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Environmental impacts from wave energy generators on the local mobile mega- and macrofauna community have been investigated in the Lysekil project by Uppsala University. Offshore renewable energy installations provide hard, artificial substrates, and as such, they could act as artificial reefs. Foundations with manufactured holes served as complex habitats and foundations without served as non-complex. In this long-term study, SCUBA surveys of mobile fauna in the years 2007, 2008 and 2016-2019 were analyzed. The results show a distinct reef effect on the foundations with significant greater species richness, total number of individuals, greater values of the Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index, and greater abundance of specific reef fauna. Complex foundations accommodated a greater abundance of brown crabs than non-complex foundations, other taxa did not show differences between the two foundation types. A successional increase of species richness, numbers of individuals and Shannon-Wiener biodiversity could be revealed from the first to the second survey period. Inter-annual variation was visible throughout all taxa and years.
In-vitro radiobiological studies are essential for modelling the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in proton therapy. The purpose of this study was to experimentally determine the RBE values in proton beams along the beam path for human prostate carcinoma cells (Du-145). RBE-dose and RBE-LET
(dose-averaged linear energy transfer) dependencies were investigated and three phenomenological RBE models, i.e. McNamara, Rørvik and Wilkens were benchmarked for this cell line.
Cells were placed at multiple positions along the beam path, employing an in-house developed solid phantom. The experimental setup reflected the clinical prostate treatment scenario in terms of field size, depth, and required proton energies (127.2-180.1MeV) and the physical doses from 0.5 to 6Gy were delivered. The reference irradiation was performed with 200kV X-ray beams. Respective (α/β) values were determined using the linear quadratic model and LET
was derived from the treatment planning system at the exact location of cells.E values with LETd parameter suggests that proton LET must be taken into consideration for this low (α/β) tissue.
The entrance beam fluence of therapeutic proton scanning beams can be monitored using a gantry-attachable plastic scintillating plate (GAPSP). This study evaluated the clinical application of the GAPSP using a method that measures intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) beams for patient treatment.
IMPT beams for the treatment of nine patients, at sites that included the spine, head and neck, pelvis, and lung, were measured using the GAPSP, composed of an EJ-212 plastic scintillator and a CMOS camera. All energy layers distinguished by the GAPSP were accumulated to determine the dose distribution of the treatment field. The evaluated fields were compared with reference dose maps verified by quality assurance.
Comparison of dose distributions of evaluation treatment fields with reference dose distributions showed that the 3%/1 mm average gamma passing rate was 96.4%, independent of the treatment site, energy range and field size. When dose distributions were evaluated using the same criteria for each energy layer, the average gamma passing rate was 91.7%.
The GAPSP is a suitable, low-cost method for monitoring pencil beam scanning proton therapy, especially for non-spot scanning or additional collimation. The GAPSP can also estimate the treatment beam by the energy layer, a feature not common to other proton dosimetry tools.
The GAPSP is a suitable, low-cost method for monitoring pencil beam scanning proton therapy, especially for non-spot scanning or additional collimation. The GAPSP can also estimate the treatment beam by the energy layer, a feature not common to other proton dosimetry tools.
To examine whether it is essential to apply correction factors for ion recombination (k
) to percentage depth dose (PDD) measurements and to the volume-averaging effect (k
) to ensure accurate absolute dose calibration for flattening filter-free (FFF) beams for the most commonly used ionization chambers.
We surveyed medical physicists worldwide (n=159) to identify the five most common ionization chamber combinations used for absolute and relative reference dosimetry of FFF beams. We then assessed the overall absolute dose calibration error for FFF beams of the Artiste Siemens and TrueBeam Varian linear accelerators resulting from failing to apply correction factors k
in the PDD(10) and the volume-averaging effect (k
) to such chamber combinations.
All the chamber combinations examined-the Farmer PTW 30013 ionization chamber used for absolute dosimetry, and the PTW 31010, PTW 30013, IBA CC04, IBA CC13, and PTW 31021 ionization chambers used for PDD curves measurements-showed non-negligible errors (≥0.5%). find more The largest error (1.6%) was found for the combination of the Farmer PTW 30013 chamber with the IBA CC13 chamber, which was the most widely used chamber combination in our survey.
Based on our findings, we strongly recommend assessing the impact of failing to apply correction factors k
in the PDD(10) and k
prior to using any chamber type for FFF beam reference dosimetry purposes.
