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  • The association between dual sensory impairment and social participation among older adults in China: a moderated mediation model of activities of daily living and depressive symptoms | BMC Geriatrics

    The association between dual sensory impairment and social participation among older adults in China: a moderated mediation model of activities of daily living and depressive symptoms | BMC Geriatrics

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  • India bowler fined after Lord’s incident on Day 4 | ICC World Test Championship

    India bowler fined after Lord’s incident on Day 4 | ICC World Test Championship

    In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Siraj’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the second offence in a 24-month period, taking his tally to two demerit points.

    When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.

    The moment was one of several fiery moments in a Test match likely to go down to the wire on day five.

    India need just a further 135 runs for victory, though sit precariously at 58/4, up against an imposing bowling attack, a difficult day five Lord’s surface and a boisterous London crowd ready to push their side on.

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  • The Effect of Quercus robur Bark on Oral Candidiasis Caused by Candida

    The Effect of Quercus robur Bark on Oral Candidiasis Caused by Candida

    Introduction

    Quercus rubra L. (oak) is a member of the Fagaceae family and is widely distributed in Eastern America, and European districts.1–3 Most studies have indicated that numerous plant species produce extracts with highly active bioactive compounds, such as tannins, saponins, and alkaloids.4 Oak trees are a significant source of antifungal compounds that have been evaluated for their biological properties.5,6

    Oral Candidiasis poses a significant clinical health challenge, affecting more than 300 million individuals annually.7–11 It is one of the most expedient fungal infections that can affect the oral cavity of patients. Candida can aggregate on the normal oral biota of healthy persons in the area of the oral cavity, as reported in previous studies in 45–65% of healthy infants, while in healthy adults was 30–55%.12 In addition, candidiasis, which results from systemic and local factors, can develop and lead to symptoms inside the mouth.13 More than 150 species of Candida have been found and explained previously, but oral candidiasis is caused by the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the mouth. Other species such as Candida glabrata “currently reclassified as Nakaseomyces glabratus”, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Candida dubliniensis can cause infections inside the mouth.14

    The reason for including the genotype of candida was to determine precisely the type of candida species that can be given the enhancement in the recognition of the variations at the level of species of candida in the antifungal resistance and pathogenicity of candida.15

    Antifungal resistance presents a challenge for healthcare providers managing invasive fungal infections owing to the limited available options for antifungal medications. Moreover, existing drugs may be hindered by drug interactions and severe side effects, which restrict their long-term use or dosage increase. Several studies have reported a low susceptibility of Candida species to azole antifungals “which are commonly used in clinical practice”. This is especially concerning in pediatric patients, due to their developing immune systems and the limited number of antifungal agents approved for use in children.16,17

    Recent assays for the identification of Candida spp by molecular methods and antifungal resistance have provided accurate results.18 Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity of the hot water extract of oak bark as an alternative antifungal therapy against C. albicans and C. glabrata compared with azole.

    Materials and Methods

    One case of aggressive oral candidiasis was collected from an 8-year-old patient attending a private outpatient clinic in B. Province on 11 March 2024. The author hereby declares that every action has been assessed and given approval by the ethical principles that were performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down by the Declaration of Helsinki, 1964. Ethical approval was granted by the Scientific Committee of the College of Dentistry at Mustansiriyah University (no. 777) on March 5, 2024. The patient and his parents were informed of the details of the study and its purpose, and their agreement was obtained for the publication of the data related to the results of the sample taken. The study was conducted between [March, 2024] and [June, 2024].

    The bark of Quercus robus L. was collected from the herbal medicine market. Originally, the plant barks were collected from the stem of Q. robus trees which were cultivated in Amedi of Kurdistan, Iraq. 36° 55′ 0″ N, 44° 2′ 0″ E. The trees are 35 years old. The identity of oak bark (Q. robus) was confirmed by Prof. Dr. Huda Jasim M. Altameme senior of plant taxonomy at, the biology department, University of Babylon. A voucher specimen has been deposited at the national herbarium with reference number 9836, Babylon, Iraq.

    This sample was collected using a sterile toothbrush, immersed in sabouraud dextrose medium (SDA) (Himedia, India), and then incubated at 30°C for 24/48 h.

    Purified individual colonies on SDA were streaked on CHROMagr (Himedia, India) and incubated for 24–48 h.19 Pre-identification was conducted based on the CHROMagar colored key designed by Nadeem et al in 2010.20

    Fifteen Candida spp. isolates were genotyped using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) barcoding region. Direct culture of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 15 pure colonies from colony profiles grown on SDA, which were selected randomly, and a tiny portion of each colony was taken by tip 0.2 mL and picked up directly in a cocktail of PCR. The universal primer pair was designed to target specific sequences of the ITS rRNA region of Candida spp., according to Imran and Hadeel in 2014.19

    The primer pairs used were ITS5-ITS4 (5′-GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG-3′) and reverse (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3). The PCR reaction (25 μL) contained 5 μL of 20× Master Mix (Promega), 2 μL (10 pemole) of each primer, and 1 μL template DNA, with molecular-grade water added to bring the total volume to 25 μL.

