Dosimetric study for breathing-induced motion effects in an abdominal pancreas phantom for carbon ion mini-beam radiotherapy.

Background: Particle mini-beam therapy exhibits promise in sparing healthy tissue through spatial fractionation, particularly notable for heavy ions, further enhancing the already favorable differential biological effectiveness at both target and entrance regions. However, breathing-induced organ motion affects particle mini-beam irradiation schemes since the organ displacements exceed the mini-beam structure dimensions, decreasing the advantages of spatial fractionation.

Purpose: In this study, the impact of breathing-induced organ motion on the dose distribution was examined at the target and organs at risk(OARs) during carbon ion mini-beam irradiation for pancreatic cancer.

Linear Energy Transfer Measurements and Estimation of Relative Biological Effectiveness in Proton and Helium Ion Beams Using Fluorescent Nuclear Track Detectors.

Purpose: Our objective was to develop a methodology for assessing the linear energy transfer (LET) and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in clinical proton and helium ion beams using fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs).

Methods And Materials: FNTDs were exposed behind solid water to proton and helium (He) ion spread-out Bragg peaks. Detectors were imaged with a confocal microscope, and the LET spectra were derived from the fluorescence intensity.

A Monte Carlo study on the secondary neutron generation by oxygen ion beams for radiotherapy and its comparison to lighter ions.

To study the secondary neutrons generated by primary oxygen beams for cancer treatment and compare the results to those from primary protons, helium, and carbon ions. This information can provide useful insight into the positioning of neutron detectors in phantom for future experimental dose assessments.Mono-energetic oxygen beams and spread-out Bragg peaks were simulated using the Monte Carlo particle transport codes, tool for particle simulation, and Monte Carlo N-Particle, with energies within the therapeutic range.

A phantom to simulate organ motion and its effect on dose distribution in carbon ion therapy for pancreatic cancer.

. Carbon ion radiotherapy is a promising radiation technique for malignancies like pancreatic cancer. However, organs' motion imposes challenges for achieving homogeneous dose delivery.

Optically stimulated luminescence detectors for dosimetry and LET measurements in light ion beams.

This work investigates the use of AlO:C and AlO:C,Mg optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) detectors to determine both the dose and the radiation quality in light ion beams. The radiation quality is here expressed through either the linear energy transfer (LET) or the closely related metric, which depends on the particle's speed and effective charge. The derived LET andvalues are applied to improve the dosimetry in light ion beams.

Functional characterization of C21ORF2 association with the NEK1 kinase mutated in human in diseases.

The NEK1 kinase controls ciliogenesis, mitosis, and DNA repair, and mutations cause human diseases including axial spondylometaphyseal dysplasia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. mutations cause a similar pattern of human diseases, suggesting close functional links with Here, we report that endogenous NEK1 and C21ORF2 form a tight complex in human cells. A C21ORF2 interaction domain "CID" at the C-terminus of NEK1 is necessary for its association with C21ORF2 in cells, and pathogenic mutations in this region disrupt the complex.

A mixed-methods evaluation of the ¡Vamos por Más! parenting program implementation in Chile.

Introduction And Aims: Substance use is a significant global concern. Strengthening parenting in families with adolescents has been shown to reduce substance use initiation. The ¡Vamos por Más! (¡VxM!) program is a positive-parenting program developed in Chile to improve family relations and reduce adolescent substance use that combines in-person school workshops, multimedia messaging and personalized support.

Sensitivity correction of fluorescent nuclear track detectors using alpha particles: Determining LET spectra of light ions with enhanced accuracy.

Background: Radiation fields encountered in proton therapy (PT) and ion-beam therapy (IBT) are characterized by a variable linear energy transfer (LET), which lead to a variation of relative biological effectiveness and also affect the response of certain dosimeters. Therefore, reliable tools to measure LET are advantageous to predict and correct LET effects. Fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs) are suitable to measure LET spectra within the range of interest for PT and IBT, but so far the accuracy and precision have been challenged by sensitivity variations between individual crystals.

Assessment of secondary neutrons in particle therapy by Monte Carlo simulations.

. The purpose of this study is to estimate the energy and angular distribution of secondary neutrons inside a phantom in hadron therapy, which will support decisions on detector choice and experimental setup design for in-phantom secondary neutron measurements..

CDKL5 kinase controls transcription-coupled responses to DNA damage.

Mutations in the gene encoding the CDKL5 kinase are among the most common genetic causes of childhood epilepsy and can also give rise to the severe neurodevelopmental condition CDD (CDKL5 deficiency disorder). Despite its importance for human health, the phosphorylation targets and cellular roles of CDKL5 are poorly understood, especially in the cell nucleus. Here, we report that CDKL5 is recruited to sites of DNA damage in actively transcribed regions of the nucleus.

Preparation of Nanofibers Mats Derived from Task-Specific Polymeric Ionic Liquid for Sensing and Catalytic Applications.

Nanofibers mats derived from the task-specific functionalized polymeric ionic liquids based on homocysteine thiolactone are obtained by electrospinning them as blends with polyvinylpyrrolidone. The presence of this functional moiety allowed the post-functionalization of these mats through the aminolysis of the thiolactone ring in the presence of an amine by a thiol-alkene "click" reaction. Under controlled experimental conditions the modification can be performed introducing different functionalization and crosslinking of the electrospun fibers, while maintaining the nanostructure obtained by the electrospinning.

