Bentonite sterilization methods in relation to geological disposal of radioactive waste: Comparative efficiency of dry heat and gamma radiation.

Aims: This study evaluates the effectiveness of two standard sterilization methods on microorganisms in bentonite, which is proposed as a buffer around metal canisters containing long-lived radioactive waste. Bentonite, as a natural clay, contains microorganisms with enhanced resistance to harsh conditions and the ability to reactivate upon decompaction. Sterile controls are crucial in experiments estimating the impact of microorganisms on nuclear waste repositories.

A deep learning-informed interpretation of why and when dose metrics outside the PTV can affect the risk of distant metastasis in SBRT NSCLC patients.

Purpose: Recent papers suggested a correlation between the risk of distant metastasis (DM) and dose outside the PTV, though conclusions in different publications conflicted. This study resolves these conflicts and provides a compelling explanation of prognostic factors.

Materials And Methods: A dataset of 478 NSCLC patients treated with SBRT (IMRT or VMAT) was analyzed.

Phylogenetic insights into the genetic legacies of Hungarian-speaking communities in the Carpathian Basin.

This study focuses on exploring the uniparental genetic lineages of Hungarian-speaking minorities residing in rural villages of Baranja (Croatia) and the Zobor region (Slovakia). We aimed to identify ancestral lineages by examining genetic markers distributed across the entire mitogenome and on the Y-chromosome. This allowed us to discern disparities in regional genetic structures within these communities.

Improved outcome models with denoising diffusion.

Purpose: Radiotherapy outcome modelling often suffers from class imbalance in the modelled endpoints. One of the main options to address this issue is by introducing new synthetically generated datapoints, using generative models, such as Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models (DDPM). In this study, we implemented DDPM to improve performance of a tumor local control model, trained on imbalanced dataset, and compare this approach with other common techniques.

Deep Learning-Guided Dosimetry for Mitigating Local Failure of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stereotactic body radiation therapy with 50 Gy/5 fractions is sometimes considered controversial, as the nominal biologically effective dose (BED) of 100 Gy is felt by some to be insufficient for long-term local control of some lesions. In this study, we analyzed such patients using explainable deep learning techniques and consequently proposed appropriate treatment planning criteria. These novel criteria could help planners achieve optimized treatment plans for maximal local control.

Improved insights into the SABIO-RK database via visualization.

SABIO-RK is a database for biochemical reactions and their kinetics. Data in SABIO-RK are inherently multidimensional and complex. The complex relationships between the data are often difficult to follow or even not represented when using standard tabular views.

The paternal genetic legacy of Hungarian-speaking Rétköz (Hungary) and Váh valley (Slovakia) populations.

One hundred and six Rétköz and 48 Váh valley samples were collected from the contact zones of Hungarian-Slovakian territories and were genotyped for Y-chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups. The results were compared with contemporary and archaic data from published sources. The genetic composition of the Rétköz population from Hungary and the Váh valley population from Slovakia indicates different histories.

Reliability Study of a Functional Test for the Offensive Agility Performance in Water Polo.

The aim of the study was to develop and assess the reliability of a functional agility test containing offensive elements for water polo players. Eighteen young male (15.3 ± 0.

The use of Pantherpix pixel detector in radiotherapy QA.

There are various different detectors, which can be used for radiotherapy measurements, and more are about to be adopted. Hybrid pixel detectors (HPD) have been originally developed for the high energy physics. However, over the last few years they also expanded in the medical physics.

Survey Item Response Rates by Survey Modality, Language, and Sociodemographic Factors in a Large U.S. Cohort.

Background: Large-scale prospective cohorts traditionally use English, paper-based, mailed surveys, but Web-based surveys can lower costs and increase data quality, and multi-language surveys may aid in capturing diverse populations. Little evidence exists examining item response for multiple survey modalities or languages in epidemiologic cohorts.

Methods: A total of 254,475 men and women completed a comprehensive lifestyle and medical survey at enrollment (2006-2013) for the Cancer Prevention Study-3, a U.

