ASTER

Located at an active arc-continent collision zone subject to a tropical climate, the Taiwan mountain belt is characterized by intense tectonic activity, resulting in rapid landscape evolution. In the Western Foothills of southwestern Taiwan, geodetic data reveal rapid surface deformation during periods of low seismicity, where the upper crust is dominated by mudstone lithology. However, mapped active structures do not fully explain the observed sharp deformation gradients and uplift patterns. This discrepancy motivates an evaluation of how strain is accommodated across different timescales and whether the present-day deformation reflects persistent long-term kinematics or transient processes.Using the ratio of meteoric 10Be to mineral-weathered 9Be measured from five river-sediment samples collected from watersheds with distinct short-term uplift rates, spatial variations in basin-scale denudation rates (Dmet) and their relationship to short-term uplift are evaluated. Although meteoric-10Be-derived denudation rates are particularly suitable for quartz-poor regions such as southwest Taiwan, the method relies on several assumptions that require validation. To assess its applicability, additional samples were collected from watersheds in the Central Range east of the study area, where in situ 10Be-derived denudation rates (Dinsitu) are available.In the Western Foothills area, Dmet successfully captures large-basin denudation (0.77 ± 0.07 mm/yr) as the integrated signal of sub-basin denudation rates (average of 0.74 ± 0.01 mm/yr). Across two regions, Dmet values are systematically lower in the Western Foothills than in the Central Range (5.8 - 7.4 mm/yr, with an outlier of 32 mm/yr), reflecting contrasts in lithology, climate setting, and topographic relief. In the Central Range, Dinsituvalues (0.2-4.5 mm/yr) differ from Dmet, suggesting that potential grain-size differences between the two methods lead to distinct sediment transport behaviors. Nevertheless, Dmet remains informative by reproducing basin–sub-basin integration in the Western Foothills and distinguishing denudation regimes between regions.Within the Western foothills, Dmet correlates weakly with uplift rate, slope, and relief. The normalized channel steepness index (ksn­) shows an unexpectedly weak to negative relationship with Dmet. This pattern suggests that meteoric 10Be-derived denudation rates might not represent short-term surface deformation rates or are integrated over timescales that differ from those represented by geomorphic indices. This likely reflects transient surface adjustments rather than steady-state conditions. In contrast, Dmet seems to positively correlate with the extent of barren-land (badland) surfaces developed in weak mudstone formation, suggesting first-order control on basin-averaged meteoric 10Be inventories. Although badlands have been proposed to be associated with rapid erosion in this region, the correspondence between their development timescale and the integration timescale of meteoric 10Be derived denudation remains uncertain.Future work will expand sampling across additional basins spanning a wider range of badland extent and uplift signatures to test the robustness of these relationships and refine the link between short-term deformation and longer-term surface response. Additional analyses will quantify meteoric 10Be inventories on barren land and vegetated hillslopes to evaluate differences in meteoric 10Be retention across contrasting hillslope environments, thereby refining the applicability and sensitivity of the methods to hillslope transport processes.

