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Wavelet-based algorithms for noninvasive fetal ECG post-processing: A methodological review
No full textObjective
Downstream of noninvasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) extraction, a post-processing signal enhancement step is generally required. To date, wavelet denoising (WD) was successfully adopted but typically parameterizations are largely empiric. This comprehensive review aims to systematize the knowledge by presenting and assessing WD algorithms for this application.
Methods
17 WD algorithms for fECG enhancement were identified, presented and quantitatively compared on the same public datasets. Overall performance, effectiveness in noise reduction and signal morphology preservation were separately assessed by using a novel methodology based on principal component analysis, to synthetize different performance metrics by a single unbiased index.
Results
The comparison reveals different best solutions according to the different analyzed performance, which can be used for a reasoned selection of the right algorithm for a given enhancement problem. The proposed unbiased performance index was effective in supporting the analysis.
Conclusions
WD represents a powerful tool for fECG enhancement, but the parameterizations severely affect the algorithm performance. Our findings can be used for a reasoned selection of an algorithm or for the proposal of new WD approaches
Effect of Neuromodulation on the Brain Dynamical Repertoire
No full textBrain dynamics go beyond simple bistable models of regional activation, encompassing multiple coexisting states and transitions. Neural activity is constrained to low-dimensional manifolds, where structured flow governs brain function. Neuromodulators such as dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine shape this landscape by modulating synaptic plasticity, neuronal excitability, and network connectivity. Here, we investigate how neuromodulation alters neural dynamics. Using a neural mass model incorporating dopamine, we show that increasing dopaminergic input expands the repertoire of dynamical patterns and shifts their frequency content. These findings underscore the critical role of neuromodulation in shaping brain states and highlight the importance of computational models that integrate these effects to better understand both healthy and pathological brain dynamics
From simple to complex: multiscale modeling of metal-mediated protein interactions to uncover mechanistic insights into the action of inorganic drugs
No full textMachine learning for automated differentiation of parkinson’s disease and its mimics using 123I-mIBG scintigraphy: insights from a multicentre real-world cohort (ITA-mIBG study)
No full textPurpose: To assess machine learning (ML) classifiers trained on harmonised multicentre 123I-mIBG planar scintigraphy for differentiating Parkinson’s disease (PD) from non-PD parkinsonian syndromes and to determine whether early imaging alone may ensure accurate discrimination. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with suspected PD who underwent early (~ 15 min) and delayed (~ 240 min) imaging and received a definitive diagnosis after ≥ 12 months. Harmonised region of interest (ROI) placement and ComBat correction were applied. Early and late heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratios and washout rate (WR) were calculated. Differences were tested by Mann-Whitney U test, and cut-points identified by ROC analysis. Logistic regression, Gaussian naïve Bayes, and support vector machine were trained on these features with Z-score normalisation and synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE). Results: 127 patients were analysed (85 PD, 42 non-PD). Early and late H/M ratios were significantly lower in PD than non-PD (early H/M 1.45 ± 0.20 vs. 1.80 ± 0.20; late H/M 1.33 ± 0.22 vs. 1.68 ± 0.21; both p < 0.001). WR was modestly higher in PD (8.74 ± 5.76% vs. 6.49 ± 6.19%, p = 0.024). Optimal cut-points for PD were: early H/M ≤ 1.62 (accuracy 80.3%, sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 78.8%, and AUC 0.878), late H/M ≤ 1.52 (83.5%, 83.3%, 83.5% and 0.866) and WR ≥ 6.03% (70.1%, 70.6%, 69.0% and 0.645). ML achieved mean accuracy 78.9–80.7%, sensitivity 81.9–84.0%, specificity 68.6–78.0%, and AUC 0.850–0.875. Conclusion: Classifiers trained on 123I-mIBG semi-quantitative indices accurately distinguished PD from non-PD. Early H/M ratio alone provided excellent discrimination, supporting early-imaging; prospective validation is warranted
High-grade gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: An overlooked population in interventional clinical trials. A systematic review
No full textEmpirical Analysis for Future Excellence Tourism Policies: The Case of Arzachena (Sardinia, Italy)
No full textCoastal areas have historically served as hubs of human activity. Accordingly, the development of port infrastructure has driven strategies for nautical tourism, which can significantly influence the regional economic landscape and foster synergistic collaborations among tourism-related stakeholders. While research on ports and seaside tourism is well established, studies investigating the connection between coastal and inland areas through port facilities remain limited. In the Mediterranean context, Sardinia (Italy) represents a case of highly seasonal tourism and is a prime destination for nautical tourism. In line with the Regional Strategic Plan, the enhancement of the island’s inland heritage has been encouraged to promote deseasonalization strategies. Acknowledging the prominent role of nautical tourism in Sardinia, this study is intended as a contribution to a broader research initiative focused on mapping the island’s nautical infrastructure. The analysis centers on the municipality of Arzachena (Province of Sassari), which hosts significant infrastructure for large vessels and luxury tourism. Through field research, cartographic analysis, and the application of isochrones, the study investigated the accessibility between local ports and Arzachena’s cultural assets. The results suggested a potential for proximity-based and day tourism, enabling nautical tourists to explore inland historical and cultural sites. Overall, further research could support the integrated valorization of coastal and inland resources, highlighting the potential of a territorial approach to nautical tourism planning beyond the coastline. This integrated perspective may yield long-term governance benefits, employment opportunities, and socio-economic development for inland Sardinia through enhanced use of marina facilities
Pleistocene stratigraphy of aeolian deposits at the base of an energetic structural coastal slope: sedimentology and OSL chronology (Port des Canonge, Mallorca, Western Mediterranean)
No full textAeolianite and colluvial deposits at coastal outcrops located at the base of an energetic and structurally complex coastal slope have been examined in northwestern Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean). A chronological framework has been established using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating. Due to the intensive weathering and bioturbation of the aeolianites, OSL dates have been obtained from the fine-grained polyminerals found in the colluvial paleosoils interbedded between the aeolianite layers. This limitation does not stem from the scarcity of quartz, but rather from the fact that the available quartz grains have been reworked from underlying strata and are, therefore, not chronologically reliable. The outcrop reveals a complex interaction between aeolian and colluvial deposition, and both dating and facies analysis have identified four episodes of aeolian activity during Marine Isotope Stages 5 to2 (MIS5 to MIS2). The data suggest that aeolian transport and dune formation were particularly intense during global colder climatic intervals, coinciding with low sea levels, while colluvial deposits correspond to more humid conditions. Given that the outcrop architecture and its elevation relative to present sea level (i.e., the altitude at which it is situated in relation to the modern shoreline) are comparable to those of other outcrops in structurally stable areas of the island, it is inferred that the northwestern side of the Tramuntana Range has remained relatively stable since MIS 5