    The PCR mixture was subjected to amplification with a thermal cycler PCR System (Labnet, USA) under the following conditions: first denaturized at 95°C for 5 min then 30 cycles of initial denaturation at 95°C for 30s, annealing at 56°C for 90s, extension at 72°C for 60s, and extension at 72°C for 10 min.

    The PCR products were separated on an agarose gel (1.2%) (Bio Basic Canada Inc.). In addition, electrophoresis was conducted at (100 V) using Tris Borate EDTA Ethylenediamine tetra acetsacide, and the agarose gel was pre-stained with ethidium bromide (EB) (0.05%). All DNA bands were detected using a desktop gel imager (Ultraviolet UV) Transilluminator (USA).

    A disk diffusion (DD) assay following the manufacturer’s instructions was conducted using discs with a diameter of 0.4 mm of fluconazole (FLU), itraconazole (ITR), and ketoconazole (KET) (10 mg/L for each). Amphotericin (AMP) 100 and 150 μL of hot water of oak extract were placed into a well (0.5 mm). The oak barks were collected from the herbal medicine market in Babylon City. The collected oak bark samples underwent morphological identification and authorization at the herbarium of the biology department, University of Babylon, Iraq.

    Based on standard culturing methods, three CHROMagar Candida plates were used per treatment as replicates. The SDA plates were inoculated with cell suspension (1×106) of C. glabrata and C. albicans for each. The plates were left for 30 min to absorb the liquid and were incubated for 24 h at 30 °C. After 24 h of cultivation, the diameter of the inhibitory zone (dz) was calculated based on the method described by Barry et al in 1979.21 The diameters of the zones were orthogonally measured using a rural metric. The arithmetic mean of the diameters of the inhibition zones was calculated using a simple statistical method. The data from the study were analyzed using SPSS version 29 (IBM, USA). Mean values and t-tests were employed to evaluate the inhibition zones of C. glabrata and C. albicans in response to activated oak and other antifungal agents.

    Results

    Cultural Identification

    All colonies grown on SDA showed a creamy color, and some showed internal sector growth. Figure 1A, shows the detailed colony texture of SDA. CHROMagar test results: 98% of Candida isolates streaked on CHROMagar medium showed a pale reddish color which was pre-identified as C. glabrata, whereas only 20% of isolates showed an apple green color which identified C. albicans (Figure 1B).

    Figure 1 (A) Oral Candida spp. grown on SDA, (B) CHROMagar assay, eight isolates showed a pale reddish color as C. glabrata and two isolates showed apple green color as C. albicans.

    Molecular Genotyping

    The results of amplification of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 with flanking primer sequence by ITS5/ITS primer pair showed that 12 isolates given pale reddish color gave 870 bp bands, indicating that these isolates were C. glabrata, while two isolates which gave apple green color shown 550 bp (Figure 2).

    Figure 2 Gel electrophoresis of PCR of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 profile. 1,9=C. albicans (550 bp),2–8,10-1,13–15 C. glabrata (870 bp). 1% agarose TBE buffer, 100 volts, 45 min. M, molecular marker 100–30000 bp).

    The biological activity of antifungal drugs— FLU, ITR, nystatin (NYS), KET, and AMP—generally demonstrated lower inhibitory effects against C. glabrata with inhibition values of 0.403 mm, 0.9 mm, 0.733 mm, 1.127 mm, 0.72 mm, respectively, and C. albicans (2.1 mm 0.403 mm, 0.4 mm, 2.633 mm, 0.4 mm), respectively, compared to the oak bark extract. In contrast, the oak bark extract exhibited a high inhibitory action against both C. glabrata and C. albicans, and the average zone of inhibition was 3.067 mm and 2.290 mm, respectively, higher than the biological activity of standard antifungal discs. C. glabrata showed high resistance to antifungal agents, whereas C. albicans showed sensitivity to fluconazole and ketoconazole but resistance to other antifungal agents (Table 1 and Figure 3). The DD extract showed low inhibitory activity against both C. glabrata and C. albicans, while the hot water extract of oak bark showed high antifungal activity against both yeasts under interest (Figure 4A and B).

    Table 1 Statistical Analysis of Inhibition Zones Profile Growth of C. Glabrata and C. Albicans in vitro Under Activities of Oak and Antifungals

    Figure 3 Histograms of inhibition zones profile growth of C. glabrata and C. albicans in vitro under activities of Quercus robur bark extract (Oak) and antifungals: Fluconazole (Flu.), Itraconazole (Itr.), (Ket) (10 mg/l for each), Amphotericin (Amp.) 100, Nystatin (Nys.).

    Figure 4 (A) Biofilm of C. glabrata grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar., illustration of the Diameter of inhibitor activity of Oak bark extract (Oak) compared with many antifungals, (B) Biofilm of C. albicans grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar., illustration the Diameter of inhibitor activity of Oak bark extract (Oak) compared with many antifungals. Fluconazole (Flu.), Itraconazole (Itr.), Ketoconazole (Ket) (10 mg/l for each). Amphotericin (Amp.) 100, Nystatin (Nys.), and 150µL of hot water of Oak extract were picked up into a well 0.5 mm, after duration growth of 24h at 30°C.

    The findings of this study suggested that extracts from natural ingredients, such as Quercus robur bark, can be more effective than traditional antifungal medications against Candida species (the novelty). This is particularly beneficial and promising for developing plant-based alternatives for treating oral candidiasis, especially in patients resistant to current antifungal therapies.