Perspectives on Living with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: From Onset through Diagnosis and Disease Management in the US.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is challenging to manage and substantially affects quality of life. This US, non-interventional qualitative study examined patients' clinical journeys and emotional burden from symptom onset through disease management. Chronic spontaneous urticaria patients participated in interviews and completed diaries focusing on disease and treatment history/perspectives, impact on personal/family life, and relationships with physicians/other healthcare providers.

The American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3): Recruitment, study design, and baseline characteristics.

Background: Prospective cohort studies contribute importantly to understanding the role of lifestyle, genetic, and other factors in chronic disease etiology.

Methods: The American Cancer Society (ACS) recruited a new prospective cohort study, Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3), between 2006 and 2013 from 35 states and Puerto Rico. Enrollment took place primarily at ACS community events and at community enrollment "drives.

Quantification of ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate in powder blends for tableting and in vitamin C chewable tablets by NIR-chemometry.

The paper proposes a near infrared method able to directly and simultaneously quantify ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate in powder blends for tableting and in vitamin C chewable tablets without any sample preparation. In the first step, calibration models for the quantification of ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate in powder blends for tableting and subsequently in chewable vitamin C tablets (corresponding to 80-120 % active substance) were developed according to an experimental design with 2 variables and 5 levels. Then, using the best calibration models, the methods were fully validated in terms of recovery, precision and accuracy for both powder blends and vitamin C chewable tablets.

Optimization of the anti-(human CD3) immunotoxin DT389-scFv(UCHT1) N-terminal sequence to yield a homogeneous protein.

The production and regulatory approval processes for biopharmaceuticals require detailed characterization of potential products. Therapeutic proteins should preferably be homogeneous, although limited, reproducible, heterogeneity may be tolerated. A diphtheria toxin-based anti-(human CD3) immunotoxin, DT389-scFv(UCHT1), was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified following refolding [DT389 corresponds to amino acids 1-389 of diphtheria toxin, scFv is single-chain variable-region antibody fragment and UCHT1is an anti-(human CD3) monoclonal antibody].

Influence of relative binding affinity on efficacy in a panel of anti-CD3 scFv immunotoxins.

The in vitro cell killing potency of an immunotoxin reflects the aggregate of several independent biochemical properties. These include antigen binding affinity; internalization rate, intracellular processing and intrinsic toxin domain potency. This study examines the influence of antigen binding affinity on potency in various immunotoxin fusion proteins where target antigen binding is mediated by single chain antibody variable region fragments (scFv).

A high-capacity alkaline phosphatase reporter system for the rapid analysis of specificity and relative affinity of peptides from phage-display libraries.

We describe a novel reporter enzyme cassette system which enables the analysis of large numbers of linear and cyclic peptides in terms of their binding to a specific target molecule. In this system, peptides selected for target binding from random peptide phage-display libraries are expressed as cloned fusion proteins with bacterial alkaline phosphatase. The binding specificity and relative affinity of each peptide-enzyme fusion protein is then evaluated in a target-specific ELISA.

Hepatitis C in the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) Atlanta V.A. (Veterans Affairs Medical Center) Cohort Study (HAVACS): the effect of coinfection on survival.

To examine the prevalence of and survival rates for coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), data were analyzed from all HIV-infected patients tested for HCV antibody from January 1992 until May 1997. The prevalence of HCV infection among 350 HIV-infected patients was 33%. By univariate analysis, HCV-positive (HCV+) patients were more likely to be older (P = .

Expression, purification, and characterization of the human squalene synthase: use of yeast and baculoviral systems.

We have cloned and utilized a cDNA corresponding to the human squalene synthase gene to generate active enzyme from yeast and baculoviral expression systems. Expression of human squalene synthase in yeast resulted in production of active enzyme in cellular lysates. The presence of the active human enzyme, however, was insufficient to rescue growth of spores defective in yeast squalene synthase function, suggesting that structural differences in the yeast and human enzymes may affect localization or folding of the protein.