In some cases, soils exhibit a layered structure clearly identified even at the depth scales investigated by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys. However, not many methods and computational tools are available that systematically address imaging in layered soils. Imlaymed (Imaging in Layered Media) is a Python graphical user interface (GUI) freeware software specifically designed to tackle this problem. The code assumes either a two layered soil or a cavity embedded within a homogeneous soil. In the latter case, the cavity is locally interpreted as a three-layered medium. The interfaces between adjacent layers are assumed smooth—which is geologically reasonable—although not necessarily planar. However, the non-flatness of the layers precludes the possibility of obtaining an analytical solution. Consequently, Imlaymed addresses the focusing and time–depth conversion issues as an imaging problem rather than an inverse scattering problem. The method explicitly accounts for the presence of two distinct propagation velocities within the soil, which results in geometric distortions, including dilation and compression effects on both the targets and the distances among them. Imlaymed aims to mitigate these distortions. The current release represents an initial version of the software, to be progressively updated and extended. Future developments are expected to introduce additional capabilities—e.g. time-reverse migration—and to enhance the existing features, e.g. through the incorporation of AI techniques and the optional use of parallel computing. In particular, Imlaymed will aid to generation of slices directly in the spatial domain instead of the common slices built up in time domain.The methodology underlying the code is based on our previous results [1-6]. The implementation of this code has improved both the computational efficiency and the ease of use of the algorithms. Notwithstanding, the user of Imlaymed is supposed to have some non-too-basic background experience in GPR prospecting.Imlaymed is distributed under AUL/ANCL License (Academic Use License/Academic Non-Commercial License).AcknowledgementsThis work has been implemented within the activities of the Research Project “Georadar e avanzamento delle investigazioni: un’applicazione economica alla sicurezza stradale”, financed by University of Calabria.ReferencesPersico, G. Morelli, Combined Migrations and Time-Depth Conversions in GPR Prospecting: Application to Reinforced Concrete, Remote Sens. 2020, Volume 12, Issue 17, 2778, open access, DOI 10.3390/rs12172778.Persico et al. “A posteriori insertion of information for focusing and time–depth conversion of ground-penetrating radar data”, Geophysical Prospecting, open access, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2478.13369, 2023.Persico et al., ­GPR mapping of cavity in complex scenarios with a combined time-depth conversion, Sensors, MDPI, Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3238; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103238, 2024.Persico et al., An innovative time-depth conversion for the management of buried scenarios with strong discontinuities, Journal of Applied Geophysics vol. 227, 105435, DOI 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2024.105435, 2024.Yang et al., Accounting for the Different Propagation Velocities for the Focusing and Time–Depth Conversion in a Layered Medium, Applied Sciences 14(24):11812, 2024.Persico et al., Retrieving the propagation velocity of the electromagnetic waves in a two-layered medium through the diffraction curves, Near Surface Geophysics, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/nsg.70028, 2025.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) types III and IV are the most common late-onset forms, and they progress slowly, making the identification of sensitive biomarkers critical. The Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX) estimates motor unit loss and may complement traditional electrophysiological measurements such as Compound Muscle Action Potential amplitudes (CMAP). However, their respective performances have never been directly compared in adult SMA. In a French multicenter study (NCT04690998), 71 adult patients with SMA and 24 healthy controls underwent clinical and electrophysiological evaluation. MUNIX, CMAP, and Motor Unit Size Index (MUSIX) were recorded in four muscles, and sum scores (SumMUNIX, SumCMAP, SumMUSIX) were calculated. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and associations with functional outcomes were explored. MUNIX and CMAP effectively distinguished SMA patients from controls, showing strong test - retest reliability. MUNIX showed the highest discriminative performance (AUC = 0.92), while CMAP demonstrated the strongest and most consistent associations with clinical severity. In multivariate analyses, only CMAP remained independently associated with all functional and strength measures, whereas MUNIX and MUSIX lost significance. MUNIX demonstrated the highest discriminative performance among biomarkers for differentiating SMA from controls, indicating early motor unit loss even when CMAP values were within normal limits. However, disease burden and functional impairment were better reflected by CMAP, probably due to it integrating both motor unit loss and reinnervation. The complementary nature of these profiles supports their combined use (concurrent application), and longitudinal studies are warranted to assess their responsiveness in adult SMA as well as their appropriateness for clinical trial settings.

Recurrent acute pancreatitis in young adults usually triggers an extensive evaluation for structural, genetic, metabolic, autoimmune, or toxic etiologies. However, pancreatic enzyme elevation and radiologic changes may occasionally arise from extra-pancreatic mechanisms, leading to diagnostic anchoring. We report a 20-year-old male who experienced four discrete episodes overa year, initially diagnosed as acute pancreatitis based on abdominal pain, vomiting, marked lipase elevation, and computed tomography findings. Each episode followed a highly stereotyped pattern beginning with prodromal uneasiness, progressing to repetitive vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a post-episode phase of constipation with complete inter-episodic recovery. Subsequent attacks reproduced identical symptoms despite normal to mildly elevated pancreatic enzymes and imaging. The patient also reported recurrent sinus congestion, headaches, and muscle cramps, with a strong family history of migraine. An extensive evaluation, including heavy metal screening, autoimmune and immunologic testing, IgG4 levels, celiac serology, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels, ceruloplasmin, iron indices, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene analysis, and porphyria testing, was unrevealing. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed shortly after one attack demonstrated proximal gastric congestion without erosions or ulceration. Careful reconstruction of the clinical chronology revealed a classic four-phase cyclic pattern consistent with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) within the abdominal migraine spectrum. Initiation of migraine-oriented prophylaxis with topiramate resulted in a marked reduction in attack frequency and severity. This case highlights how CVS can masquerade as recurrent pancreatitis and underscores the importance of recognizing neuro-visceral patterns in patients with recurrent vomiting and abdominal pain, even in the presence of transient pancreatic enzyme elevation.