    Discussion

    One way to identify the mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance is to compare resistant clinical isolates with their susceptible counterparts.22 Several studies have reported the resistance of Candida spp. to azole drug.23–25 This study proved that alternative natural plant extract products still possess antifungal activity that confers azole resistance. The results of this study focused on the role of the crude Quercus robur bark extract had antifungal activity against C. glabrata and C. albicans isolates in vitro.

    One of the mechanisms of action of Quercus robur bark extracts is that these extracts may contain bioactive compounds like phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids that can disrupt the walls of the cells of the candida and alter the permeability of the wall.26 The other mechanism may be the interference with the enzymatic activity of the candida. Both mechanisms can be discussed in the effectiveness of the extract against the Candida species that have resistance to azole or nystatin.27

    These results are consistent with those reported by Morales in 2021.6 They reported that oak has antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities. In 2022, Tanase et al28 referred to the importance of active compounds in an oak extract that had high antibacterial and antifungal activities against bacteria and Candidia spp. C. albicans, which led to the failure of management of candidiasis with antifungal agents, our interpretation aligns with that of Zarrinfar et al,29 showed some resistance to azole as an antifungal agent in C. glabrata and C. krusei following extended exposure to these antifungal agents.

    Previous studies have shown that tannins in Quercus bark extracts contain significant antibacterial compounds such as vescalagin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, and castalagin.30,31 This supported our results that showed a potential antifungal effect on crude material metabolites present in Q. rubra bark extracts. This is supported by the smaller inhibition diameter zone observed in vitro compared with standard antifungal discs. Similar to findings from another study on Q. robur bark extract against C. albicans using agar diffusion.32 Elansary et al33 also confirmed the antifungal properties of bark extracts of Q. robur against Penicillium funiculosum, Aspergillus flavus, P. ochrochloron, and C. albicans, which correlated with the presence of flavan-3-ols, ellagic acid, and derivatives of caffeic acid in oak bark.33

    Many clinicians complain of the nothingness of antifungal drugs against human fungal infections, the key priorities of which are antifungal resistance reduction and the quest for innovative antibacterial and antifungal agents able to modulate the virulence of Candida spp., such as adhesiveness and biofilm formation. Many studies have reported that secondary metabolites of plants, particularly polyphenols, exhibit antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.34

    The rise in flu resistance among non-C. albicans species is particularly alarming because of the growing number of infections caused by these species globally and the increasing prevalence of resistance to this commonly used azole in many medical facilities. Furthermore, there has been a documented increase in C. glabrata resistance to echinocandins in various US institutions, with a higher proportion of these isolates showing resistance to azole.16

    The final findings and conclusions of this study are a comprehensive note of the biological activities exhibited by Quercus extract compounds. Therefore, Quercus extracts are considered valuable sources of antifungal activity. The antifungal effects of Quercus bark can be largely attributed to new synthetic antifungals or a new combination of oak bark extract and azole drugs. These studies should also focus on developing innovative techniques to combat multidrug resistance and activity of the “quorum sensing”, particularly in the formation of Candida spp. biofilm. Consequently, in future studies, greater emphasis should be placed on in vivo experiments. Further research is required to establish the relationship between chemical compounds and bioactivity as well as to elucidate their mechanisms of action. Although Quercus products are generally considered safe, additional toxicological data are required to ensure their safety profile.35

    The results of this study indicate that C. glabrata and C. albicans showed the highest rates of resistance to antifungal medications. Furthermore, C. glabrata showed a lower rate of sensitivity to ketoconazole, whereas C. albicans exhibited the highest level of sensitivity to ketoconazole and fluconazole. Future studies with larger sample sizes and more isolated colonies and Candida spp. are recommended.

    Generally, this study was limited to an isolated sample and suggested more investigation to identify the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value.

    Conclusion

    The oak extract may be considered an alternative treatment for oral candidiasis that is infected by different types of Candida, such as C. glabrata and C. albicans which can compare positively more than other antifungals (eg azole or nystatin), these findings are preliminary and based on a limited number of isolates. This can open the door for further exploration to develop other antifungal treatments that can be used in patients resistant to oral candidiasis.

    Acknowledgment

    The authors thank the staff of the private clinics of Babylon Province for their moral support in the present work. The authors also thank Mustansiriyah University (http://www.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq), Baghdad – Iraq, for their moral support in this study.

    Funding

    No external funding was received for this study.

