, 6) will increase reproducibility further and reduce clinical trial sample size requirements

Projected AR Serious Game “Painting Discovery” for Shoulder Rehabilitation: Assessment With Technicians, Physiotherapists, and Patients

Objective: Motivation and adherence are crucial for effective rehabilitation, yet engagement remains a challenge in upper limb physiotherapy. Serious Games (SGs) have emerged as a promising tool to enhance patient motivation. This study evaluates Painting Discovery, a projected augmented reality (AR) SG for shoulder rehabilitation, assessing engagement, ergonomics, and its potential to differentiate motor performance between healthy and those with rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, subacromial impingement, rotator cuff tear, or calcific tendinopathy. Additionally, it examines improvements in pathological subjects following physiotherapy. Method: Sixteen healthy and seven pathological subjects participated. Engagement, ergonomics, and satisfaction were assessed using Likert-scale questionnaires. Motor performance was evaluated through completion time, speed, acceleration, and normalized jerk. Four pathological subjects underwent pre- and post-physiotherapy assessments over six weeks. Results: SG was highly engaging and ergonomic, with no significant differences based on prior video game or AR experience. The pathological group had longer completion times ( 56.49± 37.85 s vs. 39.02 ± 24.21 s, p < 0.001), lower acceleration ( 1.11 ± 0.92 m/s2 vs. 0.79 ± 0.56 m/s2, p < 0.001), and higher jerk ( 6.68 × 107 ± 1.37 × 108 m/s3 vs. 9.22 × 106 ± 2.51 × 107 m/s3, p = 0.025) then healthy subjects. After physiotherapy, completion time and normalized jerk indicated enhanced efficiency and control. Conclusions: Painting Discovery shows strong potential as an engaging, accessible rehabilitation tool. While effective in differentiating motor impairments, its small sample size and horizontal-plane movement focus limit broader conclusions. Future studies should expand participation, incorporate vertical-plane movements, and refine performance metrics for clinical validation

Case report of a seminal vesicle schwannoma involving prostate and bladder: diagnostic pathway and management

Seminal vesicle neoplasms are extremely rare. Schwannoma is a benign tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath composed of Schwann cells. Most of these tumors are silent and become symptomatic with compression of adjacent organs and nerves. We present a case of a 65-year-old man with a history of predominant storage lower urinary tract symptoms. Prostate-specific antigen was within normal ranges, and imaging documented a nodular lesion in the prostate, one in the left seminal vesicle and another one adjacent to the right bladder wall. We successfully performed a prostate biopsy and a trans-urethral resection of the bladder to excise and typify the lesion. Histopathology investigation revealed the final diagnosis of schwannoma

Sant'Anna di Stazzema. Memorie di guerra, culture di pace

La mattina del 12 agosto 1944, un battaglione delle SS, con il supporto di elementi repubblichini, accerchia il borgo di Sant’Anna di Stazzema e massacra gli abitanti, in una delle più atroci stragi nazifasciste compiute in Italia. La memoria di questo eccidio rappresenta, per il nostro paese, una vicenda emblematica. Il libro di Caterina Di Pasquale ne ripercorre in chiave antropologica le tappe fondamentali, a partire dal processo di rimozione strutturale che lo caratterizzò a lungo, agevolato dal ritardo dell’iter giudiziario, finché nel 1994 non vennero ritrovati 695 fascicoli sulla strage, «archiviati» a palazzo Cesi, sede degli Uffici della magistratura militare. In questa ricostruzione si intrecciano la dimensione privata e quella pubblica, le istanze nazionali e quelle locali, la storia ufficiale e quelle individuali. A prendere la parola sono le persone scampate allo sterminio, i loro familiari. Da quel 12 agosto chi è sopravvissuto non ha fatto altro che raccontare: parlando del proprio mondo distrutto ne ha celebrato il ricordo; evocando le vittime e pronunciandone i nomi le ha onorate e ha dato un senso alla vita di chi se ne è andato e di chi è rimasto. I più giovani hanno incorporato questa narrazione e l’hanno fatta propria integrandola, passando il testimone alle nuove generazioni. In questo percorso la memoria risulta attraversata da contrasti e contraddizioni, in un’ambivalenza tra dicibile e indicibile, tra pace e conflitto: tensioni vitali e da preservare, se si vuole evitare una memoria comunitaria edulcorata e normalizzata, priva del suo potere contrastivo e critico, di quella forza che permette di restare vigili sul presente e sul futuro