Based on our findings, we strongly recommend assessing the impact of failing to apply correction factors kS in the PDD(10) and kvol prior to using any chamber type for FFF beam reference dosimetry purposes.Transient receptor potential V4 (TRPV4), a plasma membrane calcium channel, is implicated as a contributor to the initiation of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Paclitaxel (PTX) is a commonly used anticancer drug that causes CIPN and lithium has been shown to prevent CIPN. However, the direct effect of PTX and lithium on TRPV4 is not clear. This study investigated these actions using biochemical, pharmacological, and electrophysiological approaches using a neuronal cell line (SH-SY5Y). The addition of pharmacologically appropriate levels of PTX increased the expression of TRPV4, TRPV4 currents, and TRPV4-dependent calcium fluxes. Prolonged exposure to PTX amplified the acute effects of TRPV4 expression, currents, and calcium fluxes. Pretreatment with lithium (1 mM) decreased TRPV4 currents and calcium fluxes in the absence and presence of PTX. link2 These findings enhance our understanding of the properties and regulation of TRPV4, the cellular mechanisms of PTX-induced neuropathy, and the mechanism of lithium for prevention of CIPN.Despite the high prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and resultant physical scarring, few studies have explored the occurrence and psychological implications of concealing NSSI scars. This study examines NSSI scar concealment from the self and others, as well as the cognitive, affective, and self-injury-related correlates of these concealment practices. This study aimed to characterize the extent to which individuals who engage in concealment practices have a history of, or desire to engage in, treatment for NSSI specifically geared towards NSSI scarring. link3 Adults with at least one NSSI scar (N = 278) completed online questionnaires measuring NSSI engagement and scarring, scar concealment behaviors, scar-related cognitions, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression, and recent suicidal ideation and NSSI urges. Results indicate that the degree of scar concealment from the self and from others is associated with greater experiences of negative scar-related cognitions, higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptomatology, and higher severity of NSSI urges. These correlations persisted after accounting for NSSI severity indices, including extent of NSSI scarring, suggesting that scar concealment practices may be important clinical indicators of current distress and potential future self-injury. Future research should explore the extent to which scar concealment practices are longitudinally associated with distress and risk for NSSI maintenance.
Panel-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) is increasingly used for the diagnosis of EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and could improve risk assessment in combination with clinical parameters.
To this end, we retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 400 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treated EGFR
NSCLC patients with validation of results in an independent cohort (n = 130).
EGFR alterations other than exon 19 deletions (non-del19), TP53 co-mutations, and brain metastases at baseline showed independent associations of similar strengths with progression-free (PFS hazard ratios [HR] 2.1-2.3) and overall survival (OS HR 1.7-2.2), in combination defining patient subgroups with distinct outcome (EGFR
NSCLC risk Score, "ENS", p < 0.001). Co-mutations beyond TP53 were rarely detected by our multigene panel (<5%) and not associated with clinical endpoints. Smoking did not affect outcome independently, but was associated with non-del19 EGFR mutations (p < 0.05) and comorbidities (p < parameters ("ENS"). Together, they constitute a practical and reproducible approach for risk stratification of newly diagnosed metastatic EGFR+ NSCLC.
Probiotics may be neuroprotective for preterm neonates due to their anti-inflammatory effects and ability to facilitate nutrition.
To assess long-term effects of early probiotic supplementation on neuropsychological development in preterm infants.
Follow up study.
Children at age 3 to 5years who had participated as preterm infants (<33week) in the randomised controlled trial.
Primary Continuous early learning composite measure derived from the Mullen's Scale of Early Learning (MSEL). Other outcomes were assessed by the Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic Interview, Developmental NEuroPSYchological assessment-2nd Edition, Parental questionnaires using children's communication checklist-2nd edition, social responsiveness scale, and Vineland Adaptive Behavioural Scales-2nd edition.
Continuous scores derived from all the measures.
67 children of the 159 participants (42%) (Probiotic 36/79, Placebo 31/80) were followed-up for at least one neuropsychological assessment. All six assessments were completed in 18/31 (58.1%) of the control vs. 11/36 (30.6%) probiotic group children. Multivariable analysis of MSEL composite score showed no evidence of probiotic effect univariately, or after adjustment for gestation, intrauterine growth restriction, Apgar <7 at 5min and age at assessment (adjusted mean effect in probiotic group -2.7, 95% CI -8.5-3.0, p=0.349).
There was no significant effect on neurodevelopment of children assessed at the age of 3 to 5years who participated as preterm neonates in the RCT of B. breve M-16V. The validity of these results is limited by the reduced sample size due to high rate of loss to follow up.
There was no significant effect on neurodevelopment of children assessed at the age of 3 to 5 years who participated as preterm neonates in the RCT of B. breve M-16V. The validity of these results is limited by the reduced sample size due to high rate of loss to follow up.
Malawi has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world, and neonates account for nearly half of all under-five mortality. No previous study has reported neonatal outcomes in Malawi over 12months. We aimed to evaluate outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) and to determine if there was an association between increased survival and antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) exposure.
We introduced a prospective, observational electronic database to collect 122 de-identified variables related to neonatal outcomes for all neonates admitted to the KCH NICU over 12months. Patients with congenital anomalies were excluded. We compared neonatal mortality rates in neonates who were exposed to ACS compared to those who were not. Statistical methodology included the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression.
Of 2051 neonates admitted to the KCH NICU, the overall neonatal mortality rate was 23.1% and remained similar across 12months. Mortality was inversely related to birth weight, and outborn neonates referred to KCH had the highest mortality rate (29%).