    Disclosure

    The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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    23. Pfaller MA, Castanheira M, Lockhart SR, Ahlquist AM, Messer SA, Jones RN. Frequency of decreased susceptibility and resistance to echinocandins among fluconazole-resistant bloodstream isolates of Candida glabrata. J Clin Microbiol. 2012;50:1199–1203. doi:10.1128/JCM.06112-11

    24. Vallabhaneni S, Cleveland AA, Farley MM, et al. Epidemiology and risk factors for echinocandin nonsusceptible Candida glabrata bloodstream infections: data from a large multisite population-based candidemia surveillance program, 2008–2014. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2015;2:ofv163. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofv163

    25. Al-aameri D, Zghair S, Al-Nuaimi B, Abdulghani M, Naman Z, Fadhil Z. Evaluation of susceptibility of Candida species to six antifungal drugs in Iraqi specimens. J Commun Dis. 2024;56:53–61. doi:10.24321/0019.5138.202432

    26. Sirgedaitė-šėžienė V, Čėsnienė I, Leleikaitė G, Baliuckas V, Vaitiekūnaitė D. Phenolic and antioxidant compound accumulation of Quercus robur Bark diverges based on tree genotype, phenology and extraction method. Life. 2023;13. doi:10.3390/life13030710

    27. Bhattacharya S, Sae-Tia S, Fries BC. Candidiasis and Mechanisms of Antifungal Resistance. Antibiotics. 2020;9:312. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9060312

    28. Tanase C, Nicolescu A, Nisca A, et al. Biological activity of bark extracts from Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.): an antioxidant, antimicrobial and enzymatic inhibitory evaluation. Plants. 2022;11:2357. doi:10.3390/plants11182357

    29. Zarrinfar H, Kord Z, Fata A. High incidence of azole resistance among Candida albicans and C. glabrata isolates in Northeastern Iran. Curr Med Mycol. 2021;7:18–21. doi:10.18502/cmm.7.3.7801

    30. Healey KR, Zhao Y, Perez WB, et al. Prevalent mutator genotype identified in fungal pathogen Candida glabrata promotes multi-drug resistance. Nat Commun. 2016;7:11128. doi:10.1038/ncomms11128

    31. Sari S, Barut B, Özel A, Kuruüzüm-Uz A, Şöhretoğlu D. Tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of compounds isolated from Quercus coccifera bark: in vitro and in silico perspectives. Bioorg Chem. 2019;86:296–304. doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.02.015

    32. Andrensek S, Simonovska B, Vovk I, Fyhrquist P, Vuorela H, Vuorela P. Antimicrobial and antioxidative enrichment of oak (Quercus robur) bark by rotation planar extraction using ExtraChrom. Int J Food Microbiol. 2004;92:181–187. doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2003.09.009

    33. Elansary HO, Szopa A, Kubica P, et al. Polyphenol profile and pharmaceutical potential of Quercus spp. bark extracts. Plants. 2019;8:486. doi:10.3390/plants8110486

    34. Arendrup MC, Perlin DS, Jensen RH, Howard SJ, Goodwin J, Hope W. Differential in vivo activities of anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin against Candida glabrata isolates with and without FKS resistance mutations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2012;56:2435–2442. doi:10.1128/AAC.06369-11

    35. Algabar FAA, Baqer BA. Detection of biofilm formation of (Serratia and E. coli) and determination of the inhibitory effect of Quercus plant extract against these infectious pathogens. Bionatura. 2022;7:8. doi:10.21931/RB/2022.07.01.8

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  • Was the Air India crash caused by pilot error or technical fault? None of the theories holds up – yet

    Was the Air India crash caused by pilot error or technical fault? None of the theories holds up – yet

    Over the weekend, the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released a preliminary report on last month’s crash of Air India flight 171, which killed 260 people, 19 of them on the ground.

    The aim of a preliminary report is to present factual information gathered so far and to inform further lines of inquiry. However, the 15-page document has also led to unfounded speculation and theories that are currently not supported by the evidence.

    Here’s what the report actually says, why we don’t yet know what caused the crash, and why it’s important not to speculate.

    What the preliminary report does say

    What we know for certain is that the aircraft lost power in both engines just after takeoff.

    According to the report, this is supported by video footage showing the deployment of the ram air turbine (RAT), and the examination of the air inlet door of the auxiliary power unit (APU).

    The RAT is deployed when both engines fail, all hydraulic systems are lost, or there is a total electrical power loss. The APU air inlet door opens when the system attempts to start automatically due to dual engine failure.

    The preliminary investigation suggests both engines shut down because the fuel flow stopped. Attention has now shifted to the fuel control switches, located on the throttle lever panel between the pilots.

    This is what the fuel switches look like, with the throttle lever above them.
    Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau

    Data from the enhanced airborne flight recorder suggests these switches may have been moved from “run” to “cutoff” three seconds after liftoff. Ten seconds later, the switches were moved back to “run”.

    The report also suggests the pilots were aware the engines had shut down and attempted to restart them. Despite their effort, the engines couldn’t restart in time.

    We don’t know what the pilots did

    Flight data recorders don’t capture pilot actions. They record system responses and sensor data, which can sometimes lead to the belief they’re an accurate representation of the pilot’s actions in the cockpit.

    While this is true most of the time, this is not always the case.

    In my own work investigating safety incidents, I’ve seen cases in which automated systems misinterpreted inputs. In one case, a system recorded a pilot pressing the same button six times in two seconds, something humanly impossible. On further investigation, it turned out to be a faulty system, not a real action.

    We cannot yet rule out the possibility that system damage or sensor error led to false data being recorded. We also don’t know whether the pilots unintentionally flicked the switches to “cutoff”. And we may never know.

    As we also don’t have a camera in the cockpit, any interpretation of pilots’ actions will be made indirectly, usually through the data sensed by the aircraft and the conversation, sound and noise captured by the environmental microphone available in the cockpit.

