Multidisciplinary Clinical Study on Retinal, Circulatory, and Respiratory Damage in Smoking-Dependent Subjects.

: Cigarette smoking is a widely prevalent risk factor in the global population, despite its well-recognized systemic impact. In this pilot study, an association was hypothesized between alterations in hemorheological and respiratory characteristics and damage at the chorioretinal level, considering that traditional cigarette smoking may increase oxidative stress, platelet activation, and thrombotic phenomena at the systemic level. Fundoscopy can provide information about the characteristics of the cerebral district and the entire circulatory system.

Results of novel theoretical approaches show a possible underestimation of building materials contribution to indoor radon levels.

The mathematical modelling represents one of the main possibilities to assess the radon gas coming out from building structures in a dwelling, especially in preventive strategies. The formulations available depends on environmental conditions and building characteristics and they might require a wide set input parameters as well as significant computational capabilities: consequently, only a simplified formulation has been used throughout the years. This work quantified the differences resulting from the application of the simplified formulation instead of the exact ones to assess the radon exhalation rate and the corresponding radon activity concentration established indoors, relative to a reference room.

Phenotypic simulation for fruit-related traits in F progenies of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) using genomic prediction based solely on parental information.

Chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) fruits are used as vegetables, spices, and ornamental plants, necessitating various fruit characteristics. However, their genetic improvement is challenging through conventional crossbreeding due to the quantitative traits, which makes it difficult to predict phenotypes in the progeny.

Autoplanning in the setting of stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer.

Purpose: Automatic planning (AP) has been compared to manual planning (MP) in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to validate the former and to implement it in clinical practice.

Methods: A new developing Guided Planning System (GPS) engine was used to reoptimize 20 lung SBRT plans with the RayStation™ treatment planning system (TPS). The original manual plans were optimized to deliver 60 Gy in 5 or 8 fractions to the target with constraints on organs at risk (OARs) based on an internal protocol.