Endogenous DNA 3' Blocks Are Vulnerabilities for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Deficiency and Are Reversed by the APE2 Nuclease.

The APEX2 gene encodes APE2, a nuclease related to APE1, the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease acting in base excision repair. Loss of APE2 is lethal in cells with mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2, making APE2 a prime target for homologous recombination-defective cancers. However, because the function of APE2 in DNA repair is poorly understood, it is unclear why BRCA-deficient cells require APE2 for viability.

Life cycle assessment of refractory waste management in a Spanish steel works.

A life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted on the current refractory waste management practices in a steel works in Spain producing around 6,000 tonnes of refractory waste in 2018. Management practices included direct reuse of spent magnesia-carbon (MgO-C) bricks, recycling of MgO-C bricks and high-alumina refractories by an external contractor and landfilling of monolithics and isostatic refractories, for which there were yet no established valorization routes. This current situation was compared to a hypothetical scenario where all refractories were disposed in landfill.

Foetal Immune Response Activation and High Replication Rate during Generation of Classical Swine Fever Congenital Infection.

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) induces trans-placental transmission and congenital viral persistence; however, the available information is not updated. Three groups of sows were infected at mid-gestation with either a high, moderate or low virulence CSFV strains. Foetuses from sows infected with high or low virulence strain were obtained before delivery and piglets from sows infected with the moderate virulence strain were studied for 32 days after birth.

Phosphoproteomic screening identifies physiological substrates of the CDKL5 kinase.

Mutations in the gene encoding the protein kinase CDKL5 cause a debilitating neurodevelopmental disease termed CDKL5 disorder. The impact of these mutations on CDKL5 function is poorly understood because the substrates and cellular processes controlled by CDKL5 are unclear. Here, we describe a quantitative phosphoproteomic screening which identified MAP1S, CEP131 and DLG5-regulators of microtubule and centrosome function-as cellular substrates of CDKL5.

SINHCAF/FAM60A and SIN3A specifically repress HIF-2α expression.

The SIN3A-HDAC (histone deacetylase) complex is a master transcriptional repressor, required for development but often deregulated in disease. Here, we report that the recently identified new component of this complex, SINHCAF (SIN3A and HDAC-associated factor)/FAM60A (family of homology 60A), links the SIN3A-HDAC co-repressor complex function to the hypoxia response. We show that SINHCAF specifically represses HIF-2α mRNA and protein expression, via its interaction with the transcription factor SP1 (specificity protein 1) and recruitment of HDAC1 to the HIF-2α promoter.

Prevalence of antibodies and humoral response after seasonal trivalent vaccination against influenza B lineages in an elderly population of Spain.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of antibodies against both Yamagata and Victoria influenza B lineages and to check the response after seasonal trivalent vaccination.

Materials And Methods: Haemagglutination inhibition assays were performed with pre-and post-vaccination serum samples from 174 individuals ≥65 years of age vaccinated with seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines during the 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 vaccine campaigns.

Results: 33.

Investigating cranial morphological variation of early human skeletal remains from Chile: A 3D geometric morphometric approach.

Objectives: Archaeological and genetic research has demonstrated that the Pacific Coast was a key route in the early colonization of South America. Research examining South American skeletons >8000 cal BP has revealed differences in cranial morphology between early and late Holocene populations, which may reflect distinct migration events and/or populations. However, genetic, cultural, and some skeletal data contradict this model.

WW LCI v2: A second-generation life cycle inventory model for chemicals discharged to wastewater systems.

We present a second-generation wastewater treatment inventory model, WW LCI 2.0, which on many fronts represents considerable advances compared to its previous version WW LCI 1.0.

RPA-Mediated Recruitment of the E3 Ligase RFWD3 Is Vital for Interstrand Crosslink Repair and Human Health.

Defects in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) are associated with the genome instability syndrome Fanconi anemia (FA). Here we report that cells with mutations in RFWD3, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that interacts with and ubiquitylates replication protein A (RPA), show profound defects in ICL repair. An amino acid substitution in the WD40 repeats of RFWD3 (I639K) found in a new FA subtype abolishes interaction of RFWD3 with RPA, thereby preventing RFWD3 recruitment to sites of ICL-induced replication fork stalling.

USP45 deubiquitylase controls ERCC1-XPF endonuclease-mediated DNA damage responses.

Reversible protein ubiquitylation plays important roles in various processes including DNA repair. Here, we identify the deubiquitylase USP45 as a critical DNA repair regulator. USP45 associates with ERCC1, a subunit of the DNA repair endonuclease XPF-ERCC1, via a short acidic motif outside of the USP45 catalytic domain.

Improved genome editing in human cell lines using the CRISPR method.

The Cas9/CRISPR system has become a popular choice for genome editing. In this system, binding of a single guide (sg) RNA to a cognate genomic sequence enables the Cas9 nuclease to induce a double-strand break at that locus. This break is next repaired by an error-prone mechanism, leading to mutation and gene disruption.