    We don’t have the full conversation between the pilots

    Perhaps the most confusing clue in the report was an excerpt of a conversation between the pilots. It says:

    In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.

    This short exchange is entirely without context. First, we don’t know who says what. Second, we don’t know when the question was asked – after takeoff, or after the engine started to lose power? Third, we don’t know the exact words used, because the excerpt in the report is paraphrased.

    Finally, we don’t know whether the exchange referred to the engine status or the switch position. Again, we may never know.

    What’s crucial here is that the current available evidence doesn’t support any theory about intentional fuel cutoff by either of the pilots. To say otherwise is unfounded speculation.

    We don’t know if there was a mechanical failure

    The preliminary report indicates that, for now, there are no actions required by Boeing, General Electric or any company that operates the Boeing 787-8 and/or GEnx-1B engine.

    This has led some to speculate that a mechanical failure has been ruled out. Again, it is far too early to conclude that.

    What the preliminary report shows is that the investigation team has not found any evidence to suggest the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure that requires immediate attention or suspension of operations around the world.

    This could be because there was no catastrophic failure. It could also be because the physical evidence has been so badly damaged that investigators will need more time and other sources of evidence to learn what happened.

    Why we must resist premature conclusions

    In the aftermath of an accident, there is much at stake for many people: the manufacturer of the aircraft, the airline, the airport, civil aviation authority and others. The families of the victims understandably demand answers.

    It’s also tempting to latch onto a convenient explanation. But the preliminary report is not the full story. It’s based on very limited data, analysed under immense pressure, and without access to every subsystem or mechanical trace.

    The final report is still to come. Until then, the responsible position for regulators, experts and the public is to withhold judgement.

    This tragedy reminds us that aviation safety depends on patient and thorough investigation – not media soundbites or unqualified expert commentary. We owe it to the victims and their families to get the facts right, not just fast.

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  • DVA reduces radiation exposure during interventions

    DVA reduces radiation exposure during interventions

    Digital variance angiography (DVA) can reduce radiation doses to patients versus conventional angiography during certain interventional radiology procedures, a group in Germany has reported.

    The finding is from a comparison between the two approaches among patients undergoing treatments for narrowed or blocked arteries in the lower extremities (endovascular peripheral interventions, or EPIs). The technique also improved image quality, noted lead author Dr. Till Schürmann, of the University of Freiburg, and colleagues.

    “DVA reveals significant radiation dose reduction in lower extremity EPIs and enhances image contrast while decreasing noise,” the group wrote. The study was published on 9 July in Scientific Reports.

    DVA is an emerging motion-based x-ray imaging technique that uses software to visualize the distribution of iodinated contrast medium (ICM) in the vascular system. The technique allows for lower doses of ICM and can be used during standard-of-care angiography examinations, the researchers explained.

    To demonstrate its potential advantages, in this study, the group compared its use in 62 patients who underwent EPIs with 370 patients who underwent EPIs with normal ICM dose protocols. They evaluated the overall dose area product (DAP) for each patient from both groups in the pelvic, femoral, and leg regions (popliteal and cruropedal) and assessed image quality by calculating the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in specific regions of interest (ROIs) on vessels.

    Pelvic (A), femoral and popliteal (B), and cruro-pedal (C) region. The summated digital variance angiography (DVA) image significantly enhances image quality compared to the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) series I–IV (depicting 4 out of 28 (A), 48 (B) and 28 (C) DSA images) of the low dose (LD) acquisitions. Enhancements of iodinated contrast medium (ICM) by DVA depict small vessel structures in detail while the conventional DSA offers a reduced contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) using LD acquisitions for standalone diagnostic interpretations.Scientific Reports

    According to the analysis, overall DAP was significantly reduced in the DVA group from 3238.6 cGy·cm² to 1230.4 cGy·cm² in pelvic regions, from 1190.9 cGy·cm² to 550.8 cGy·cm² in femoral and popliteal regions, and from 827.6 cGy·cm² to 336.0 cGy·cm² in cruropedal regions.

    In addition, DVA images exhibited substantially enhanced ICM contrast and decreased background noise in all regions, the group reported. Specifically, median CNRs in ROIs in the DVA group increased significantly from 8.8 to 14.4 in pelvic regions, from 6.9 to 17.8 in femoral and popliteal regions, and from 7.8 to 17.3 in cruropedal regions.

    “DVA can significantly reduce (stochastic) health risk effects of radiation exposure for both patients and staff performing endovascular peripheral interventions,” the group wrote.

    Ultimately, standard angiography (digital subtraction angiography) remains an essential interventional tool in diagnosing and treating stenosis and occlusions in EPI, and this study adds to the growing evidence of the benefits in DVA, the researchers wrote.

    Also, they noted that a limitation of the study was that the image quality evaluation was performed objectively by calculating CNRs, rather than by a subjective qualitative assessment.

    “Subjective ratings of the image quality would also be a beneficial determinant for future analysis, especially in prospective studies where categories can be controlled more strictly,” the group concluded.

    The full study is available here.