Neuromodulation is a distinctive technology that modifies neural activity by delivering electrical impulses or pharmaceutical agents directly to specific regions of the brain or spinal cord. Spinal neuromodulation refers to therapeutic interventions designed to alter the activity of the spinal cord and nerve roots in order to relieve pain and other neurological symptoms. This approach primarily utilizes devices such as spinal cord stimulation systems, intrathecal drug delivery systems, and other advanced neuromodulatory technologies. Spinal neuromodulation devices function either by electrically stimulating nerves to produce natural biological responses or by administering precise, targeted doses of pharmaceutical agents directly to the site of action. These treatments have proven transformative for many patients, offering the potential for fewer side effects, greater patient comfort, and overall improvements in quality of life. The primary modalities discussed in this article include spinal cord stimulation, sacral neuromodulation, and intrathecal baclofen therapy. Spinal cord stimulation has long been a preferred treatment for chronic low back pain, chronic pain after spinal surgery, complex regional pain syndrome, and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Recent technological advances have expanded its use to additional spinal disorders, and ongoing research is exploring its potential for promoting neurological recovery in individuals with paraplegia. Sacral neuromodulation is an interventional technique used to modulate sacral reflex arcs for the management of neurogenic bladder and neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Intrathecal baclofen therapy is a minimally invasive treatment indicated for severe poststroke spasticity and other forms of spasticity. This article reviews the clinical benefits of these therapies, as well as considerations related to safety, cost-effectiveness, and the quality of supporting evidence.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) occurring after liver transplantation is uncommon and has been reported only sporadically in the literature. Long-term exposure to calcineurin inhibitors and mammalian targets of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORis) is thought to support expansion of Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson 1 (BCR::ABL1)-positive hematopoietic clones, but the clinical evidence base is still limited. We describe a case with a notably long latency between liver transplantation and the diagnosis of CMLand discuss it in the context of the available literature. A 43-year-old man underwent a living-donor liver transplant in 2019 for cirrhosis secondary to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. In view of tacrolimus-related neurotoxicity six months post-transplant, dose reduction was undertaken, and everolimus was introduced. Sixty-six months post-transplant, he presented with high-grade fever, significant weight loss, marked fatigue, and massive splenomegaly. Laboratory testing showed leukocytosis of 304 × 10⁹/L, normocytic anemia, and mild thrombocytopenia. Abdominal CT confirmed massive splenomegaly without lymphadenopathy. Peripheral blood smear demonstrated a left shift with myelocytes and occasional blasts; bone marrow biopsy revealed hypercellularity with <5% blasts. Cytogenetic analysis identified t(9;22)(q34;q11), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected BCR::ABL1 p210. Epstein-Barr virus PCR was negative. After clinical stabilization, Imatinib 400 mg daily was initiated, alongside pre-emptive reduction of tacrolimus, guided by weekly trough monitoring. The patient achieved a significant hematologic response within six weeks, maintaining excellent graft function and tolerating therapy well. Although rare, post-transplant CML warrants high clinical suspicion, routine blood count surveillance, and reflex BCR::ABL1 testing of unexplained leukocytosis. Careful adjustment of immunosuppression allows effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy without compromising graft integrity, but multi-center registries are essential to refine preventative and therapeutic strategies.

This paper presents a numerical study of source identification problems for one-dimensional telegraphparabolic equations subject to Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. In these inverse problems, the unknown source terms are assumed to be space-dependent, which introduces both analytical and computational challenges. The study begins by discretizing the considered problems using the finite difference method – first in space and subsequently in time – resulting in a system of discrete equations. Stability results for the solutions of the resulting finite difference schemes are established to ensure the reliability of the numerical approach. A numerical algorithm is proposed for solving the discrete inverse problems. The algorithm begins by eliminating the unknown source terms, which transforms the original discretized problem into a new nonlocal problem with unknown initial data. To approximate this initial data, an iterative procedure based on fixed-point iterations is constructed. Once the transformed nonlocal problem is solved, the solution of the main finite difference scheme and approximations of the unknown source term are recovered. Numerical results for two test problems are presented to illustrate the proposed method in practice. The findings confirm the accuracy of the approach in solving space-dependent inverse source problems.