ABSTRACT The advancement of neuroimaging technology offers a pivotal reference for the early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a significant area of focus in contemporary cognitive function research. Structural MRI scans present visual and quantitative manifestations of alterations in brain tissue, whereas functional MRI scans depict the metabolic and functional state of brain tissues from diverse perspectives. As various magnetic resonance techniques possess both strengths and constraints, this review examines the methodologies and outcomes of multimodal magnetic resonance technology in MCI diagnosis, laying the groundwork for subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for MCI.

RESUMO O avanço da tecnologia de neuroimagem oferece uma referência fundamental para a detecção precoce do comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL), uma área significativa de foco na pesquisa contemporânea da função cognitiva. A ressonância magnética estrutural apresenta manifestações visuais e quantitativas de alterações no tecido cerebral, enquanto a ressonância magnética funcional retrata o estado metabólico e funcional dos tecidos cerebrais sob diversas perspectivas. Como várias técnicas de ressonância magnética possuem pontos fortes e restrições, esta revisão examinou as metodologias e os resultados da tecnologia de ressonância magnética multimodal no diagnóstico de CCL, estabelecendo as bases para intervenções diagnósticas e terapêuticas subsequentes para CCL.

Abstract This study was carried out in an instrumented and monitored embankment divided into two symetrical sections and constructed with compacted treated soils (i.e., a silty soil and a clayey soil) exposed to the same atmospheric conditions in a continental climate, with oceanic influences. It aimed to investigate changes of bare soil surface moisture (w) and corresponding suction (s) as result of soil water evaporation processes on a monthly time scale. Seasonal variations in the w (and s) measurement in both soil surfaces show overall consistency with the meteorological measurement within the study area. The paper also examines the ability of four air temperature-based potential evaporation (PET) formulations to capture the process of evaporation at the site. Results indicated that soil water evaporation is controlled by both atmospheric and soil conditions. And, during the most significant drying time period, the measured s consistently increased and the corresponding w decreased suggesting a relatively significant water evaporation effect. However, the monthly predicted PET data varied from a maximum of over 120 mm/month to less than 50 mm/month during the drying time, depending on the used method. The continuously monitored soil surface suctions are used for discussing the variations of evaporation according to the predicted PET method and time period at the site.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of retrograde flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) versus percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating intermediate-size renal stones (2-3cm). Materials and Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and EMBASE were researched to identify relevant studies up to May 2018. Article selection was performed through the search strategy based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was applied to assess the methodological quality of case-control studies. Results: Six retrospective case-controlled trials were included for meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that PCNL was associated with a higher initial stone-free rate (SFR). After more complementary treatments, FURS provided a final SFR (OR: 1.69; 95% CI, 0.93-3.05; P = 0.08) comparable to that achieved by PCNL. PCNL was associated with a higher rate of overall intraoperative complications (OR: 1.48; 95% CI, 1.01-2.17; P = 0.04) and longer hospital stay (MD: 2.21 days; 95% CI, 1.11 to 3.30; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis by Clavien-graded complication showed PCNL had significantly higher rates of minor complications (OR: 1.58; 95% CI, 1.04-2.41; P = 0.03). No significant difference was noted in major complications (OR: 1.14; 95% CI, 0.53-2.45; P = 0.73) or operative times (MD: −9.71 min; 95% CI, −22.02 to 2.60; P = 0.12). Conclusions: Multisession FURS is an effective and safe alternative to PCNL for the management of intermediate-size renal stones (2-3cm). It is advisable to balance the benefits and risks according to the individual characteristics of patients and to decide with patients by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between lateralization of cerebral basal ganglia hemorrhage and handedness. METHODS: Medical records and computed tomography (CT) scans for 84 patients with primary hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in basal ganglia were reviewed. Data of gender, age, handedness, and location of basal ganglia hematoma were statistically analyzed. Data of age, gender, handedness, health condition, and mean blood flow velocity (BFV) in middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs) on both sides of 114 healthy individuals were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: We found out that the patients with right basal ganglia hemorrhage were mostly left-handed, while patients with left basal ganglia hemorrhage were mostly right handed (p=0.021, r=0.251). And the mean BFV in the right MCAs of left-handed ones are relatively higher, the mean BFV in the left MCAs of right-handers are relatively higher (p=0.008, r=0.248). CONCLUSION: There 's a correlation between lateralization of cerebral basal ganglia hemorrhage and handedness.

El uso del ensayo edométrico para determinar la respuesta volumétrica de muestras de suelo data de los orígenes de la mecánica de suelos. Por lo general, el uso del ensayo ha estado enmarcado en el estudio de muestras naturales talladas en anillos de pared delgada, sin generar un estado de esfuerzos iniciales que perturbe la respuesta volumétrica del material. Sin embargo, en el marco del estudio del comportamiento de barreras de arcilla para el aislamiento de desechos nucleares se presenta la necesidad de ensayar materiales expansivos altamente compactados, por lo que este ensayo se ha estado utilizando con muestras compactadas directamente en el anillo edométrico, introduciendo un estado inicial de esfuerzos que afecta la respuesta volumétrica del material por efectos de roce lateral. En este artículo se presentan resultados de ensayos de hidratación, sobre muestras de una arcilla expansiva compactada, realizados para mostrar dichos efectos y que permiten mostrar la importancia del protocolo de preparación de las muestras, lo cual es el objetivo principal de este trabajo.

The use of oedometer test to determine the volumetric response of soil samples dates from the beginnings of soil mechanics. Currently, the use of the test has been focused in the study of natural samples that are trimmed in thin wall rings, which do not generate initial stress states that could perturb the volumetric response of the sample. However, due to the increasing interest in studing highly compacted swelling soils, in the case of engineered barriers for nuclear waste disposal, this test has been conducted on samples directly compacted in the oedometer ring. This practice introduces an initial stress state that affects the volumetric response due to frictional effects. In this paper, some results of hydration tests on compacted swelling clay are presented to point out such effects, permitting to show the relevance of the way the samples are prepared, which is the goal of this work.