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  • Soaring Saudi exports and trade tensions will test oil price resilience – Reuters

    1. Soaring Saudi exports and trade tensions will test oil price resilience  Reuters
    2. Oil Prices Expected to Stay Under $70  Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com
    3. OPEC+ and Trump in a standoff, oil prices may reach this level.  富途牛牛
    4. Analyst report challenges bearish oil outlook, cites strong demand  Midland Reporter-Telegram
    5. Why big global events aren’t impacting the price of oil the way they used to  MSN

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  • Your Weekly Work Horoscope for The Week of July 14, 2025

    Your Weekly Work Horoscope for The Week of July 14, 2025

    Your Weekly Work Horoscope for The Week of July 14, 2025. Discover your Weekly Work Horoscope for each zodiac sign here.

    Aries

    What you really need at the beginning of the week is a way to keep track of all the details. Otherwise, you’re going to go nuts. You’ve been availing yourself to others for a while. Maybe on Tuesday you should seek some assistance from a coworker. Wednesday and Thursday are fine days to finalize a business agreement. Turn on the charm and you may even get a little extra in the deal. Friday sees you unusually introverted—no doubt you’re recovering from the hectic week—but this Sunday you’ll have the kind of day that makes you forget about your job altogether.

    Taurus

    If only work could be like this all the time. Monday and Tuesday, your energy is up and cash is flowing. You’re in the mood to court new business and new business is in the mood to be courted. The relationships you’re developing are starting to extend into your personal life, which is where things really start to get interesting. On Wednesday, it’s going to dawn on you that you’ve become something of a business development superstar. It’s important not to get too greedy. Your popularity at the end of the week is intense. Given your happiness with your career right now, you’ll probably spend the weekend thinking about work, too.

    Gemini

    The best way to get things done at the start of the week is to be direct. No dancing around the issue. No begging for business. On Tuesday, you have so many things to think about and so many errands to run that you might miss an important appointment if you’re not careful. A business partner figures prominently on Wednesday and Thursday, the kind of partner who can take the proverbial ball and run with it (the best kind of partner to have). The end of the week sees you slowing down a bit. You’re sitting back and observing and putting everything into perspective.

    Cancer

    Monday is a great day for making plans. Everyone’s ready for the next step, and they’re looking to you for guidance. A meeting figures on Tuesday, a chance for everyone to air their ideas. But not everyone’s ideas are going to work, and things will grow more complicated on Wednesday and Thursday. Plus, a couple of the variables you were counting on are changing. If you can smooth things over with your associates and come up with a sound business plan in the process, you’ll be the star. Still, anticipate some emotional upheaval toward the end of the week, and don’t set anything in stone.

    Leo

    You have your eye on the bottom line on Monday. Saving cash is a priority right now, and to that end you’re being thrifty and even more financially conservative than usual. Your cost-cutting ideas will be received well on Wednesday, although much to your surprise someone higher up might delight everyone on Thursday by signing off on a slew of equipment for everybody. The end of the week, your intuition about some aspect of the business is going to lead to an interesting discovery. You should share what you learn with the powers that be.

    Prepare yourself to take on each month with your personalized Monthly Horoscope!

    Virgo

    Monday morning you have the opportunity to clear off your desk. It’s amazing how much clearer you can think when things are organized. The stuff that was confusing you last week is finally making sense on Tuesday. You have a stronger operational sense on Wednesday than you’ve ever had before, and if someone asks your opinion about a potential acquisition on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday, don’t be shy about sharing your hesitations. Your cautious nature this week is valuable. So is your ability to see through unrealistic goals. At the end of the week, put your analytical mind to work.

    Libra

    Your powers of perception are basically unmatched this week. That has a lot to do with your talent for listening carefully and saying the right thing at the right moment. On Tuesday, you might feel a bit overwhelmed, but keep in mind that everyone else is nothing but impressed by what you’ve been able to get done lately. You’ll be able to find your personal balance by Wednesday or Thursday. They’ll be great, energizing, beautiful days, but you might become anxious about a pressing business matter on Friday. Take it slow. Don’t force anything. Keep an open mind.

    Scorpio

    A secret lands unexpectedly in your lap on Monday and opens up a whole new world to you. Maybe not a whole new world. Maybe it only answers a small (but persistent) mystery. Still, it’s interesting. What does it mean for the business? That’s hard to say. Decisions won’t come easily on Wednesday, both because things are up in the air right now but also because, on a personal level, you’re feeling a bit introverted midweek. That will change by Friday. Your energy will be up and everyone will be telling you how much they admire your ideas. Your weekend will be similarly unexpectedly great.

    Sagittarius

    A run-in with an authority figure on Monday ruffles your feathers a bit, but not to the point that you feel like flying away. You have too much to do at the beginning of the week to dream about flying away. And anyway, the tension at work isn’t your fault or anyone else’s. There’s a lot to get done. By Wednesday or Thursday, when things have settled down a bit, you and the boss are going to have a laugh about something random and everything will seem copacetic and back to normal. On Friday, you’re feeling philosophical and attuned to the big picture. Your subconscious will be on overdrive all weekend.

    Capricorn

    It’s amazing how powerful a set of facts can be. Everything is so much clearer to you on Monday, and by Tuesday you’re going to finalize a plan for a whole new business initiative, a big accomplishment. As successful as you are this week, Wednesday and Thursday just aren’t good days to ask for a raise—for reasons that have nothing to do with you. But don’t let that stop you from making meaningful decisions at the end of the week. This is no week to be shy. You’re on a roll. Make Friday matter. A key figure higher up on the ladder is paying close attention.