Development of a Partial Power DC/DC Converter Based on Buck-Boost Topology for Battery Parallelization Systems

Battery parallelization enables the use of second-life electric vehicle batteries and low-cost battery technology in energy storage systems for smart grid applications. Partial power DC/DC converters can connect batteries in parallel with higher efficiency compared to traditional AC/DC and DC/DC converters thanks to their reduced power requirements. This work presents the design and the implementation of a scaled prototype of a partial power DC/DC converter based on the buck-boost topology. The prototype was characterized achieving efficiencies from 84.1% to 93.2% for different output power levels. The characterization of the implemented DC/DC converter allowed us to develop an accurate model. This model will enable us to gain a deeper understanding of battery parallelization in stationary energy storage applications

A Body–Machine Interface for Assistive Robot Control in Spinal Cord Injury: System Description and Preliminary Tests

Motor impairments, particularly spinal cord injuries, impact thousands of people each year, resulting in severe sensory and motor disabilities. Assistive technologies play a crucial role in supporting these individuals with activities of daily living. Among such technologies, body–machine interfaces (BoMIs) are particularly important, as they convert residual body movements into control signals for external robotic devices. The main challenge lies in developing versatile control interfaces that can adapt to the unique needs of individual users. This study aims to adapt for people with spinal cord injury a novel control framework designed to translate residual user movements into commands for the humanoid robot Alter-Ego. After testing and refining the control algorithm, we developed an experimental protocol to train users to control the robot in a simulated environment. A total of 12 unimpaired participants and two individuals affected by spinal cord injury participated in this study, which was designed to assess the system’s applicability and gather end-user feedback on its performance in assisting with daily tasks. Key metrics such as the system’s usability, accuracy, performance, and improvement metrics in navigation and reaching tasks were assessed. The results suggest that assistive robots can be effectively controlled using minimal residual movements. Furthermore, structured training sessions significantly enhance overall performance and improve the accuracy of the control algorithm across the selected tasks

The praise of marble: fluted sarcophagi from Hierapolis of Phrygia

Fluted chests, although rare among Roman marble sarcophagi, constitute a notable portion of those discovered in the burial grounds of Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey). Often regarded as standardized, affordable products of Docimium workshops or dismissed as modest works of local craftsmen, these sarcophagi reveal a more complex story on closer examination. This study focuses on the fluted sarcophagi of the North Necropolis at Hierapolis, the site’s largest and best-preserved burial ground. Despite their repetitive design, each sarcophagus is uniquely crafted, showcasing distinct variations in moldings, fluting, surface treatment, and decoration. These pieces provide valuable insight into the work of sculptors in a city such as Hierapolis, situated near marble and travertine quarries, where the same artisans appear to have worked on both public and private commissions, utilizing both materials. While standardized production characterized the Roman sarcophagus industry, local quarry-based workshops allowed for considerable customization. Examining these processes offers fresh perspectives on the production and trade of sculpture in ancient Asia Minor, as well as the social and economic dynamics of the Roman sarcophagus industry

Improving Process Monitoring via Dynamic Multi-Fidelity Modeling

We study real-time process monitoring, where employed online sensors yield inaccurate information. A multi-fidelity (MF) modeling approach is adopted that integrates dynamic information from online, low-fidelity (LF) data with infrequent, high-fidelity (HF) laboratory measurements. The proposed methodology is demonstrated on a composition monitoring problem derived from real oil refinery operations. The developed MF model exhibits a significant improvement in accuracy with respect to both LF data (online sensor) and the HF model (standard soft sensor). The results highlight the potential of MF modeling for improving process monitoring and control through the integration of diverse data sources

A Security Twin to Defeat Intrusions in Cyber Physical Systems

Cyber risk assessment and management have to face a dynamic risk landscape so that probabilities of interest cannot be estimated using historical data. This paper advocates the adoption of synthetic data generated by combining adversary simulation with digital twin technology. A security twin of a cyber physical system (CPS) extends an inventory of the system with information on current vulnerabilities and attacks. By describing threat agents through other twins, we can supply the twins with a platform that simulates the strategies of threat agents to discover how they exploit vulnerabilities and implement their intrusions. To analyze alternative scenarios, a Monte Carlo approach is adopted that runs multiple independent simulations. This produces an intrusion graph that faithfully can describe rapidly evolving environments and results in more accurate risk management and better resilience of the system in spite of data shift. Initial experimental results support the effectiveness of security twins in accurately modeling intrusions. The synthetic data produced by the simulations can also be used to train AI tools to defend a CPS