    Aquarius

    Take care of the details on Monday and they won’t come back to bite you later in the week when things are well underway. On Tuesday, you’re going to connect with someone you normally wouldn’t—someone in the mailroom, someone outside the office, there’s really no telling who—and they might have an idea or two that could be of use to you. You never know where inspiration will come from. Some of the pressure that’s on you later in the week will finally lift on Friday, and you’ll have the opportunity to spend Friday afternoon and a good chunk of the weekend contemplating long-term career goals.

    Pisces

    Relationships are key at the outset of the week. Of course, relationships are always key when it comes to business, but they’re crucial on Monday. Figure out who you’re dealing with and what it is they’re really after. On Wednesday, issues might arise around a different relationship, a relationship with one of your coworkers. Rather than focusing on what others owe you this week, try to guess what it is they might think you owe them. You’re in a position of power these days, and you can cede a lot without letting anyone walk all over you, which is a concern on Friday. This weekend, luck is with you. Be alert.

    What does your karmic journey hold? Discover your destiny with our Karma Report. ✨

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  • KEF’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar is a winner, new Focal speakers revealed, Q Acoustics tested and more

    KEF’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar is a winner, new Focal speakers revealed, Q Acoustics tested and more

    If you struggled to keep up with all the headlines last week, you’re not alone. Amazon’s four day Prime Day sale saw a tide of hi-fi and home cinema deals flood the airwaves, drowning out pretty much everything else.

    But between the sea of deals there were some pretty important developments in the world of hi-fi and home cinema. Here’s what you need to know.

    KEF’s first soundbar is great

    (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

    Last week hi-fi heavyweight KEF unveiled its first ever Dolby Atmos soundbar, the XIO. On top of that, we managed to get one into our review rooms and properly test it ahead of its launch and are pleased to report it’s an excellent option for any movie fan.

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  • Big Battery. Pro Camera. Ultra-Light Fold.

    Big Battery. Pro Camera. Ultra-Light Fold.

    • Ultra-light, pocket-friendly design with aerospace-grade hinge, even slimmer than its predecessor.
    • ZEISS Master Color Display with enhanced eye comfort for a better viewing experience.
    • vivo ZEISS Co-Engineered Imaging System delivers advanced photography capabilities.
    • Equivalent 6000 mAh BlueVolt Battery with 80W wired and 40W wireless fast charging.
    • Durable design with triple protection against water, dust, and extreme cold temperatures.
    • Designed for seamless productivity with advanced AI features.

    SHENZHEN, China, July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — vivo today announced the international launch of its most advanced foldable smartphone yet, the vivo X Fold5. Combining flagship performance, premium craftsmanship, and AI-powered productivity, the X Fold5 redefines what a foldable smartphone can offer.




    vivo X Fold5 makes international debut: An ultra-light foldable with a pro camera, big battery and AI productivity suite.






    vivo X Fold5 makes international debut: An ultra-light foldable with a pro camera, big battery and AI productivity suite.

    Lighter than many traditional flagships at just 217g[1], the X Fold5 features the brightest displays in any vivo foldable with 4500 nits local peak brightness on both the cover and main displays. Built for longevity and resilience, it offers triple protection, including IPX8 & IPX9 water resistance, IPX5 dust resistance and low temperature resistance even at -20°C.

    The X Fold5 is powered by an equivalent 6000 mAh BlueVolt Battery[2], paired with 80W Dual-Cell FlashCharge and 40W Wireless FlashCharge[3], ensuring it keeps pace with even the most demanding days. Its 9.2 mm ultra-slim folded profile and the new kinematic hinge enable smooth, lasting folds for extended use.

    Designed for power users, the X Fold5 introduces a suite of AI-driven productivity tools[4] that elevate multitasking, communication, and content creation, making work and creativity tasks more seamless than ever.

    Lightweight Design, Heavyweight Performance

    At just 217g, the X Fold5 is vivo’s lightest foldable smartphone to date, even lighter than many traditional flagship devices. Crafted with an industry-leading lightweight and reliable kinematic hinge that withstands 600,000 folds, it significantly reduces screen creasing for smooth and durable performance over years of use.

    Backed by IPX8 & IPX9 water resistance, IP5X dust resistance[5], and 2nd-Gen Armor Glass, the X Fold5 is built to perform in any environment, whether it is in boardrooms or business travel.

    Bright, Bold, and Beautiful Displays

    With the ZEISS Master Color Display, X Fold5 sets a new benchmark with vivo’s brightest foldable displays, delivering up to 4500 nits Local Peak Brightness on both the 8.03-inch main display and the 6.53-inch cover display[6]. This level of brightness ensures uncompromised clarity and vibrancy, even under direct sunlight or harsh lighting.

    With 2K+ resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, the X Fold5 delivers an ultra-smooth, high-contrast visual experience from every angle, perfect for presentations, content review, or entertainment.

    ZEISS Imaging Meets Foldable Innovation

    Co-engineered with ZEISS, the X Fold5 camera system brings flagship imaging power to the foldable form factor:

    • A 50MP[7] ZEISS Telephoto Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and 100x HyperZoom, powered by a large IMX882 sensor for crisp details even at a distance.
    • A 50MP Ultra-Sensing VCS Bionic Main Camera with Sony IMX921 sensor and VCS True Color for stunning color accuracy and fine detail.
    • A 50MP Ultra Wide-Angle Camera with a 120° field of view for landscapes, group shots, and architecture.

    AI-powered enhancements further refine images at high zoom levels, delivering professional-grade results across many scenarios.

    Power That Keeps Up with You

    Fueled by an equivalent 6000 mAh BlueVolt Battery, the largest in any vivo foldable phone, the X Fold5 delivers exceptional endurance for daily use. Built on semi-solid state battery technology, it ensures efficient power use and long-term reliability.

    With support for 80W Dual-Cell FlashCharge and 40W Wireless FlashCharge, users can quickly get back to their activities, minimizing wait time.

    Designed for Seamless Productivity

    Purpose-built for creators and professionals, the X Fold5 introduces an intelligent productivity suite:

    • Origin Workbench enables seamless multitasking, allowing users to run up to five apps at once, manage tasks effortlessly, and stay in control, all without the need to switch between multiple devices.
    • vivo DocMaster enables seamless viewing and conversion of various document formats.
    • Smart Call Assistant and AI Transcript Assist offer real-time transcription, summarization, and language translation, perfect for work on the go.[8]

    Whether multitasking between meetings or creating on the move, the X Fold5 is the ideal productivity companion.

    About vivo

    vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company’s core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning, and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

    While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an and more cities, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions and is loved by more than 500 million users worldwide.

    *”Benfen” is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to create value for society.

    Stay informed of latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news

    [1] Different color variants have different weights and thicknesses. The specified weight and thickness refer to the Titanium Gray variant. The Feather White variant weighs 226 g and is 9.7 mm thick when folded and 4.55 mm thick when unfolded.

    [2] This product uses a dual-battery parallel design with the following typical capacities:

    Typical capacity: 3275mAh (3.82V) + 2725mAh (3.82V), equivalent to a single 6000mAh (3.82V) battery.

    Typical energy: 22.93Wh.

    Rated capacity: 3175mAh (3.82V) + 2640mAh (3.82V), equivalent to a single 5815mAh (3.82V) battery.

    Rated energy: 22.22Wh.

    [3] This product supports 80W wired fast charging and 40W wireless fast charging. Using the phone’s standard charger and data cable, combined with the vivo 50W Vertical Wireless Charger 2 (or iQOO 50W Vertical Wireless Charger 2), you can experience up to 40W wireless fast charging. Relevant data is sourced from vivo laboratory tests; actual performance may vary slightly due to differences in test environment and conditions.

    [4] The availability of AI features may vary depending on the apps, device settings, country, region and language, etc. Please refer to the actual use.

    [5] This product has been tested under controlled laboratory conditions and rated as IPX8, IPX9 and IP5X under IEC standard 60529. The dust and water resistance is not permanent and may be reduced with daily use. Damage caused by liquid ingress is not covered by warranty.

    [6] Measured diagonally. The actual display area is slightly smaller.

    [7] Pixel value may vary under different camera modes and is subject to actual usage.

    [8] The availability of AI features may vary depending on the apps, device settings, country, region and language, etc. Please refer to the actual use.

    SOURCE vivo

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  • On This Day, July 14: NASA’s New Horizons gets closest look yet at Pluto

    On This Day, July 14: NASA’s New Horizons gets closest look yet at Pluto

    July 14 (UPI) — On this date in history:

    In 1789, French peasants stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, beginning the French Revolution. The event is commemorated as “Bastille Day,” a national holiday in France.

    In 1793, Jean Paul Marat, one of the most outspoken leaders of the French Revolution, was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, a Royalist sympathizer. The murder was immortalized in a painting by Jacques-Louis David.

    In 1881, outlaw Billy the Kid was shot to death at a ranch in New Mexico.

    In 1914, Robert Goddard, father of the space age, was granted the first patent for a liquid-fueled rocket design. His first rocket soared for about 2 seconds, flew as fast as 60 mph and landed 174 feet from the lift-off pad.

    File Photo courtesy of NASA

    In 1933, all political parties except the Nazis were officially suppressed in Germany.

    In 1966, eight student nurses were found killed in Chicago. Drifter Richard Speck, later convicted of the slayings, died in prison in 1991.

    In 1968, future Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron became the eighth person to hit 500 home runs for the Atlanta Braves in a win over the San Francisco Giants.

    In 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country would suspend its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, a Cold War agreement that limited deployment of heavy weaponry.

    File Photo by Anatoli Zhdanov/UPI

    In 2009, within months after repaying bailout money supplied by the U.S. government, New York banking giant Goldman Sachs reported a profit of $3.44 billion for the first quarter of the year. JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup also reported big profits.

    In 2014, the Church of England’s governing body voted to allow women to become bishops for first time in the church’s history.

    In 2015, the New Horizons space probe came within 7,800 miles of Pluto, providing NASA scientists with the clearest photographs and most detailed measurements they’ve ever seen of the dwarf planet.

    In 2016, 86 people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, were killed when a truck drove into a crowd. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

    In 2019, Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer to win his fifth Wimbledon title in a marathon five-set match that lasted nearly 5 hours.

    File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

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